Home is where the heart is, which is another way of saying that home is wherever you may be. Though this saying is sometimes true, it is most often misleading. For Kindred, home is where your Clan is. It is why the clanless, or Caitiff, are the most reviled of Kindred. Clans fight fiercely to stay a close knit unit. It not only keeps the Clan strong, it stays other clans’ attempts to bring it down. But then again, it’s not all about the Clan or the heart. For Kindred, home is where your blood flows for, in the end, that is what connects us together. Dead or not.

****

Brian stared at the group before him. He glanced over to the bleached blond Kindred who called himself Spike. Though Spike was a Ventrue and could be trouble, the man didn’t worry Brian. Even the small blonde Slayer didn’t daunt the Prince. She was clearly feisty and strong, but in the end she was just another human. The only one who interested Brian was the redhead who reeked power. There was more to her and Brian would stop at nothing to find out what it was.

Wearing only a pair of loose fitting pants, Brian strolled into the living room and draped himself across his sofa. There was much to be explained and he wondered if he had the patience to sit through it all. He could feel anger coming from his bedroom. He knew his young lover wanted their opponents dead. Not that he blamed Justin, but there was still business to attend to. Brian still needed to find out about the Slayer and, more importantly, about her redheaded side kick.

“So what’s the hub-bub, Justin?” Buffy asked, making her way to Brian and sitting in a chair directly across from him. “I know why I wanted to see you, but why do you want to see me? Needing to die quickly?”

“Umm…Buff…” Willow said, making her way to the group.

“Hold on, Will,” Buffy interrupted, slouching into her seat confidently. “I’m talking to this Royal Prince guy with the lack of clothing Taylor who’s going to explain to me why I shouldn’t just stake him in the heart right now.”

“Ummm, I think we may have made a little miscalculation,” Willow continued, feeling the burn of the cocky look in Brian’s eyes. “So let’s start with who you are….the guy who’s half naked and not Justin Taylor.”

“Wha?” Buffy wondered aloud.

“Not Justin Taylor,” Brian repeated chuckling. “Name’s Kinney. Brian Kinney. Prince Kinney, if you’re trying to kill me.”

“What-ever, Prince Kinney,” Buffy said, kicking her feet up on a glass table. She was a little surprised by the revelation, but it didn’t matter in the least. Justin Taylor, Brian Kinney or whomever he said he was, one thing was a fact…the man before her was a vampire and she was the vampire Slayer. “Either way, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

“I vote for hard,” Justin replied, entering the room wearing nothing but a smile.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Hey, Justin,” Willow said, waving her hand innocently. When she noticed the large belly on the man, she stared, shaking her head in disbelief. “Are you…”

“This is what happens when you assume,” Spike told the group, still sitting opposite Cash. He kicked his feet up on the table and snorted with an evil grin. “You make an ass out of you and me…well, mostly you Buffy, but who’s keeping track?” He pretended to think and chuckled, “Oh yeah, that would be me.”

“I’m pregnant, if you hadn’t noticed,” Justin clarified. “And you two twats think my baby’s going to start some sort of apocalypse or something. Let me just tell you how wrong you are.”

“You’re like…” Buffy said, not knowing how to put it politely. “…a vampire!”

“Well, Angel did have a kid too,” Willow mentioned. “And he’s a vampire. Well, Darla had Angel’s kid, but Darla was a vampire before she killed herself or whatever.”

“He’s a guy!” Buffy exclaimed, looking Justin up and down then looking away. “As can be noted by his other parts, which are totally out there and in the needing to be put away as in not in view.”

“You’re so observant,” Justin snickered. “You give the rest of us blonds a bad name.”

“I told ‘em, Buffy,” Spike explained to his friends. “I told them what Giles told us, because like me, these blokes don’t want to see the end of the world either. They like it just the way it is. Full of edibles, quite like yourself.”

“You wish you could have eaten us,” Willow snapped.

