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to meet you there," Gabriel said firmly. "I'll bring her myself," he added before either could protest. "Francesca wants to see her."

Josef scowled. "You don't think I can take care of her."

"No one needs to take care of me," Skyler protested, glaring at Josef. "I'm not a baby."

"He only meant keeping you safe from any outside harm," Antonietta hastily intervened. "Josef, Skyler will meet you there in a few minutes. You be careful as well." She smiled up at Byron as he materialized beside her, having escorted the other males out. He slipped his arm around her ultra feminine, curvaceous figure and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

They followed Gabriel and Skyler to the door to wave. Byron pulled Antonietta into his arms. "What is it? I could feel you becoming agitated, but I couldn't read why." His hands

framed her face, thumbs sliding in a caress over her skin. "I'm sorry our house was invaded just when you were composing. I know it's very important for you to have quiet while you work."

"That's not it. And besides, Josef is never quiet." The young Carpathian stayed with them most of the time. He enjoyed Italy and the palazzo where they resided. Mostly, Antonietta thought he admired Byron and wanted to be close to him. There were times he got the exact same expression on his face and imitated Byron's gestures. Byron paid attention to him, worked with him on his Carpathian skills-showed an interest.

He exasperates me no end.

You love him and he feels that. He needs you.

Byron made gave an inelegant snort. "Josef, if you think for even one moment your life is in danger, you call me and every other male in the vicinity You have no business taking on a vampire at your age. You may have the courage, but not yet the skill." He eyed the younger man with a stern eye. "Do I have your word?"

Josef nodded. "Yes." He started out the door, then turned back toward Byron, tears glittering for a brief moment before he managed to control them. "I nearly got her killed, didn't I? I should have reached out the minute I saw the trapped wolf shifting. It all happened so fast." He ducked his head. "I couldn't move. At all. I don't have courage, Byron. I was afraid."

"You are supposed to be afraid. No one does everything right in their first encounter with a vampire. Dimitri is a hunter and a damn good one. He's been at it for centuries with no help, but I can assure you, his first vampire, he most likely froze just as you did."

"Did you?"

A fleeting smile crossed Byron's face. "Jacques and I were together and feeling pretty cocky until the thing came out of thin air and showed us a mouthful of black, pointed teeth. I think we both had a heart attack on the spot." He ruffled Josef's hair. "You did fine. And you did your best to protect her from Dimitri."

"He wasn't just healing her," Josef said. "It was blatant seduction."

"He is her lifemate, Josef. You have to respect that."

Josef scowled and slammed the door. Byron sighed. "So much for being any kind of good parent. I wish to hell my sister would take charge of that boy."

"No, you don't." Antonietta leaned into him, her soft breasts brushing his chest, fingers moving through his hair. "You love being an uncle."

"He drives me crazy. I can't remember ever being that young."

Antonietta twined her fingers through his as they made their way back through the house to the cozy den where they enjoyed sitting in peace together. Their household in Italy held a tremendous amount of responsibility. Antonietta's family resided with them and there was always drama.

"I feel the jaguar, Byron," Antonietta confessed without looking at him. She pressed her hand to her chest. "Deep inside of me, she's there, responding to something in the air. She's -clawing at me. My eyesight is worse than usual, but I can see with jaguar eyes."

Byron knew the Scarletti family-Antonietta's ancestors-came from a direct line of jaguar people. The cat had always been strong in her. He leaned forward, took both her hands in his and brought her fingers to his mouth. "When did this start?"

"A few hours ago. At first I just felt restless and edgy, but now it feels more like moodiness, wanting to strike out, a wildness I can't really adequately explain." She looked miserable. "I thought I was through with all that."

"You are