Leutene
Stonneti;@renched to touch the hem of Stellaâs dress. I wanted to pull her into my arms, but I didnât want Oscarehend settled for
that small contact.
âWhat sodo you mean, all of our thoughts?â I tried to keep my voice steady, but her little face scrunched up
it the sound of my tension.
I was misle des mung to use my Luna energy, but I didnât need much of it right now. The Moon Goddess was notizer to
alavarises and the strengths sheâd granted me worked through my own motherhood. Stella relaxed.
Theditton I
Theo icon warning about my varnpire side, but I certainly had never shared anything like that out loud with my daughter Stella
might've simply been perceptive enough to guess that. It didnât mean she was Ictually reading thcuouterOn the other hand...
âWolves doxtonomununicate via mind links. Usually, itâs mate to mate, or Alpha to Beta, but close elationships cac create a bond
that allows us to speak mind to mind.â
âI'm aware of that tavadachesaid wryly.
Of course he was. A susanaladash of iration filtered through me. He knew so much, and I still barely knew
anything. I didnât have receno tviviedian that now, though.
âStella.â 1 focused chenet Wowonât be angry with you if youâre a little confused. Are you feeling Mamaâs
eelings? Guessing? Can youdeltay cjelodbok on my face, like when you told Abba his eyes looked scared?â
She shook her head. No bheneamwhatyouâre thinking
âWhen he asked you if you were reading his mind, did you tell him a fib?â
Solemnly, she waited a second, then anodded.
âWhy would you do that? Fasked her, trubut thought already knew.
cute fudy with the pretty dress was already thinkin
Anat tumult hear that Abha was upset about some
âI didnât want to get into trouble. And the
thinks. His thoughts, Stella comacted hemen.
able to do that, so i didnât want to tell alm could, toob. Betoon.â
*How long have you been able to do tra?â.
I'm not sure.
Heat flushed my cheeks. I was going to tuve anne
least some of the private conversations between my rate
Daddy, Papa, and Abba are thinking to each other
claim ng to-to if she was, in tact, listening in to at
and have you been hearing what Mama and
She covered her mouth with both hands wivin a hurry of of mites es escapedNo, ob, Mama Only one at a time: But once theard
Abba thinking about how much he tesugutt Joy wwata noap hood: Only he didnât say
poop, he said the bad wordâ
ty eyebrows flew up. âOh, he did??
Yes. I try not to listen, becoused kinowieâs bad. But youâre all so loud,â she complained. âYou, Daddy, Papapa, Grammy. Izzy and
Allie, too. And thngecontit downstairs. And the people upstairs.â
he pointed a small finger at the cceinou. Snowwisted on Malachiâs lap to look him in the face. And you
Malachi laughed and bouncco her cienti Steltalit not mide to make jokes like thatâ
Not joking!â There was that flash of stubbornness again, Stella crossed her arms and glowered at him
es, the same color as his, shot out a samotnow that took a few seconds to fade.
My grandfather turned stem, andil caught chirpssef novicerrifying an Ancient really could be. âGood
iris do not scare people that way itâs not arme pok. Stella You cannot be hearing my thoughts,
se Great Granddad is a vampire. Thatâs not how things work for our kind.â
is eves met mines had to take his word forismce: nad h o does about now vampires worked.
told you, I am not joking! Her voice wavered. Cleanty.nne was upset âRight now, you're thinking about
ty mamaâs mommy used to play jokes on pecole swien 50g was lode, just like me. And I look like her. And
be playing a joke, because I look like my grandmaaaang youthink yarmpires canât have their thinks come
their head, but they can! Because I hear them
like
Pet
cas
he burst into tears, and I reached to gather her against reel Malucchi fooked shaken, then sorrowful. He
: her back gently
hav
mys
m sorry, small one. I never meant to hurt your feelingss! believe youâ
I
tella turned fear-stained cheeks toward him. Sniffling, she gave him wobbly, watery smile. I know you
cause I can hear you.â
of o
How about now? What am I thinking?â
ford
hedrowned âNothingâ
locked at me. I was thinking, quite hard, but also trying to shield. So poosmile to bioch
mine stand how itâs possible for her in the first place.
Malachi stood. âThis is extraordinary Iâve got some things to look into about this ut conte
the potantume, get refreshed, and Ill see you all at dinner.
um Hand How was going to explain this to my mates?
212
tha