Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian 1)

"Vampires in shadows don't show up in normal security tapes."

He grinned. "No. But the rail system underwent a recent upgrade that included infrared systems being installed side by side with standard security. It's helped catch a number of criminals."

"That was kept rather secret, wasn't it?"

"Sometimes the public just doesn't need to know."

"Tell that to the civil libertarians." I pushed up from the chair and walked across to the machine to grab a coffee. "Why was Rhoan investigating Quinn O'Conor?"

Amusement touched his lips. "Oh, you are good."

"Was it the dead vamp found in his cargo plane?"

"Very good," he murmured, then nodded. "Turns out that vamp was a half-breed." He looked at me, and I knew, right then, that I'd been on the money before. He'd known all along what Rhoan and I were. "But one born in the lab, rather than naturally, like you and your twin."

I swallowed, but it did little to ease the dryness in my throat. "How long have you known?"

"Practically since you joined us."

And we thought we'd been so careful

His smile was gentle. "Riley, I'm over eight hundred years old, and I've seen an awful lot in my time. I've met your kind before - you even have a name, do you realize that?"

The only name I knew was freak, and even then, until that man shot me, I'd only ever heard it in whispered tones from those in my pack who thought I was too young to understand

"Dhampires," he continued. "The offspring of newly turned vamps, born to women who are usually attacked and raped in the vampire's first hour out of the grave, women who somehow survive. A one in a million chance."

"Our mother was a wolf."

"And I'm supposing she was in moon fever, because a werewolf would certainly best a newly risen vampire."

She had bested him - when it was over and his dying seed had somehow created life. "Why haven't you ever said anything?"

"Because I respect your right to privacy." He hesitated. "Though I have to admit, your birthright is part of the reason I want you on the team with Rhoan. I don't think either of you has tapped your full potential."

"And I want the whole picket fence and bundles of babies scenario, Jack, not long nights filled with bloodshed."

"Actually, I want you and Rhoan to form the start of a daytime guardian division. Right now, we are somewhat hampered by our ability to hunt only at night."

"Right now, your wants aren't even registering on my radar." I began to pace, taking care not to spill the lukewarm brown muck the Directorate had the cheek to call coffee. The moon was rising and I didn't have to see it to know it was happening. The power of it burned through my veins. "So why did a dead half vamp make you decide to investigate Quinn? There's nothing unusual in vamps occasionally dying on cargo planes, especially if they get their timing or packing wrong."

"This vamp suffocated."

I swung around to look at him. "Vamps don't really need air to survive, so how did he suffocate?"

"He was only half-vamp, remember."

"So he was too dumb to put airholes in the coffin?"

Jack grinned. "Actually, he had too much air."

That raised my eyebrows. "How can anyone have too much air?"

"He was half merman, that's how."

"A vampire merman?" I couldn't help the note of incredulity in my voice. "Why in hell would anyone want a cross like that?"

"I think hell had a lot to do with it. A hell run by fanatics determined to breed the perfect killing machine."