To Arms!

Because the raiders had gone far west to make camp that night, Richard saw no sight of them when he took the path back toward Edan and Esperanza. He had been going now without rest for an entire day, but he pressed on, using all of his inhuman strength to carry him home. By the time he reached the ford, he was nearly ready to collapse, so he went to Esperanza instead of Edan. He didn't completely change into a wolf, but he knew he would alarm people no matter what form he was in.

It was daylight when he got to the city, which didn't increase his chances of meeting anyone he knew. Perhaps Phoenix was awake?

***

She wasn't. Since her host could only stay up at night, and since she had slept most of the previous day, she had spent the night at a party.

"You have got to be kidding," she said when Jean-Claude showed her an elegant but clearly old-fashioned gown.

"Please, ma cheri, put it on. We have been invited to Collinwood tonight. You are in no condition to walk back to Edan, and since I have no need for transportation - and neither do my wolves - I have no carriage to take you home. There are humans at Collinwood. We can ask to borrow theirs."

"Who says I want to go home?"

Jean-Claude smiled. He did not show any fang. Phoenix liked the smile; it was just calculated enough to be sexy. "Come now, do you not want to tell the father of your news?"

So much for sexy, she thought, tossing the dress aside. "No."

He was still smiling. Phoenix reclined on one of his loveseats, trying to ignore him, and he slid next to her. "Ma cheri," he began, "you do not understand the . . . politics . . . of this place. It is a very delicate balance. Having inquired about a coach, and having been invited over, we cannot decline now."

"So go without me."

"And lose the chance to show you off? You are so beautiful, ma cheri. Please, make me a happy man and be my . . . how do you say it? . . . my date?"

He said the last word as if it was unfamiliar, but Phoenix knew he had lived in the modern world. He was old - older than he would admit - but she had him beat by more than a thousand years and he knew it. It was just that her age had not given her the powers he had.

"Is Barnabas a master?"

"He is strong. Oddly enough, though he has come from modern times to this place, his brother and companion have come from the past." Jean-Claude indicated the dress. "So, when we visit Collinwood, we must dress the part, no?" He flashed another of his melt away smiles. "It was a time before he was . . . cursed . . . and it pleases him to continue the fancy. He can be pleasant, but do not cross him, cheri."

"Nice but nasty, eh? Like you?" She hadn't forgotten the way he'd thrown Jason off.

Jean-Claude looked innocent. "But I thought the boy was doing something you did not request, ma cheri. Was I wrong to protect your virtue?"

She laughed. "That's been gone for millennia, Jean-Claude. No need protecting what has long departed." She looked at his handsome, almost perfectly chiseled face. "All right. I'll go."

"Tres bien ma cheri!" He was so pleased she had to laugh again.

"Who else is going to be there?" she asked.

"Everyone. Just everyone! There are so few people in Esperanza now that we meet each night to see who has added to their flock, and to enjoy each other's hospitality." He meant they got together to see who had gotten stronger that day. "Tonight it is the Collins' turn. Perhaps you will be at my side tomorrow, when it is ours?"

"Perhaps."

He smiled, standing. "I will leave you to dress then."

"You wearing that?" Her eyes raked his slim form. He was still wearing the same clothes.

"Of course not. I shall change my attire, as well." Then, bowing, he went out of the room.

Phoenix turned to dress. As she did, she suddenly felt like someone was watching her. Turning, she saw an absolutely gorgeous blond man staring at her. Next to him were two shorter men, both with long to very long hair, and both extraordinarily good looking. Neither was very tall, so they were both shorter than her, but like Jason, she wouldn't exactly fling them off if they came to call.

"Whoa. No wonder they call this place Hope." She sat back on the bed. "So, is every guy here super gorgeous or what?" One of the shorter men - the one with the longest hair - grinned wildly at her and then came over. To her surprise, he got onto the floor at her feet and purred at her. "He's not human, is he?"

The taller man laughed. "No one in this town is human, my dear. Not even you."

She raised her eyes to his and for a moment she felt their pull. Vampire. Oh, but absolutely delicious. And not quite as pale as Jean-Claude. Still, they'd make a nice set, one on each side . . .

