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From Protector of the Grey House:

“I would rather give you permission than wake to find myself changed.”

“But if your life were at stake and Diana couldn’t heal you?” His hand tangled in her hair, tightened, then let go to travel down her spine.

She swallowed hard, closed her eyes and licked her dry lips. She opened her eyes and looked him in the eye. “I will forgive you.”

He pulled back the smallest bit, completely surprised. It wasn’t permission, but it was a definite start. Vincent, now understanding the bewildered look of earlier, grabbed his woman to him and seared himself on her skin.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Why did you contact me?” Ashley turned angrily on her stool as her voice grew loud.

“Fought something you need to know about.” She looked around, turning back to face the kitchen. “It’s all in the journals, but we ignored it because of who talked about it. I brought photocopies as proof. I’d have brought you the creatures, but I don’t know how to control them, and had to kill them instead.”

Ashley took the papers and started glancing through the pages. “You’re kidding.”

“That’s what I said.”

“These aren’t real.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Vincent looked about the room and understood that the plan was being executed tonight. It was earlier than he and his Lieutenants had anticipated, but that was fine by him. There were about twenty people gathered in the meeting room. He recognized four of his Lieutenants, three who were holding up one wall, each with one of their own Sergeants. The rest of the group, new vampires by their attitudes and look, were gathered at his throne, which Morgan was sitting on. There was a reason it was the only piece of furniture in the room, and it wasn’t for guests to enjoy. A low growl escaped Vincent’s throat.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Calm yourself Mierka, he was only doing his job.” Vincent turned from the window, regarded the only silent one in the room. As always, Joseph kept his opinions to himself, until he had Vincent’s ear only. Since he wondered at his loyal friend’s thoughts, he caught Mierka and Anthony’s gazes. “Leave us. Go train. We’ll join you shortly.”

The two left without a word; this was not a new situation. Joseph stepped out of the corner he almost hid in and poured himself a glass of brandy.

“You never ask my permission.” Vincent accepted the glass Joseph handed him.

“You have a case of this in your cellar, which I gave to you.”

Until today, I thought I came up with the name “Mierka”. Just now, I remembered I knew a kid with that name when I was a kid. Her parents were friends of the family. Brains/memories are weird.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Lava was packed, and Natalia didn’t want to be sitting in the booth. She hadn’t been back to the club since a week before she was kidnapped by Zechariah. Bethany had convinced her to come out to listen to a local band. The band that night was good, if she remembered correctly. She and Bethany had a great night. Natalia brought her thoughts back to the present and looked around. Tonight, there was a DJ and people were dancing. She was playing good music, and Natalia wanted to join the crowd. She didn’t see Bethany, or anyone else she knew, but that was a good thing. She didn’t need the complication of old friends to disturb her outing with her new friends. Natalia suspected Mierka was going to try and hypnotize her tonight. It wouldn’t do to be interrupted.

From Protector of the Grey House:

It took her two months to decide whom to tell about the demons Edwin summoned. It took three months to convince Ashley to meet her, and another month to plot the best place to meet. Natalia had been spying on the place for the past two weeks, finding as many ways out as possible. There were two conventional ways: front entrance and back kitchen door. The two walls facing the street were beautiful picture windows. She was pretty sure the windows were regular glass and could be busted with a diner chair or Slayer if necessary. She also noticed who were regulars and who were not. Half of the people frequenting the small café today were not regulars. She was ready for the battle she hoped she wouldn’t have to fight.

From Protector of the Grey House:

She paused again, and Vincent went to stand behind her and placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. She looked as if she wanted to pounce on Anthony. “I went. I had no desire to hurt the Slayers; they gathered knowledge, not bodies. I arrived at their apartment and Wayne was there, captured, and tied to the wall. There were six Slayers there I had never met, along with the four that I had been talking to. Apparently, Wayne didn’t know not to look through Slayer’s windows. The four I knew had seen him and called reinforcements. When I arrived, two of the fighters captured me; I let them, as I wanted to understand what was going on. I recognized Wayne but wasn’t sure why he was there.”

In thinking about this scene, and the issue with Anthony in general, I realized why (years later) he never figured out what was going on. And now for a slight re-write.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“If Natalia knows she is being tracked, she’ll stop the spy from following her without killing them. If she had known Wayne was there, she may have been able to throw him off her scent and save his life. She isn’t stupid, and her goal isn’t to kill those under my protection. You know what she has done for us; you’ve seen the Slayer items she’s brought us. Why do you continue to think she’s trying to betray us?”

Agitated, Anthony started to pace and gesture grandly. Vincent stood still to watch Anthony’s actions. “Because she stays human and hunts a vampire. What happens when she kills him? What will she do to us?”

I try and show in the trilogy that Natalia and Vincent care about each other but aren’t overly sappy. This is one scene in which there is tenderness.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“You never did tell me what you asked.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. He wished the act would wipe away the pain in her eyes.

Natalia gave him an impish smile, uncrossed her arms, and placed her hands on the counter. Her movement caused her robe to slip open. “I asked about the club, at first. Then I asked about you. My main concern was what kind of woman you were attracted to.”

“What did he tell you?” Vincent let business go for a moment, and closed the slight distance between them.

“That your women were usually strong in some way. Most could stand up for themselves with either words or weapons. It didn’t sound like any of them were as stubborn as I am.”

Vincent placed his hands on her waist, lifted her slightly and sat her on the counter. It was marble and well built. They had used it before. He nuzzled her neck, and wondered if he could take her blood, or if she had lost too much to Wayne. “None of the women I’ve loved have ever been as stubborn as you. Or as incredibly frustrating.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Joseph and Mierka believed she had a right to fight and train as if she were her own army. She fought Slayers and had to watch her back for Edwin’s men, too. Edwin finally had his coronation, without the presence of Vincent and his men. He ignored them for the better part of a year, then had taken an interest in Vincent’s businesses again. It was all part of the plan. As long as Edwin was focused on the human aspect of Vincent’s world, he would not be interested in what Vincent’s vampires were doing.

“No word from your spies?” He aimed the question at Anthony’s reflection.