swallowed thickly. “No matter what happens, she’ll never stop hunting me, will she?”
His strong jaw tightened and he smiled sadly. “No, sweetheart. She won’t.”
“Are you sure?” she asked in her mind. “She meant something to you.”
Connell stepped behind her and wrapped his hand around her fingers as Lynn raised the weapon.
His voice was strong when he said, “Ivanna Connelly, you selfishly murdered five of my wives. I offered exile. I offered you freedom by cleaving our union. I was prepared to imprison you and let you live. Tonight, your intent is clear.”
Although her legs shook, Lynn’s index finger curled over the trigger’s cool metal. Closing her eyes for a brief second, she inhaled and dug deep for courage. “I am Connell’s mate. Ivanna, I deem you a threat to my family. By Vrykolakas law, my judgement is… Guilty. Your immortality is terminated.”
Ivanna leaped forward. Her beautiful features contorted into rage and confusion. “No!”
Chapter Twenty-two
Ari sat in the roomy leather chair in the Vyro Creek ranch house, looking out the picture window toward the hay shed, a massive building about five hundred feet long. The John Deere combine marked the spot where Quinn’s brothers had locked him in an underground holding cell.
Every half hour, she’d open herself to connect with him, only to find Quinn’s mind was literally on fire. Quinn hammered and scratched the heavy planked hatch of his temporary prison, his hands covered in blood. Vampires healed quickly, but the immensity of his struggle broke her heart.
A skeleton crew worked the ranch, with most of the wranglers and hired hands on the drive to the Fall grazing grounds. Donnor had found the wranglers in the desert, hazed them, and sent them back to continue the roundup in the morning. Then he returned to the ranch house.
Through the night, she’d dozed in the chair while the Connellys conversed with Romanis and his people.
Lynn and Tess had tried to entice her upstairs to get some rest, but she’d refused. Near seven in the morning, the late September sun rose in an amazing hue of pink over the Arizona landscape. For Tess’s benefit, the window shutters were closed.
Ari reached out to her fiancé again. This time, the fury had backtracked and she saw Quinn’s thoughts clearly.
“Sweetheart!”
“I’m here, Quinn. How do you feel?”
“Almost over,” he said. “The fury is receding.”
“As soon as Claudette says it’s safe, I’ll be there to set you free.”
“I was so out of control, I didn’t tell you how happy I am about the baby. I love you.”
“You can show me that in person, soon.”
He didn’t answer, but this was the first time in far too long where he sounded rational.
Cian had recovered Clara from the desert after Quinn was secured. Ari grinned, remembering her first experience flying in the arms of a vampire. Poor Clara had probably spent an hour on her knees praying.
Cian demanded the Tiny Trading Post’s clerk remain at the ranch and showed her to a guest room upstairs. His curious protectiveness of the ex-noviciate was interesting. As was the fact the raven-haired vamp with a caustic attitude had not wiped the woman’s memories and sent her home.
After a few hours’ sleep and a shower, Clara rejoined them and Cian’s gaze followed her descent down the stairs and all the way across the Great Room, where she settled in the comfortable chair next to Ari.
“This looks like a family gathering, I should go,” Clara said, her hands pinned between her knees. “It’s Sunday and the Trading Post doesn’t open until noon. I can run the shop instead of Lynn.”
“Damn store doesn’t need to be open.” Cian suddenly stood to the right of Clara’s chair, his rugged features set in stone.
The young woman startled because he’d been on the other side of the room a second ago. Ari completely understood. It took time to get used to the unique abilities of the immortals.
Hearing Cian and joining the conversation, Tess placed her hands on her hips and said, “Says you!”
Cian’s corrosive glare turned on Tess. “Give it a rest, blondie.”
Tess had finger pointing down to a fine art and targeted Cian. “That’s my thriving business and loyal customers you’re driving a stake through. I might be dead, but I am still the owner.”
“Maybe…” Ari interrupted the glaring contest. “Clara wants to attend Mass.” She raised a brow at the pretty brunette. “It is Sunday.”
Clara bit her top lip, then darted a look at Cian. “Yes.”
“That’s settled,” Tess said brightly. “Clara can go to church then open the