"Excuse my poor manners. My name is Asher." He extended his hand.

"Phoenix. Or, that's the name I took for myself, long, long ago. My real name is Aphaia."

"Lovely," he said, trying to catch her eye again. She avoided his gaze and he smiled. "I am sorry. I promise not to bespell you if you will meet my eyes with your own? I only want to look into their beauty."

The man-boy at her feet was rubbing his chin along her thigh. "Can you call this one off, then?" she asked.

Asher laughed. "Nathaniel!"

"But she's purrrfect."

"I agree. But we shouldn't overwhelm her. That has always been your trouble." The longhaired youth moved away, but stayed on the ground, near her feet. "Nathaniel likes it rough," said Asher. "He's probably turned on by your leather outfit."

"Funny, I was just about to take it off." Phoenix laughed, anticipating Nathaniel's reaction. "Down, boy!"

The vampire smiled, and again Phoenix noted how well they were able to hide their fangs. "Very good, Aphaia. I take it you have already met Jean-Claude?"

She indicated the dress. "We have a date."

"My brother moves quickly."

"Not real brothers, surely."

"No. But we have shared many things. Once, long ago, we shared a woman's love. Then he went to see his birth mother, and our love was killed during his absence." His hand rose to his face. "I was horribly maimed when her murderers poured holy water on me. But, amazingly, when we found ourselves here, I was made whole again."

Phoenix was glad. She didn't know what such a disfigurement would be like, but he was just too handsome to imagine with any sort of imperfection.

Asher smiled at her, and when she said nothing (being lost in admiration at the moment), he went on, "We must prepare for tonight's party. Come Stephen, Nathaniel."

The other blond man nodded, smiling at Phoenix but almost shying away from her at the same time. He seemed overly timid. Nathaniel remained at her feet, sighing. Asher repeated his name and he finally stood. "Jean-Claude gets all the luck. Think he'll share?"

Phoenix wondered what he'd say if he knew she had slept with Jason, but not Jean-Claude!

The party went well, though Phoenix could sense the tension. There was a nice little get-together of vampires from "opposing" flocks, all commiserating over their curse, though Phoenix noted neither Jean-Claude nor Asher joined in. Just the host, Barnabas Collins, Nick Knight, and Louis from Lestat's flock. Now *he* was pretty!

There were a few new additions; LaCroix proudly introduced them all to Vachon, whom he did not seem to like, and Urse, a female whom he *did* seem to enjoy, though she quickly joined the "wish I weren't a vampire" discussion. Vachon was also pretty tasty, and Phoenix wondered if one had to be extremely handsome to be undead.

Then Barnabas' human brother came down, followed by his close friend, Peter Bradford. Both were human, and both were absolutely scrumptious. Phoenix was alarmed at first to see that Jeremiah Collins looked *exactly* like Duncan MacLeod.

Well, it wasn't the first time this had happened here.

When they returned from the party, the sun was threatening to peek over the horizon, and both Asher and Jean-Claude were hard pressed to get indoors and underground. "You may stay here, in Richard's bed," said Jean-Claude as he stood in the doorway of the bedroom. "I shall see you tonight, ma cheri."

Asher had already gone down. Phoenix knew they'd be unable to move - for all intents and purposes, dead - all day, so she did not go down with them. But she was tempted, at least until she thought of them lying there cold and still all day. She'd been dead hundreds of times, but not all day! The minute they were gone, Nathaniel, Jason and Stephen came around her, pleading with their half human eyes and their very male bodies.

"No way. I need some sleep!"

"We just want to protect you," Jason said. "Richard would kill us - not to mention what JC would do - if something happened to you!" He grinned. "Bed's big enough for all of us, y'know."

"I'm not having sex with all three of you."

"Who said you were? Just let us . . . keep you warm." Nathaniel smiled broadly.

She sighed. It had been a long night. "Okay."

***

So, when Richard dragged himself toward his bed at last, he found Phoenix in it, with three weres lying willy-nilly across her, "protecting" her from harm. Richard was tired, and not in the mood to sleep on the floor, so he growled deep in his throat. It was enough to alert his two wolves, Jason and Stephen, and their movement woke Nathaniel and Phoenix.