“Ummm,” Buffy said, which made Spike laugh. “On to other more non sexual things not having to do with eating or…yeah…Hey, pregnant guy, can you cover your more saluting parts?”

“’Fraid it might squirt somethin’ at ya?” Spike chuckled. “Having flashbacks of us maybe? Well, just know that these blokes don’t care what’s wet between your legs, though I will admit I had a jolly time when I was there.”

“Ew,” Justin snapped, turning to his lover. “I just had a visual of a vagina…Brian, you promised you’d kill them for me! They’re still here!”

“He’s just waiting for me, lad,” Isis told the angry Toreador as she entered the room. “Seems as if there’s another apocalypse coming and, from what I’ve been told, it affects you and the Prince.”

“They’re full of shit,” Justin protested. “They think my baby’s going to end the world or some crap like that.”

“Please tell me you’re here to say that it’s all bullshit,” Brian said to Isis. He took Justin by the waist and held his lover close. “My baby isn’t going to end the fucking world. He’s going to cry a shitload, drive me crazy and make Justin even more insane than he already is, but he’s not going to end the fucking world.”

“Hey!” Buffy screeched, getting everyone’s attention. Even though she didn’t want everyone looking at her, she had to address something that absolutely boggled her mind. “What’s with the language?”

“That’s exactly what I was going to say,” Willow gasped. “I mean you guys and all the cursing.”

Brian and Justin looked at each other and couldn’t help but laugh. Cursing? When was saying bad words anything extraordinary? The Prince looked around the room and saw Isis, Cash and Spike laughing with him. Apparently, to Spike, cursing wasn’t an issue and wondered in what world these two women lived.

“Cursing,” Spike said as if remembering a fond memory. “Bloody well forgot about all the fun stuff living with the likes of the goody-goodies. They always talk like they’re being censored or something. Let me see if I can recall this…ah yes, shite, fuck, arse, motherfucker, cock, cunt…hmmm, the good ole days.”

“Way with the potty mouth, Spike,” Buffy replied.

“It’s not so bad, Buffy,” Willow told her friend. “Could be worse. We could have to listen to the whole Southpark soundtrack. I mean an entire song dedicated to somebody fucking their uncle?”

“Willow!”

“Did I just say that?”

“I would say this discussion was interesting, but it’s not,” Brian announced. “What I really want to know is what’s going to cause the end of the world and why it’s in Pittsburgh.”

“It’s your baby,” Buffy stated matter of factly.

“Better to be positive than not,” Isis replied before Justin could say anything. “I’ve got a grand idea, if you approve, Brian. How about I take the Slayer and her people to the library and we could do some research…real research as opposed to the miniscule knowledge given by the Watcher’s Council?”

“Sounds good.”

“Wait a minute,” Buffy said. “We’re supposed to kill the baby or the mother before sh-he…whatever…gives birth and the royal whatever and his army who tries to protect…it. Why should you help us? We’re here to kill you!”

“Bloody hell, Buffy!” Spike screeched.

“Because like your friend told you,” Brian explained. “For better or for worse, I like this world. I like sucking a juicy fat cock. I like fucking nice plump bubble butts. It really doesn’t matter where: in the backroom of Babylon, in the bathroom at Woody’s, in my old office, in the alley, on the floor, in the shower, alone, in front of all of you, I don’t fucking care. Just as long as I’m fucking on this fucking planet, I’m a happier fucking Prince.”

“That was descriptive,” Willow replied.

“The only rule while you’re here is that you’re not allow to kill any of my people,” Brian warned. “And for that, we won’t kill you.”

“I’m supposed to just take your word on that?”

“Or we can just go to war right now, I don’t care,” Brian replied. “I’d rather not…I’d prefer you go do some research while I get a blow job…unless you want to stand here while I get a blow job? Because I won’t allow any fighting until I get a blow job.”

“It’s a general rule around these parts,” Justin conceded.

“Study, watch you get a blow…yeah…or war?” Willow pondered. “I’m thinking knowledge is power.”

“Fine,” Buffy relented. “Deal.”

