by Ravyn Wilde
a Creatures of Myth story
The biggest threat to Zane Patrick's sanity just bought the house next door! This two-hundred and fifty-year-old vampire just wants to be left alone to raise his horses, and live as normally as possible. Refusing the head of the Absolute Sentinel Council’s request to become the Vampire Sentinel for the Pacific Northwest, Zane doesn’t want to get involved in all the politics of his species or the Others. His peaceful, sane existence is shattered by his new neighbor!
Nicole Martin is a romance author. She likes her privacy and her new little house in the Cascade Mountains. Realizing that her sexy next-door neighbor, Zane, is a complication she doesn’t need in her life, she struggles to keep her distance. But she can’t help using him as inspiration in her books.
An ancient, mystifying ruby, once owned by Catherine the Great, binds the two together in ways neither wanted, or imagined. When Nicole's life is threatened, Zane struggles to protect her. If Zane can’t keep Nicky safe, they may not live through the next few days.
Note: This was originally published by Ellora's Cave in August 2008 in the Vampire Sentinels series. New material has been added and the story has been newly edited.