"Having fun, boys?"

"Oh man, I wish!" said Nathaniel brightly, but Jason gave him a warning look. Phoenix waved them off as she stared at Richard with concerned eyes. Stephen, Nathaniel and Jason started to move toward the nether regions of the building, where Asher and Jean-Claude still slept.

"Stop," said Richard. Even exhausted he was commanding. "I need for someone to go to Edan. A raiding party went to Camelot and took the women. I don't know where they've taken them, but they need help. I'd have gone after them but even I can't do it alone, and I've been up now for over 24 hours. I need sleep. One of you run to Edan while I get some rest, and if you bring them back here we can start searching from the ford. They had to have recrossed there."

Jason looked down the stairs. "Someone has to stay for Jean-Claude." He had to feed when he woke, and he was obviously using Jason as his breakfast.

"Asher too," said Stephen.

Nathaniel, who was a wereleopard and not directly under Richard or Jean-Claude's influence (Asher's, either; if he called an animal he had yet to reveal it, but it was not leopards), offered to go. "I'm faster than I look," he grinned.

"I believe it," Phoenix said. Even while "sleeping" he had gotten pretty personal. Fortunately Phoenix had experience with panthers and wolves - although Lupe was a female, the whole "thinking like an animal" and being more physically intimate was almost second nature to her, thanks to their long friendship.

Richard was waving him off on his errand. He looked at Phoenix. "You're staying here, I take it? He can't carry you back, but we can always ask him to bring an extra horse for you."

"I'm fine right here."

"Something you're not facing back in Edan?"

"Shut up and go to bed."

"But you are *in* my bed."

"You got a problem with that?" He blushed. He actually did. "By the Pharaohs!" Phoenix swore. "You're too tired to take advantage of me, and I'm well over the age of consent anyway."

Richard sniffed the air. "Not all three. Jason. And hours ago."

"Hours and one shower ago! Man, you are good. C'mon. I'll protect you." And she grinned.

***

Nathaniel ran in human form, though a leopard might attract less attention than a wolf. They were not as common. Since he was a lycanthrope, he had the same unerring knack for running without hitting into anything, and he covered the ground swiftly. He made Edan by nightfall.

The place still looked fairly empty, but at least there were some lights on. Nathaniel noticed that the biggest place, with the most lights, was the saloon, so he headed for that. He thought it a great joke that he was in a western town, though he looked nothing like the old west, unless you could picture a cowboy with hair down to his knees. But he *was* wearing boots!

Just as he got to the door, he had to stop and turn around, because several riders were coming into town from the north. For a moment he thought he'd gotten there just in time to see the place raided, and he wondered if he should hide or try to fight. He was usually the victim in any lycanthropic fight, but against humans he thought he could fare pretty well. But these were knights that were riding in, and Nathaniel had to stop and rub his violet eyes. What the hell was going on?

The racket caused Methos, Duncan, Lupe, Jonathan and Montoya to come outside. Nathaniel was confused, because two of the knights looked like two of the men from the saloon.

Methos was staring at one of the knights, as well. He hadn't been there when Methos had paid his visit, or he would have remembered. And Duncan was absolutely mesmerized, for, sitting astride a magnificently outfitted charger, was a man who looked exactly like him.

There was also a knight who looked like Montoya, but it was not Sir Patrice. Dismounting, he went to Methos and introduced himself as Sir Maurice deBracy. "And this," he indicated the other knight, who was also dismounting, "is Sir Lancelot."

Methos was spellbound - it took quite a bit to render him speechless, but this had done it! Then Lupe sniffed the air and noticed Nathaniel. She growled low in her throat and he flinched, wondering what sort of were she was. She smelled like pard to him, but he wasn't sure. She came over and started sniffing him, and he let her, because he could sniff her back, and she was cute.

Jonathan came to stand protectively behind her, and somehow Nathaniel knew they were a mated pair, but he was not quite of her kind, or his. He didn't know *what* he was, but Jonathan Chase was not a lycanthrope.