“Then let’s get going,” Isis said, leading the group out of the room.

Brian stood and approached his angry lover. He put his finger over his mouth suggesting to Justin not to speak. He was happy that this one time, the pregnant Toreador listened. Brian wrapped his arms around Justin and back them both into their bedroom.

“Don’t worry,” Brian whispered. “This is all business-well, most of it. Some of it is personal, but we’ll deal with that later.”

“But Brian…”

“I gave them some choices, now I’m giving some to you,” Brian whispered into Justin’s ear. “A. fucking. B. blowing or C. licking?”

“Hmm…” Justin pondered as if in deep thought. “D…all of the above?”

“Good answer.”

****

“I hate to mention this, Ulugh,” Melanie began as Brian’s father their departure with Gus, “but…I have known Brian a whole lot longer than you.”

“Do not insult me, human.”

“I don’t mean to sound insulting,” Mel sighed. “But the truth is that I have. Brian thinks about himself, but he doesn’t think about others, even Gus. When was the last time you saw him around his son? The last time I can remember is when he forced us to move in this building. After that, the only people who bothered to show up were Michael, sometimes Justin and bunch of bodyguards.”

“There is a reason for that.”

“People are always trying to kill him,” Michael stated.

“We’re worried about Gus’ life,” Lindsay said, hoping that her words would affect Ulugh differently. “He’s always in danger here. I mean when we’re not being attacked from some outside Clan, we have to worry about someone on the inside turning on us…you must understand, Father Beg. It is difficult for Melanie and myself to allow Gus to stay in such harmful situation and not do anything about it.”

“I understand your plight,” Ulugh told the mother of his grandson. “However, you must understand that no matter where you go, Gus’ bloodline will follow. Brian as well as myself will always be present, even if we’re not there to protect him.”

“That’s what I hate the most,” Melanie bemoaned. “I have no control over my life. I have no control over my own house, my living arrangement, my jobs. Did you know if Brian needs my legal assistance, he just demands me?”

“Worst of all Gus was supposed to be for Mel and me,” Lindsay pleaded. “I love Brian, you know that, but I can’t stand this. You have to help us, Father Beg.”

“I see,” Ulugh said with a knowing smile. “This isn’t about Gus. This is about power or your lack thereof.”

“Something like that,” Melanie admitted.

“Of course,” Ulugh chuckled. “Power and control has always been an issue…and it always will be.”

****

“I am Primogen of the Ventrue,” Chris said to Julian and Craig, “but somehow it seems like you’re making all the rules.”

“He’s catching on quickly,” Julian snorted, staring out a window. He looked over Philadelphia and shook his head. There were still so many things to accomplish back home in Pittsburgh. Home? Julian laughed at the thought and returned his attention to his Primogen. “You have risen to power and yet you still lack it…sounds like everyone in Pittsburgh.”

“There is a reason for that,” Craig declared. Craig glared at his young childe and wished he had chosen more wisely. His favorite childe was Lisa, but he needed her in Philadelphia to ensure his weak position there wouldn’t diminish. She was a strong force and he needed that in the town he possessed. He just wished he had been so wise when he held Pittsburgh.

Now that Craig wanted his old city back, he had to acquire it slowly. There would be no easy takeover. He had a plan, but that plan took a lot of time and patience. Most of all, his plan took a great deal of power. He wasn’t dealing with something on such a small scale anymore. He had to think big to take out his enemy, especially if his enemy had the Master Justicar as a father. Luckily for Craig, he had a plan for Ulugh Beg. However that could not be discussed. Until its day, everyone would have to stay in the dark. It didn’t seem like a problem for Julian, but it did for Chris.

“There is a reason it seems like you have to power,” Craig informed his childe. “You have none. Is that clear?” When Chris did not answer, Craig repeated himself even more loudly, “Is that clear?!”

“Yes, Master.”

“Good,” Craig snarled. “I control all the Ventrue in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Never forget that, boy.”

