Although if she hadn’t, she and the rest of the people on Earth would probably be dead or enslaved. It was enough to make Sophie wish she’d never heard of the Kindred. Jillian’s “look at me, I’m such a perfect little Kindred wife” routine was getting pretty damned old. I mean, the mating habits of the different Kindred are practically all we brides ever talk about-isn’t that right, Livvy?” She nudged Olivia and let out another high-pitched giggle. “Oh, that.” Jillian made a shooing gesture.

“But I still don’t see how you can know about Blood Kindred when your husbands are Twins.” “Everyone thinks they’re these ferocious warriors when actually they’re just big teddy bears. “I was-and you’ll never meet a sweeter pair of guys than my two hubbies.” Jillian giggled. “I thought you were called by two of the Twin Kindred?” “How do you know so much about the Tranq Kindred?” she asked, trying to keep the irritation she felt out of her voice. Now she was practically Olivia’s best friend-or at least that was how it felt to Sophie, who was used to being her sister’s closest confident. Jillian had been no more than a passing acquaintance back when they all attended Hillsborough High. Sophie shot the other woman a resentful look. Green and purple were holy colors to the Kindred-the colors of the sacred grove where Olivia and Baird, the Kindred warrior who had called her, were about to say their vows. Her bridesmaid’s gown was a deep violet which went well with her tan skin. “Yes, but they won’t get sharp enough to pierce flesh until he finds a woman he wants to mate.” Jillian Holms, an old high school friend who had also been “drafted” or called as a bride to the Kindred Mother ship, smiled smugly and adjusted her neckline. “I mean, he’s got fangs,” she pointed out, still glaring at her sister. But no dress, no matter how gorgeous, was enough to distract her from the matter at hand. She had to admit the deep emerald color looked great with her green eyes and the cut was very becoming to her hourglass figure. “Oh yes he does! He’s a Blood Kindred, or did you forget?” Sophie put a hand on her hip causing the long, form-fitting bridesmaid’s gown to make a soft swishing sound. “It’s not a big deal-Sylvan doesn’t bite.” It had been specially set up in the dressing tent for the bride and her attendants and it was getting a lot of use. “Don’t be silly, Sophie,” she said, adjusting her veil for the fourteenth time and peering anxiously at her reflection in the full-length holo-viewer. Clearly she was too firmly cocooned in nearly-wedded bliss to worry about the severe emotional trauma she was about to inflict on her twin.

It’s the bride and groom who are supposed to kiss-not the best man and maid of honor.” Sophia Waterhouse looked at her sister in horror but Olivia just smiled happily.

Hunted by Evangeline Anderson