Meanwhile, while he was having a good sniff, the knights were telling Methos, Duncan and Montoya all about the raid. "Oh yeah," said Nathaniel. "I'm supposed to bring you back to Esperanza, so Richard can track the bad guys down."

"Esperanza! Where the hell is that?"

Nathaniel waved his arm in the general direction. "It's our town. Owned by the Vampires, but they let us live there. Guess we're hopeless, too."

"What are you, then?" asked Methos.

Lupe sniffed again. Nathaniel smiled as she said, "He's a were . . . panther?"

"Leopard. Richard is the Ulfric of the lukoi - the wolves." Lupe nodded, her nostrils still flared. "He followed one of your kind," Nathaniel nodded at Lupe now, "to Camelot, but he was too late."

"Our blacksmith said he saw a woman turn from a dragon, to a woman, to a tiger! We thought he was possessed of demons," said deBracy.

"No," Methos said, "a woman like that escaped from our jail a few days ago."

"Phoenix let her out."

Everyone stopped to look at Nathaniel, which made him grin and blush. "You know where Faia is?" Lupe demanded.

"Of course. She's in Esperanza. Won't come back cos Jason smelled her condition, and she's embarrassed."

"Condition?" Methos asked, his eyes narrowing. "What condition? She's Immortal, and immune to illness." Lupe took a deep breath and then contained it - and a curse as well.

"She's pregnant! We can all smell it on her. She didn't want to come back because she doesn't want to face the father. Jason said his name was 'Methos'. She called his name out twice when they . . . aren't we going to go back to Esperanza? Richard isn't my master, but he'd hurt me anyway, if I didn't do what he said."

But Methos was standing, stunned and speechless while the young pard rambled on. Pregnant? By *HIM*? It was impossible. Wasn't it?

***

"But . . . but . . . but . . ."

Duncan laughed at the sputtering mess that was the world's oldest man. Of course, his reaction would be the very same if someone had told HIM he was about to be a father.

"But it cannot be! I'm sterile. All Immortals are sterile."

"But if what he's saying is true, then Phoenix is pregnant, and she should be sterile too. If she isn't sterile, we might not be, either," Duncan said. It was starting to dawn on him.

Methos stood staring at his friend for several precious moments, his mouth working like a fish, until Montoya said, "This is all very interesting, but the women who were abducted would not be pleased to have their welfare taken so casually."

Methos jarred himself awake. "Yes, of course." He ran his big hands through his spiky hair. "You," he pointed to Nathaniel, "will please take me and Jonathan to Faia. Duncan, go find Ross and Locke. They have to be around here somewhere. Lancelot, deBracy? Would you ride over to the fort and alert the military? Tell them to send over an officer. I will want a meeting the minute I get back from Esperanza."

"And I?" Montoya asked, seething at being left out.

"Well, Colonel, someone has to watch the town."

***

With the men sorting themselves outside, Lupe turned to go back into the hotel. She was wondering what had happened to the cat she had given coffee beans to.

She saw it shivering, trying to hide behind a chair leg. The poor little thing. Her eyes narrowed, and she growled angrily, wondering who had hurt the little weyr. And if she had given her coffee beans, why hadn't she changed back yet?

Lupe went over to her and picked her up. She growled a little at her, but not in a threatening way. It was panther speak, and being a feline language, it was something the weyr should be able to understand.

The weyr mewed softly and curled into a ball, but allowed Lupe to pet her gently. After a few moments of her shivering, and Lupe reassuring her, her trembles gradually stopped and she uncurled the tiniest bit.

Just then they heard two men outside. "There. See? I told you there was life in this town. There's a light on in there," said Blair Sandburg.

At the new voice, the weyr's eyes flared with panic, then pain, as her body swiftly changed into her human form. Lupe's eyes widened, her keen senses warning her to jump back only seconds before the little cat changed into an almost painfully skinny girl of fifteen; hair raven black and reddish blonde.

"Yeah, Blair, I see it." Lupe noticed that the girl's eyes remained cat-like, even when she was in human form, but at the sound of this other voice she changed back yet again. Was it fear that triggered the change? How horrible not to have control over it.