“Except for me,” Julian replied with a sly grin. When Craig looked at him menacingly, he smirked and sat next to the Prince. “However, it does appear that we’re on the same page.”

“How can I know that?” Chris asked.

“Brian must die,” the Prince and Justicar replied together, which made the men chuckle. All but Chris.

“I can deal with him!”

“He’s overtaken your Sire,” Julian said, shaking his head. “And thwarted me…what on Caine’s Earth do you think you’ll do with him? Besides getting fucked, that is?”

“There’s only one thing I’m going to do with that faggot,” Chris announced, leaving the room upset. “Kill him!”

Julian watched the young Ventrue leave angrily and smiled. He turned his attention to Chris’ Sire and leaned back in his chair.

“Who would you choose, My Lord?” Julian asked. “Seeing the state of your childe?”

“To replace him,” Craig mulled, “Maybe Avery. She’s easily handled and won’t be upset when Brian kills the boy.”

“Yes,” Julian agreed. “Brian will enjoy toying with Chris if given the chance.”

“True…but don’t worry,” Craig told the Justicar. “Brian will get his…very soon.”

****

Brian looked down at Justin’s bobbing head, his mouth open, ready to cum. There was so much energy coming from the young Toreador that Brian felt almost paralyzed. All that he could feel were the sensations of Justin’s mouth and tongue.

“Ah fuck!” Brian screeched, cumming into Justin’s mouth. The Prince’s body jolted with a few spasms before he attempted to move.

“Feeling better?” Justin asked, licking his lips. When he saw the calm smile on the Tremere’s face, he pressed his body next to Brian’s, pinning his lover to the wall. “So when are you going to do what you promised?”

“Which is?”

“Kill that Slayer and that redhead!”

“Justin,” Brian said, looking around the bedroom for his pants. “If there’s an apocalypse coming, then I want to know about it. It’s my job or some shit like that.”

“The end of the world?” Justin snickered. “Yeah right.”

“There is something going on,” Brian continued, finding a pair of sweatpants and slipping them on. They rested on his hips loosely and exposed his flat stomach. “You have to feel it…seeing as it’s my baby in…there.” Brian motioned to Justin’s belly and smiled. He put on his protective braces then found a cowboy hat which he tried to model in front of a mirror then sighed when he couldn’t see himself.

“Willow?”

“Yeah.”

“Sort of.”

“Let’s try then,” Brian said, going to his lover and taking Justin’s hand in his own. “All we need to do is open our minds and concentrate.”

As Brian and Justin concentrated on the witch below, Matt entered the room and stood patiently. He didn’t know what they were doing, but it didn’t matter. His job was to obey his master. It was something he was exceptional at.

“Whoa…” Justin gasped, feeling a powerful sensation run through him. “I didn’t know…”

“Me either,” Brian replied, helping Justin to the bed.

“Sire,” Matt said, getting both men’s attention. “The Clan Toreador is here to see Master Justin.”

“Oh shit.”

“I wonder what took them so long,” Brian snorted.

Brian waited for Justin to put on some clothes before telling Matt to allow the Toreador to enter. He told the clan to forgo formalities and just say what they came to say. He already knew what was on their minds.

“After the attack on our Headquarters we were frightened for Primogen Taylor,” Masika said. When he saw his young leader emerge from his bedroom, the man sighed in relief. “We worried about you, Justin. We thought you might have been taken from us again!”

“I was almost afraid of that as well,” Justin replied, approaching his clansmen and giving each a hug. “But the baby saved me. He teleported me out of there in time.”

“Thank Caine,” Anson sighed in relief.

“We want you to know that our Headquarters is now secured,” Masika informed the pregnant man. “The Gargoyles are in place and more Kindred have been brought in for your protection.”

Justin looked at his clansmen and couldn’t hide his remorse. He fidgeted where he stood and it was clear to everyone what he was finding difficult to say.

“When I was accepted as Primogen you knew there would be a time when I would take my place by my mate’s side once again,” Justin explained, hoping all would understand. “But this time it’s not all up to me. As much as I’d like to rule by your side, I need to be protected by my Prince as much as the baby needs to be near his father.”

