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From Inside the Grey Hosue:

Anthony didn’t like Morgan. He liked the vampire biker, Dex, even less, but knew he had to keep them entertained. Vincent wanted time alone with Edwin, but now that Natalia was in the room as well, he felt someone should be watching. Joseph was in the security room, but Anthony preferred when there were two watching. One to watch and one to sound the alarm when necessary.

As it was, Joseph was alone in the security room and was more than able to sound the alarm. Anthony didn’t trust Natalia and felt he, or one of his men, should be watching her actions. Vincent didn’t feel this was required; therefore, Anthony was stuck in the foyer, speaking with vampires that weren’t worth his time. He tried to start a conversation with Dex, but it was impossible. The man had no intelligence.

From Inside the Grey House:

“Charlie!” Her voice came out red as blood bubbled up her throat. A lone wolf extracted itself reluctantly from the melee and padded over, snout, forepaws and chest spotted crimson with blood. She saw Vincent approaching too, but carefully waved him away. The movement caused the sword to shift and cut into her a little more. She felt a warm hand on her outstretched arm and Lilly, who had been standing by in the security room, told her she would be all right. As the pain took hold of her, she questioned her healer’s words. Her breathing was labored, and she felt like she was slipping. She wondered briefly what hell would be like, knowing she did have a way out.

Charlie, now human and naked, but still spotted with blood, knelt beside her. Vincent had a moment of jealousy when the wolf took her hand. “Nat?”

She squeezed his hand weakly and took a shallow breath, trying to stay awake. “Take the sword.” Her words were red. “Guard it with your life.” She breathed out more blood. “No vampire touches it.”

From Inside the Grey House:

It took a while, but finally Natalia saw what she needed. Up until now, only her side of the path had bushes. The other side had trees that weren’t thick enough together to hide herself and her actions. Now, there were bushes on both sides. Pulling the cloth out of the bag, she placed it into her right hand, left the bushes and slipped up behind Jeffery. He didn’t notice her and she was able to wrap her arm around his head, place the chloroform cloth to his mouth and nose and pull him into the bushes on the other side of the path. Jeffery wasn’t a large man, about as tall as Natalia, making it easy for her to move him around. In the bushes, she used her full weight to keep him quiet, until the chloroform made him pass out.

Knowing she didn’t have too much time, Natalia stuffed the cloth back into the plastic bag, shoved the bag into her pocket and pulled Jeffery up to a standing position. She slipped his arm around her neck and then placed her arm around his waist, making it look like she was trying to walk him back to her car. He was about her built and weight, so it wasn’t that hard to pretend to walk him out of the park.

From Inside the Grey House:

Charlie nodded. “That’s a really good idea. Do you need someone to take over for you?”

Ben shook his head. “Not yet. I’ll get someone if I have to.”

Charlie nodded again and rose from the chair.

Ben gave him a reassuring look. “From what I’ve heard, she’s a fighter. She’ll be fine.”

Charlie made a noncommittal noise and left the room without his dinner. Ben took a seat in the recliner. The vampire sat in quiet contemplation, watching the sleeping human toss and turn fitfully. She was dreaming. He wondered what flitted through her feverish mind.

From Inside the Grey House:

Natalia gave Charlie a pitiful look. He came back from Montana about a month ago. Rebecca was still taking care of the twins on Vincent’s ranch. As her husband seemed to grate on her every nerve, making it hard for her to watch the newborns, she sent Charlie back here. Without Rebecca, Charlie seemed a little harder to control. Vincent didn’t seem to appreciate having the werewolf without the Alpha but understood Rebecca’s need for space. Charlie’s frustrations seemed to be transferring to Orlando and Doug, who were generally more controllable. If Charlie felt like he needed to get out, maybe it was best to get him out.

She sighed. “Maybe I can use you, but Charlie, you’re going to have to travel in wolf form and hide in my backseat.”

From Inside the Grey House:

Vincent watched as Anthony squared off against Kimberly. Both were holding staffs. It was their least favorite weapon, but Joseph understood that all of House LeGris had to know how to use every weapon they could come across. Vincent was leaning against the wall of his ballroom, which was more often used as an exercise room. Currently, all the vampires who lived in his home, plus Anthony, and his girl Julia, were in the room, dressed to train. Rebecca, Charlie and the rest of the werewolves were also in the room, smirking at the vampires and taking bets. Their training session was already over and they were simply hanging out to poke fun as the vampires had done to them.

Mierka and Orlando were the only ones of his household not in the room. Orlando was in the security room watching the screens. Mierka was waiting for Natalia to return. Natalia had been gone since morning, and none of the werewolves could track her. It wasn’t the first time his lady pulled a disappearing act; Vincent knew she would return at some point this evening. The other times, she had gone to fight either a Slayer or a vampire. Once, she fought a demon and was nearly killed. It had taken Lilly, who was now in his permanent employment, three days to recover after healing Natalia. Vincent had been very upset.

From Inside the Grey House:

It was her turn to glare. “I’m not coming to bed yet. I’m not tired and I want to try and figure this out. Kim almost died because I wasn’t vigilant enough about one Slayer’s activities. If I don’t figure this out, how many are going to die?”

“Have you asked Anthony for help?” Anthony was his best spy and knew how to put clues together. In his human life, he had been a detective.

“I gave him a copy, but this is in notes and shorthand I’m familiar with. After I gave him a copy, he sent Julia to tell me he couldn’t even read the notes. Vincent,” she gave him a terrified look, “I don’t want anyone under my protection to die.”

From Inside the Grey House:

Vincent watched as Jesse did as he ordered. The vampire thought that with Natalia distracting the Slayer, Jesse could tackle Dean. He watched as Jesse ran, heard Natalia’s warning and watched as the Slayer turned slowly, lifted his sword and beheaded Jesse with the sword he held lightly in his hand. It was a large sword, but the way the Slayer was holding it, it was obviously very light. Too late he noticed these things as Jesse turned to dust. His eyes grew wide. Jesse had fed; they had all fed, before coming here tonight. He didn’t know how old Jesse was, but had known the shy vampire for over one hundred years. A beheading would not kill him.

From Inside the Grey House:

Natalia move her hand to her shoulder and felt Charlie’s bite mark. Her hand covered the old scar and her eyes closed. The memory flooded her mind as a shudder claimed her body. That encounter with Charlie had left her hurt and wanting. She hated the bite, had craved his touch. She remembered the look in his eye as he had approached her those many years ago. Another shudder wracked her body as a newer memory took over. The look in Vincent’s eyes when he goaded her at the restaurant had mirrored Charlie’s from the night he bit her. 

Natalia felt wetness on the sheets between her legs and laughed when she realized how moist she had become.

“Come claim me, Vincent.”

From Inside the Grey House:

“Natalia.”

She heard her name as if the wind were speaking it. When Natalia looked up, her heart and breath stopped. Vincent was standing not five feet from the desk and was coming closer. Last night, when he left her, the look on his face suggested disappointment. Now, there was lust. Natalia closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm her racing heart. She slept poorly last night, waking often, reaching for the vampire that was not there. Not too long after sunrise, she woke for the last time, gave up trying to clear her mind and went looking for a shower and spare clothing. One of the house humans had shown her the spare bathroom and lent her clothing.

Showered, she went to the kitchen, allowed someone else to make her food and came to the library. She had nothing better to do all day than read. Natalia knew it was past sunset the moment she saw Vincent. Before his appearance, time meant nothing. The day had been a series of written words and brief naps flavored with the feeling that Vincent would not want to be with her tonight, either. And now, there was Vincent.