The girl grimaced at the flash of heat, and Lupe could feel the warmth that had swept through her once again.

Two men walked in the door. "Look, there's a lady. With a cat. Nice kitty! Where is everyone?"

Lupe ignored the question. She bent to look at the cat. Sandburg and Ellison exchanged puzzled glances.

"Okay...my name's Blair Sandburg, this is Jim Ellison. We're looking for a girl that may 'ave passed through here--fifteen, about 5'3", black and blonde hair?"

"Is the blonde a sort of reddish blonde?"

"Yeah! That's her! Did you see which way she went?" Lupe opened her mouth, but the little cat hissed.

So this Blair didn't know the child's true identity. Interesting. She would play along; after all, if the child couldn't control her shape shifting, she would look a fool. "I didn't say I saw her at all."

Jim jumped in "Now, wait just a minute..."

Lupe met his eye. She didn't say anything; she didn't have to. All five foot, two inches of her stood against him like a wall. Her golden eyes never wavered. He wasn't going to make her talk and only a fool would've tried.

He sighed, knowing he was at an impasse. There was something about her that seemed almost feline--her pose, her stance, her eyes. "Oh . . . well, then I don't suppose you'd mind telling us where we are?" Blair was surprised when Jim backed down. Usually, Jim was an alpha-male and always got his way. Maybe it had to do with his being a sentinel - and not on his own territory. He couldn't say he blamed him, he could almost see the coiled strength inside the enigmatic woman standing defiantly before them.

"This is Edan," said Lupe. She gave Mia another look then said, "Have you eaten?"

"Well, actually, now that you mention it..." Jim was interrupted by a loud growl from Blair's stomach, who then had the decency to look slightly abashed. They all burst out into laughter, the tension in the room dissipating, before they realized it had been there. Lupe glanced at the child one more time, to reassure her that she was not leaving, before heading for the kitchen.

She had just put plates in front of them when Simon Ross, Tempest Locke, and Duncan MacLeod entered. "Anyone know how long it takes to get to Esperanza and back?" Ross was asking.

"Methos said to wait here for him," Duncan said. He looked at Lupe. "Coffee, Lupe, it's going to be a long night."

Ellison looked up from his food. It smelled good, even if he didn't know what it was. "What's goin' on? We just got here."

Duncan sized him up. Then his eyes went to Sandburg and then back. "This is normally a nice place, but across the river," he waved in the proper direction, "there's a city full of bad guys. They committed a raid on a castle north of here . . ."

"Castle?" Blair Sandburg asked, almost choking on his stew.

"Castle," Duncan confirmed. "And they rode off with four women. We want to get them back."

"I should say so!" said Sandburg. Ellison gave him a withering look.

"Count me in." He stood, coming over to shake Duncan's hand. "Detective Jim Ellison, Cascade PD."

Simon Ross looked him over as he shook hands with the Highlander. Then he stood, extending his hand as well. "Inspector Simon Ross. Late of Vancouver, now of the Edan PD. You'll be working for me, Detective Ellison. This, here, is Detective Tempest Locke." Jim smiled and shook hands with the lady detective.

"Now what, boss?"

Ross looked at Duncan. "We wait for Methos to return, then we sort out what we're going to do about getting them back."

***

He moved in the darkness, restless in his sleep, and she wondered if his conscience was bothering him. The metallic feel of her collar, cuffs and chains chilled her, and she wanted to use the facilities, but he would wake if she moved, and she didn't want him to wake.

Melissa wore nothing but the bronze bands around her neck, wrists and ankles, attached together by a thickish chain of the same metal. During the day she had something to "cover" her, but that word did not do the outfit justice. Her nipples and pubic area were both exposed, even when she was dressed.

Now, in bed beside him, she wore nothing but her shackles. The bed was comfortable and warm, and she could be even warmer if she moved closer to his body. But of course, she'd rather die than do that! It was bad enough that he wanted her constantly; she would never encourage more intimacy.