“We need you-” Anson began, only to have Masika stop him.

“I can lead my clan from anywhere in the city,” Justin continued. “As my mother did from within the Ventrue stronghold. At this moment I need to be with Brian. All I need from you is your faith, your love and your loyalty.”

“As you have always had it,” Masika replied.

“Thank you,” Justin sighed, giving his old friend a hug.

“A Hallmark moment,” Brian mumbled, rolling his eyes. “I hate to cut this meeting short, but Justin and I have some things to do.”

“Of course, Prince Kinney,” Masika said, motioning to Justin that he would call him. “We’ll take our leave now.”

“Matt, get that girl, Willow, up here,” Brian ordered, turning his attention to Justin with a sly smile. “Now for that other thing I wanted to do.”

****

“You think they’re…” Buffy began pointing up at the ceiling. “You know…”

“Shagging? Having sex,” Spike answered snidely. “Bumping uglies, Plugging the bum, fucking?”

“That’s way more descriptive than I ever wanted,” Buffy snorted. “I mean, really…”

“So,” Willow spoke up a bit more defensively than she wanted. “It’s okay when you bump uglies with Spike, but not when two guys do it? Is that how you felt about me and Tara?”

“No! I just meant,” Buffy sighed, slumping in her seat and sliding her book away from her. “I don’t know. This place is just so different. You know I’m no prude, but there’s nothing but cursing and nakedness.”

“Oh,” Willow replied, turning her attention back to the books. She read for a few moments before finding something that that piqued her interest. “This is such an awesome library. It’s even better than the books Giles had. Did you know that a male Ingor demon gives birth and that the babies eat their way out of the womb?”

“Sounds important,” Spike snorted sarcastically. “How ‘bout I write that one down. Might need it if we go back in time five thousand years in a hell dimension when they existed.”

“How about we continue to research?” Isis said, looking up from her book. “Seems as if the quicker we find the cause of this apocalypse, the quicker you can return to the Hellmouth.”

“We know the cause,” Buffy sniped, shoving her book away. “Anyways, this whole researching isn’t really my thing. Normally Willow finds the bad guys’ weaknesses and I go kill it.”

“It’s a wonder you’re still alive,” Isis replied.

“It didn’t always work,” Spike told the old vampire. “Seeing as she kicked the bucket twice, once for a bloody well long time. Had to get her mates to bring her back from the dead for that one.”

“You did that, Willow?” Isis asked with great interest.

“We sorta all did it,” the redhead explained. “But yeah, I pulled the energy from inside of me…which I probably shouldn’t have.”

“Probably not,” Isis conceded. “You don’t know anything about the power inside of you to do anything that powerful. It probably controlled you in the end.”

“No kidding,” Buffy snorted.

“How do you know so much about that?” Willow asked.

“I know quite a bit about magicks,” Isis replied, stealing a look with Spike. It was clear that he knew all about Tremeres and she wondered why Spike never said anything to the humans. Maybe he was still loyal to Kindred. That, she would have to find out later. “I’ll be more than happy to teach you after this is all done, Willow.”

“I’m trying to stop,” Willow explained.

“Which is why you threatened Justin using your abilities,” Isis observed. “You’ll find that magic is inside of you and no matter what you do, it always will be. I can teach you a thing or two.”

“She doesn’t need to be taught about magic by a vampire,” Buffy interrupted. She knew Willow had a weakness and there was no way she’d allow her friend to slip into the magic which corrupted her not so long ago.

“You need to learn respect, girl,” Isis growled.

“I have respect for others,” Buffy replied. “I don’t in any way, shape or form have any respect for a vampire. You’re all killers and I’m a Slayer of killers. And quite honestly, I don’t think this whole working together thing is really panning out for us.”

“You can’t respect a vampire, but you can shag one?” Isis scoffed, stealing a look at an unpleased Spike. “You need to be taught a lesson, girl.”

