Baris lowered himself to the boulder in the meadow. He stared out over the vast expanse of grass and flowers, taking in the riot of colors that tumbled down the slopes toward the river. Sunlight caught the wild rapids, sparkling like golden flames. It was a scene he had longed to be a part of, had been until now. Now, everything he loved, everything he held dear, was threatened by something he could not explain and didn't want to accept.

A cool breeze played over his cheeks and hands, and his dark gaze wandered to the small village nestled near the river's edge. Smoke curled from several chimneys, lazing into the morning air. Sheep and goats grazed nearby, tended by several sleepy clan members. Most of the village children were still asleep, snug in their beds, safe and secure under their parents' watchful eyes. But not his son. If Baris knew Thale, the boy was already up and investigating his world as only a two-year-old could. Thale, with Anika's blue eyes and pale complexion and his father's penchant for introspective moodiness. Mere thoughts of the energetic toddler broadened Baris' smile and, at the same time, drove pain deep into his soul.

With a wistful sigh, he rose. He was an imposing figure, lithe, well over six feet tall, with the pale skin, dark eyes and raven-black hair of the true Vector. His appearance set him apart, so it was rare for a Vector to be able to retain a true appearance in public. Instead, they usually shapeshifted to something a little more humanlike.

Yet, this was one of the reasons Baris felt so comfortable in this village. Here, he was allowed to be himself, to appear as he wanted, without repercussions. And, more importantly, here he was allowed to satisfy his requirement for human blood without having to either seduce victims or hunt them down. And he owed it to Jaeger and his wife, Rhiannon.

Four years earlier, Rhiannon, and by extension her entire clan, and the Vectors had established a relationship. The clan were Bleeders; their bodies produced abnormally high levels of iron that could prove fatal if it were not bled off. But they were also witches, which proved a hazardous combination. Use of their magic only increased the already high content of iron in their blood, making the need to be bled even stronger. Many witches had died trying to bleed themselves. A partnership with the Vectors had been sought in desperation. Vectors needed blood. Bleeders had the blood to give. It was an equitable situation for both parties.

However, falling in love with Anika had been a delightful bonus. Baris had never expected more than a business relationship. In fact, he had never expected to find love in the true meaning of the word at all.

Like most Vectors, Baris was a product of careful planning. His father had been the Vector Sovereign; his mother had done nothing more than donate her egg. The embryo they created was given into the care of a Chosen, one of a special kind of Vector that carried, then implanted fertile embryos in human women. The one who carried, then bore, Baris had not survived long after his birth. Her sacrificial blood belonged to the Chosen who had impregnated her. And to the child she had carried.

As a child, Baris was raised in the Vector's Lair, a vast underground system of caverns nestled deep within a towering mountain range. He had many guardians and teachers but no true parents. It was the Vector way and Baris had accepted it. At least, he had until he had finally ventured from the Lair. It was then that he had seen the way humans related, how they paired and mated. Eventually, he had witnessed the deep love and commitment between Rhiannon and Jaeger, her husband. He couldn't explain the yearning that witnessing such love and devotion between two people had created in him. It was something he decided he wanted for himself.

Yet, he had never allowed himself to expect that it could happen to him. It was a part of his heart that he had shut off. Until Anika.

In fact, she had first approached him. He had tried to be professional, businesslike, although he was at once taken with her beauty. Her eyes in particular. While his were the almost black of a pure Vector, hers were the most incredible blue he had ever seen. They reminded him of the summer sky, something he had come to love after so many years in the Lair. And she was like a breath of summer herself, a new life that beckoned to him, called to him. Still, he held her away, sure that her interest in him was only one of business. He told himself repeatedly that she could never have any other interest in him. Then she began coming about more frequently, sought him out over other Vectors when she needed to be bled, and slowly chipped away at his resolve. It was a monumental, and frightening, day for Baris when he realized that he indeed loved her. He was terrified that his love would not be returned. But Anika had assuaged that worry with one, long, lingering, passionate kiss. A kiss Baris had returned with his heart. The last four years had been filled with happiness and contentment such that he had never experienced before. Now--

A movement caught his eye and he turned toward the young, brown-haired woman climbing the slopes toward him. He moved to meet her as she reached him with a smile.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked, dark eyes glowing.

Baris studied her for a moment before nodding. He had known her for only a short time. She had returned to the village six months earlier after living for many years in a neighboring city. She had been a great support to him in the last several months while his life fell apart around him, and although the words were painful to say, Baris felt she should know what he had planned.

"Yes, Deirdre. I wanted to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" She looked up at him in surprise. "You're leaving? Why?"

"Anika has asked me to leave," he said quietly. The words drove daggers of hurt through his heart.

A small gasp escaped the woman and she laid one hand on his arm. "Oh, Baris, I'm so sorry. Did she say why?"

"No. I questioned her but she didn't seem to have any reason." He paused, trying to quiet the tremor in his voice. "She just demanded that I leave. Now. I am abiding by her wishes."

"But where will you go?"

"I have thought hard about that. I am going to seek out Vail. He may have an answer to this change in behavior. I must know what I have done to cause this."

"Perhaps it was not you at all, Baris," Deirdre said. "You have been nothing but kind and gentle with Anika. I would place the blame on her and her alone."

Baris looked down at the slight woman before him. Dark curls fell in tangles well past her shoulders, framing a face the color of moonlight. Her brown eyes were almond-shaped, ringed with long dark lashes that brushed her cheeks when she looked down. She was emotional, warm, caring and genuinely concerned about him. Perhaps more so then she should have been. She was beautiful in every way but she did nothing for his heart. That belonged to Anika. He had to find out what had caused her change in affection and Vail might have the answer. The problem was finding him.

Baris clearly remembered his last visit with Anika's young cousin. It had been on this very spot, where just six months ago he had felt firsthand Vail's own pain at a failed relationship.