She was afraid to breathe, lest he wake and want her again. It wasn't that he was cruel to her, or painful . . . it had hurt the first time but she had expected that. Actually, all of the *foreplay*, if you could call it that, had made the going much easier. If anything, that was the problem. She was unhappy here; she did not like being someone's love slave. It was ridiculous to find any pleasure whatsoever in it. What was she, a freak?

In reality, it was just his tenaciousness that led to her . . . favorable reactions. He simply refused to give in until she felt something, and she hated it. She hated herself. He was a monster. What did that make her?

Her bladder could not be denied. He'd be angry with her if she messed the bed; she had to get up and go. Finally, taking a deep breath and deciding to throw caution to the wind, she started to sit up.

And his hand came over to clasp onto her arm.

"Please," she said. "I must . . ."

"Yes," he said softly, his voice deep and warm in the darkness. "And then you will return."

"Yes."

There was a pause, pregnant with tension, while he continued to hold her wrist. He never said a word, but there was a question, a demand, in the silence.

"Yes, *Master*."

He let her arm go. She would relieve herself, then return to pleasure him. And, unfortunately, herself.

***

Montoya was fuming. "Stay here in town while *he* gets all the glory! Not likely!" Storming off as Methos and Jonathan Chase mounted their horses (Nathaniel preferred to run), he went in and saddled up his own poor excuse for a stallion. Turning the beast's head sharply, he rode out of town in the other direction.

Lancelot and deBracy were heading toward the fort. Montoya planned to go further south, to see if there was any possible way to cross the river that way. If he could find a way, he could come back with the knowledge; Colonel O'Neill would simply have to give him some men then. Only a fool would fail to see the benefits of attacking from both the east and the west - right now they could only attack from the west, using the ford - and that was probably well guarded by the raiders. At least *he* would have some sort of guards up, if it were him.

He was scouting the area, but it was not easy in the darkness. He was concentrating so much he almost did not see the rider on a pale white horse, coming to his left. Pulling his horse, which was still unnamed, to a stop, he reached for the pistol he had hidden on him. "Identify yourself."

"Colonel?" asked a familiar voice. "Is that you?"

Montoya relaxed. "Grisham. Where have you been all this time?"

"I just got here. I went searching for you and the doctor, and I ended up here."

"Searching for me, how touching."

Grisham shrugged. "Couldn't get promoted without proof of your death."

"Ah. That's more like it." Montoya put away his gun. "Come. I'll explain where we are on the way. Meanwhile, keep your eyes open for a way across that." He indicated the river.

Grisham grinned. This was a no brainer. "A boat?"

"That's what I like about you, Grisham. You're so *quick*. There are no boats. At least, not until someone makes one. This is a very backward place, Capitan. We must find a way around the river without a boat."

Grisham's horse, which was magnificent, fell into step beside Montoya's. How he wished the other man had brought his Salan! "Why?" Grisham asked after a pause.

"Because, my feeble minded friend, if I save the damsels in distress, they will have to take me seriously. Give me command over that ridiculous Colonel, O'Neill. I have seniority, but Methos . . ."

"Methos? What kind of name is Methos?"

Montoya ignored him. "Methos just repeats what a good diplomat I am, and how I am needed in town . . ."

"You are very diplomatic, Colonel."

"There is no money in diplomacy!" Montoya exclaimed, then thought a moment. "Well, not as much as there would be in controlling the purse strings, and HE does that for now."

"I think I'm gettin' the picture."

"Good. Then keep your eyes open for a way across the river."

"Yes, sir."

***

In the other direction entirely, Methos was riding into Esperanza next to Jonathan Chase. Chase could have gone as a horse himself, had he so chosen, and in fact, Methos was looking forward to Chase doing so on the way back. Faia, he fully believed, would be riding Chase's mount. Of this he had no doubt.

Nathaniel made his way to Jean-Claude's place. Unfortunately, the sun was about to rise. Esperanza was not close, even on horseback, and the trip there and back had chewed up most of the night.

As he had said the night before, Jean-Claude had been chosen to have this night's festivities. Above his lair there was a large building that, had there been more people in Esperanza, he would have liked to have turned into a nightclub. Janette, one of LaCroix' flock, also had a similar place by her - and they had the same problem. Until the city filled in, they took turns.

