Page 121 of Caressed By Sin
The centaur stopped and watched the dust fall to the ground. Then, he headed back to the group.
When the centaur turned around, he looked at me. “You have returned, princess.”
I sighed in relief. “Yes.”
Zoe stared at me in shock.
The centaur spoke again, “Now, you have a foal?”
What?
I blinked. “Oh, yes. A child. Her name is Jade.”
“She is full of great magic.” The centaur lowered his sword. “Perhaps, she can help with the vampires.”
I tensed. “What?”
“Every now and then, a clan of vampires attempt to enter the forest and get to your father's castle. We stop as many as we can. Your people fight the rest.”
“I. . .I didn't know.”
“We all thought that perhaps your vampire feasted on you until your death, found you tasty, and wanted more Yumboe to feed on.”
Jade shivered against me.
The centaur inhaled the air. “But you are not dead.”
“I'm not.”
“And you have great power too, much more than when you left.”
I nodded.
“Perhaps,youcan help with the vampires also.”
“I will.”
“Then, welcome home, princess.”
All of the centaurs did a dramatic bow and then trotted away.
Once they disappeared into the darkness, Zoe got in front of me. “You are royalty?”
“One would say that.”
Zoe gestured into the darkness. “Theysaid that.”
Jade leaned back and smiled at me. “They were nice, Mommy.”
“Thank God.” I walked off.
Zoe kept my pace. “So, this is where you grew up?”
“It is.”
“Then, this place should be safe.”
“I believe so, although I'm not happy to hear that vampires have been coming out here.”
