The Midnight Breed Series Companion (51 page)

The night we made love and shared our blood to create Connor was the most tender, most vulnerable I’d ever seen my brave warrior, Conlan. And I had never loved him more. Not in four hundred years, had I loved him more than in that one precious moment.

Will Connor be joining the Order?

—Phuong T., Angier, NC USA

As his mother, I pray he’ll choose a different path. But Connor is his father’s son, and in my heart I know he is a warrior.

~ ~ ~

GABRIELLE

Do the Breedmates have days away? Do you girls get stir crazy? It seems like it could get claustrophobic or they could miss being out in the sun.

—Lawren B., Menifee, CA USA

We do go out for day trips, sometimes. But less often, as you can imagine, once the violence around Boston increased with Dragos in the picture. Lucan and the other warriors get twitchy when they’re not there to protect us during daylight activities, so for their sanity more than ours, we’ve all decided to curtail our time outside the security of the compound. Thank goodness for Internet shopping and grocery delivery!

If you could re-do one thing in yours and Lucan's relationship what would that be?

—Sandy S., Olathe, KS USA

(Gabrielle smiles and sends a private, intimate look in Lucan’s direction)
Not one thing. I think we’re doing everything pretty well so far.

~ ~ ~

GIDEON

Why do you wear glasses? Doesn’t the Breed have good eyesight?

—Edan E., Indianapolis, IN USA

Correct. All of the Breed is born with impeccable eyesight. I was no different, until things went south for me around 1974.

(Dante snorts from across the room)
Disco wasn’t good for anyone, man.

(Gideon ignores him, looks back with a shrug)
I had a bit of trouble down in Louisiana. If you want the blow-by-blow, Savannah and I spilled all the details just for that book you’re holding in your hands right now.

This is something I have always wanted to know, Gideon...do you ever miss fighting Rogues with the others?

—Kimberly M., Apopka, FL USA

(Takes Savannah’s hand in his, rubbing his thumb over his mate’s smooth skin)
Sure, I miss being in the thick of the action. But I made a promise to someone that means even more to me. Now I make do using my other considerable skills—if I do say so myself—to help the Order take out our enemies in other, more creative ways.

~ ~ ~

HUNTER

How has parenthood changed you?

—Sandy S., Olathe, KS USA

I can think of no way that it
hasn’t
changed me. Any more than I can think of a single thing in my life that hasn’t been changed because of the love of this woman.
(kisses Corinne unabashedly, in front of everyone gathered in the room)

~ ~ ~

LUCAN

Why are the warriors so disrespected?  I don't understand why the protectors of the race, not to mention some of the oldest, are looked down upon by the Darkhavens. Thank you for your service from this human who appreciates when somebody is out there trying to save our lives.

—Liz F., Springfield, MO USA

(Nods tightly, clearly uncomfortable with the praise or the gratitude)
Let them disrespect us. We get the job done, and we do it our way. I don’t hear anyone complaining about us when the bullets and blood are flying. If anyone disrespects our methods, let them come out to the front lines and take the heat alongside us.

Exactly how do you decide who can be part of the Order? Why did you decide on Kade and Brock and not some Darkhaven youth? Are there tests that must be passed to join the Order?

—Diane Y., Toms River, NJ USA

Darkhaven youth as a warrior?
(tries and fails to stifle a smirk)
The Order’s not an equal opportunity employer, and I make no apologies for that. Our new recruits come in through recommendation by one of the warriors, or they’re hand-picked by yours truly. We put them through some paces, take them out on a patrol or two, see what they’re made of. The ones who’re still standing come daybreak make it to another round. Sooner or later, the wheat separates from the chaff. Then I decide who stays and who goes.

Can a vampire be changed back to a human?

—Tiffany M., Port Arthur, TX USA

Can a cat be changed back into a frog? Different animal altogether. Same with Breed and humans. No changes, no returns.

Why does Lucan not utilize the Breedmates with active powers to help with the fight? I know they need to be protected but it seems that so many of them could be used to help their mates.

—Tiffany S., APO, AE USA

I’m not gonna be the one to call Niko’s mate to the front lines of combat, but if Renata—or any of the other women of the Order—want to contribute to our missions, they can and do. They’ve got a pretty decent track record so far too. If you need a refresher, check out
Veil of Midnight, Ashes of Midnight, Taken by Midnight,
and
Darker After Midnight
.

What has happened in your life or continues to happen, Lucan, to make you so angry all the time? Even with Gabrielle in the beginning, you seem angry! You act as if you need her so much, but even that makes you seem angry!

—Lynn K., Willards, MD USA

(snarls)
Why do you think I’m angry? Do I look angry to you?
(brow furrows deeper, growl curls up from back of his throat)
For fuck’s sake, I am
not
angry all the time.
(glowers as Gideon barely suppresses a chortle)
What’s the deal, asking about my feelings for Gabrielle, anyway? Do I need to come right out in front of everyone here and say I need her? Hell, yeah, I need her. I love her, damn it! And why the hell do I have so many questions when everyone else in this Q&A session only has one or two?

:::Lara hastily steps into the room now:::

Oookay, thank you for participating today, Lucan. Moving on! Who’s up next?

~ ~ ~

MIRA

Did you ever wish that looking in your eyes didn't tell the future?

—Christian W., Keansburg, NJ USA

Yes. Almost every day I wished for that. But it’s better now.

~ ~ ~

NATHAN

Did you meet with any of your half-brothers, e.g. the ones that were rescued along with your mother (and their mothers) by the Order?

—Julia H., Duisburg, Germany

No, I haven’t met any of them. Pretty sure I’ve seen some of them around Boston and elsewhere, though.

How many people have you assassinated in your short life before your mother and Hunter found you?

—Shannon C., West Yarmouth, MA USA

A lot. Taking the time or attention to count them wasn’t part of my training.

~ ~ ~

NIKOLAI

How did Niko get into designing cool weapons and ammo for the Order?

—Rachel S., Tampa, FL USA

Why is Rachel S. from Tampa speaking to me in third person?
(grins, showing his twin dimples)
Remember, I was born and raised in Siberia during the height of the Cold War era. Weapons and ammo were my teething toys.

~ ~ ~

RENATA

How does it feel to be the first female "warrior" member of the Order?

—Katy N., Alfortville, France

Pretty fucking awesome. And by that I mean, it’s an honor.

~ ~ ~

RIO

Why could you only see your dead mate’s ghost when Dylan was in danger?

—Lara              B., Barrys Bay, ON Canada

Why did she lead Dylan to me that day in the Czech mountains? Did she want to save my life, or did she want me to find my true mate in Dylan? You’d have to ask Eva these things.

When Eva appeared to me on that highway, I suppose after she’d died, she’d never tried so hard to reach out to me, the way she did when Dylan had been kidnapped by Dragos. Maybe my blood bond to Dylan helped bridge the gap between this plane and the next, and allowed Eva to appear to me.

Whatever the reason, I am grateful for what Eva did for me that day. For us, Dylan and me. I thought I would despise Eva for the rest of my life. I can summon no hate for her now.

~ ~ ~

SAVANNAH

You have been mated to Gideon for a long time, what advice can you offer the younger Breed couples in keeping the love/romance everlasting?

—Madeline P., Escondido, CA USA

Be honest with your mate, even if it scares you. Share everything you are, and trust the love you have together will see you through anything.