Since dawn was approaching, most of the guests had already left. Faia was tired - this staying awake all night and sleeping all day was hard to get used to. The very *last* person she wanted to see at that moment was Methos. But that's who walked in to the room, just as she was preparing to go to bed. Jean-Claude was thanking her in his usual way, a kiss to the pulse-point of her wrist, for being such a superb hostess. "Get off her, you blood sucker!" Methos shouted, rushing over to separate them.

Jean-Claude looked him in the eye. Then he blinked. Methos was completely unaffected by his gaze! "I'm too old to have my mind rolled," Methos said. "You certainly aren't the first vampire I've met in 50 centuries. Now, back off."

Jean-Claude looked at Phoenix and then did as Methos asked. "Your lover is here, ma cheri," he smiled, stepping back and bowing with a flourish. "Not that he appreciates the care I've taken to keep you safe. You, and his child." Grinning, but not quite letting it get to his eyes, Jean-Claude withdrew into the farther reaches of the building.

Jonathan and Nathaniel were looking around. Or, more specifically, sniffing around. "Where's Richard?" asked the wereleopard.

Before Phoenix could answer, Methos stepped up to her. "What is all this about a baby, Faia? You know we can't . . ."

She shrugged. "That's what I told *them*! But they all swear to it. And when Richard came back, he said he had known from the moment he met me, outside town, so it has to be yours. I wasn't with anyone but you. Well, till I got here, anyway."

Methos felt a pang of jealousy. Harder than the one he'd felt when she'd played him for a fool that day. But it passed quickly, for something was pushing it out of his head. He moved toward her, eager to touch her belly. His child? Could it be true? After all these years?

She stepped back. "No," she said.

Methos was stunned. He was even *more* stunned when Nathaniel, who had been positively solicitous for the entire journey, suddenly moved between them and growled. "Leave her alone."

The old man laughed. "You've got to be kidding. Faia, please."

"No. You have other work t'do. We'll talk . . . and I mean really *talk* this time, Methos! . . . later. Right now, Richard is out sniffing out the trail. Are you going to meet him and get those women back? It's been a few days already!"

"I don't think Kronos is going to kill them," Methos said wearily. He wanted to hold her. He wanted this whole mess with the women over so he could sit and talk to her, make her understand that he was overwhelmed with joy at having a baby on the way. And he wanted to do more than just talk.

"I think we need a few more men before we burst in on Kronos," he told her. "I wanted to take Richard - and you - back to Edan. Then we can plan our strategy, based on what he said he saw . . . and now smelled, I guess."

Phoenix nodded, and he was hopeful, for all of two seconds. "Richard will go with you. I'm staying here."

"But Faia!"

"I feel safe here," she explained. Then, to his surprise, she went to Nathaniel and kissed him, full on the lips. The lycanthrope was surprised, too, but immediately began kissing her back. There was another immediate reaction, as well, and when Phoenix broke the kiss, she turned him so Methos could see it. "Safe and wanted."

"Oh yes," sighed Nathaniel. "Very wanted."

Methos pursed his lips. "Fine," he said. "Jonathan?"

The Manimal held his tongue. But the grin on his face was infuriating. And after Methos passed, on his way out into the dawn, Jonathan winked at Phoenix before turning to follow the Immortal out.

***

Calista growled as she lounged on a pile of pillows. Melissa had just come into the room, her puffy white bush and sweet little round bottom wriggling for all to see. The breasts were pushed up and out - Calista was betting she rouged her nipples, too. She couldn't catch a whiff of it, but they were too red, too perfect.

The men all stopped to look at her, including Calista's mate. When she growled at him for it, he simply laughed and pulled her into his lap, showing his affection with the hard, biting kisses she so enjoyed. But Calista was still sure Kronos was working out a way to take Melissa from Methos - even if only for a night.

She was out of her mind with jealousy.

So far, Methos hadn't let anyone touch her, though he paraded her around like a trophy. Only he was able to touch her, and he did so constantly. The tart pretended to be offended, but Calista smelled her arousal. She could not hide it.

