InkintheBlood by Chandra Ryan Page A

His smile slipped away at the word and was replaced by
heavy lines of stress and tension. “Don’t say it. Don’t try to tell me how I’m
going to feel tomorrow or even ten years from now. You almost died, Izzy. I was
covered in your blood. I…” He looked away and took a deep breath as the muscle
in his jaw twitched.
    “Jacob.” She knew where the conversation was going. She
could tell by his tone that in his mind his choice had been made. And as much
as she wished for it to be true, there was one thing he had to hear before
committing to anything.
    Her stomach cramped painfully as she thought about what she
was going to say. He’d accepted so much. She didn’t see how he could accept any
more. “Before you say anything else, there is one thing I need to tell
you. Just one more thing you do need to know.” She took a deep breath
before starting. “I am different. We are different.”
    “I don’t care,” he interrupted.
    She put a finger to his lips to silence him. “The blood
doesn’t mix. It’s incompatible.”
    “So no transfusions?” he teased.
    “No, so no children.”
    He looked out the window, his face dark as he stood deep in
thought. Her stomach continued to twist painfully as she watched him, but she
didn’t say anything. She’d told him the truth and now it was his decision.
    After what felt like an eternity, he turned to face her
again. “There are lots of couples who can’t have children, but they still love
each other.” His voice was soft as he said the words. It was as if he were
asking for a confirmation.
    “They do.” She was still cautious, but for the first time
she could feel hope beginning to creep through her.
    He smiled broadly, his eyes glowing with happiness. “I’ve
actually heard it’s quite trendy to adopt right now.”
    She could see his happiness and found herself relaxing in
its glow. “Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves?”
    “Children or no children, I know you’re the one I want to be
with. The one I love. What else is there?”
    Her breath caught at the simple yet eloquent statement.
“Nothing.” As she said the word, she felt the tingling warmth of happiness
sweep away the years of loneliness. And, staring up at Jacob, her uncle’s words
made sense. It wasn’t revenge her soul needed. It had never been what her soul
needed.
    “Then we’ll be fine, no matter what life throws at us.”
    “Don’t say that, it’s courting trouble.”
    “After what we’ve been through…”
    “You still have to meet my sister.”
    “Is she anything like your half brother?”
    “No, not Nikki.” She shook her head. “She’s a bit
overprotective though.”
    “Overprotective I can deal with. Arrange it and I’ll be
there.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Whatever it takes, Izzy.”
    “Really?”
    “Really.”
    She was overwhelmed by emotion as he handed her what she’d
needed to finally be free. “I love you, Agent Phinney.”
    He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, placing it gently
behind her ear. “Good, now I know you won’t hurt me when I tell you I preferred
you as a redhead.”
    She laughed as she shifted her hair back to red. “Red it
is.”
     

About Chandra Ryan
     
    Being from a rather nomadic family, Chandra Ryan loves to
travel and meet people. But she’s found that sometimes, like when you’re stuck
inside because of a good old-fashioned Southwestern heat wave, you have to make
do. Fortunately for her and her loving family, who don’t like seeing her suffer
from cabin fever, she’s found creating new people and places equally as
fascinating. Also, you’re a lot less likely to spill your ice tea.
     
    Chandra welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com .
     
     
     
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