They were all in the great room, lying about and enjoying the pleasures of the flesh. Calista was the only female who was not required to serve her master - he knew damn well she'd bite his arm off or burn the place to the ground, with him in it, if he so much as asked. But that was part of the reason Kronos liked her. She was his equal in all things. The handmaidens were there to fetch and carry, and to open their legs for whoever wanted them. Melissa was there to tend to Methos, and to rub the other guys' noses in it. Mostly they looked at her, got a hard on, and grabbed one of the other slaves.

Or Cassandra. She was exempt from serving, but that was only because she was flat on her back all day. It amused Kronos to see her servicing one man after another. When all her "suitors" were exhausted, he kept her there, locked in irons, legs spread and waiting for the line to reform. The men were encouraged to fondle her even when they weren't actually screwing her, so she got very little peace and was, Calista thought, going quite mad.

The Lycine leaned forward, resting her head on her hands, which were crossed at the wrists. Her knees were together and pulled up against her; she looked like an animal sleeping. Her long red hair trailed down her back and across her hips, and Kronos gently stroked her, like one would do to a pet. She wore a red leather body suit that was skintight and left nothing to the imagination, but every man there knew Kronos would take his head if he so much as looked at her funny. Head hunting had been outlawed except for punishment, as Kronos did not want his men to be killing one another for sport.

Just then Kronos seemed to perk up and, smiling, said, "Well, well, what have we here?"

"I found her in the woods," said Silas. "Can I keep her?"

Calista raised her head to look. The woman was pretty, and slim, but there was something *off* about her. She sniffed. The woman was Immortal.

The captive pulled away from Silas's grasp. "No one keeps me, I keep them," she said.

There was a titter of laughter. Then Morgan Walker stood. "Why Kristen. I thought you were dead."

"In your dreams, Morgan. I just stopped sending you girls."

"Still upset I stiffed you on that commission? Tsk tsk." He turned to Kronos. "You know, we might be able to use this one."

The men in the room tittered. Someone grabbed her skirt and made a dirty comment.

"No, I mean, there might be a way to get us more slaves, using her. She'll never make a good slave - we'd have to turn her into that." He indicated Cassandra, who was currently too exhausted to fight back, much.

Kronos nodded. He hated Cassandra so he wasn't overly concerned with her welfare. He had nothing against Kristen and would much rather increase his wealth, than to just make another zombie. "How?"

"Kristen had a modeling agency. It's very provocative to offer a girl stardom, even here. Perhaps she can go searching for… likely suspects?"

"Maybe. But she has to do every man here, first."

Methos looked up and smiled. "Pass." Melissa came by and he pulled her into his arms. Kristen, watching, suddenly had the same expression as Calista had whenever she looked at the poor captive slave. Not that Kristen *wanted* to have another man to satisfy; it was just that she did not take kindly to being rejected.

Melissa had made another enemy.

***

They found Richard at the ford. After introductions were exchanged, the werewolf told his story and then indicated the direction the raiders had taken. "I followed the trail to the city, then returned."

"Shit."

Richard glanced at Jonathan. He sensed Jonathan's animal nature, but could not put a finger on his type. He was, or could be, alpha, though Richard felt certain he was not looking to fight it out for dominance. Richard hoped not, anyway. It was as if the two men had made a silent agreement, when shaking on their introductions, to keep things as stalemated as the city of Esperanza's vampires were.

"It's Kronos. I was afraid he was here," Methos said at last. "Lupe said Calista was here because he was here. He's in the city directly across from Edan. And they can cross at this ford any time they want."

"No, we can put guards here," Jonathan said. "Come, my friend, we have work to do. Let's go back to Edan and make plans."

"I would bring my men, but the Vampires are not much good without shelter from sunlight."

"I understand." Methos looked over his shoulder. "They have something even more precious to guard."

Richard nodded, understanding. "She's better staying there, you know. She's safe from them. I don't think they know Esperanza even exists."

"Let's hope they never find out," Methos said, and he mounted Alice. Jonathan also mounted, then he offered Richard his hand. It had been another long night, and to the surprise of both men, the werewolf king took the hand up. He rode back to Edan behind Jonathan Chase.