To prove her point, Isis cut a wound on her palm and rubbed her hands together until a glow began. The glow started out red then worked its way through the color chart until it ended at violet.

“Calculus concresco,” Isis said, turning Spike’s body into stone. She had a point to make and she didn’t want the Ventrue to be a part of it. “Now that that’s taken care of…” Isis stood up and moved away from the table. “Shall we dance, girl?”

Buffy moved towards Isis only to find the vampire was a lot quicker than the vamps she had to deal with. Every time she punched, Isis was somewhere else laughing at her. When Buffy finally got to kick then punch her adversary, it was almost like hitting concrete.

“Will!”

“Oh no,” Willow mumbled, allowing the magic to take over her. Her hair and eyes turned black as her body was lifted from the ground. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Isis.”

“I was just about to tell you the same thing,” Isis replied licking her blood from her palms. “Silentio veneficus, declino vires”

Willow opened her mouth and found that she could not speak. Although she was daunted, she still had magic that didn’t rest in the power of her words. She raised her hand and pointed at Isis sending a bolt of lightning in the direction of her foe only to find that it bounced off the vampire and head back in her direction. When the lighting hit Willow, it sent her to the floor, returning her hair to its red shade and her eyes back to their normal state.

“You’re pulling from the wrong power, girl,” Isis warned looking down at Willow. “Magicks against magicks, you will find the eldest shall always win. Yet I see you go for the newest blend of Wiccan garbage. You will find that around these parts you will need more power than the ability to destroy a fledgling Gargoyle, for his Sire is a thousand times more powerful.”

“Ouchy,” Willow moaned, getting up with the help of Buffy.

“Your parlor tricks are no match for the power of the Tremere,” Isis continued. “And no match for blood.”

“Our blood is already spoken for,” Buffy warned.

“I’ve no need for Willow’s blood,” Isis explained, looking into the redhead’s eyes. “All I need is for you to close your eyes, feel all that is around you and then tell me what you feel.”

Willow closed her eyes and felt a rush that she had never experienced before.

“I feel,” Willow said, almost stuttering on her own words, “like I should go back upstairs…”

“What a coincidence,” Matt replied, standing at the doorway, “since Sire beckons you.”

****

“The second Ulugh tells Brian, he’s going to kill me,” Mel screeched, pacing around the room. “He’ll try and manipulate what we did and say that we were trying to steal Gus from him when Gus is ours!”

“I’m sure Father Beg will explain our side of the situation,” Lindsay disagreed.

“Your side of what?” Ted asked, entering the room with Emmett.

“Look at this!” Mel gasped. “We can’t even have any privacy! People can just come and go as they please without any mind to us!”

“Thought we would just stop by to say hi,” Em sneered. “I guess we’ll just leave then.”

“No, no, no…” Lindsay grabbed Emmett’s arm and pulled the man back into the room. She put on her most apologetic look and tried to explain her partner’s position. “She doesn’t mean you, she means Brian’s being an asshole again.”

“What did he do now?”

“Does it really matter?” Ted asked, going to Mel and comforting her. “He’s going to end up getting his way in the end like he always does.”

“I wish there was someway we could help,” Emmett sighed. “But we’re just powerless humans like you.”

“I think we need to take Deb’s advice,” Mel finally said, holding Ted’s hand. “We need to talk to Justin and see what he can do to help us. I know he and Brian aren’t talking, but maybe that’s where we can get some leverage.”

“I’m not sure that’s going to help,” Lindsay replied.

“It might,” Emmett disagreed with a sly smile. “And Brian might stop fucking.”

****

Brian came inside of Justin and lay there content. He thought at one point that he would exhaust his young lover, but it seemed Justin was as insatiable as he was. Though he would have preferred to change locations, he knew that there were still other things to deal with.

“More?” Justin mumbled in a husky voice.

Brian chuckled at the thought. He was always up for more. Brian sat up in the bed and grabbed a cigarette. He looked down at Justin, who rubbed his large belly, and put the cigarette in his mouth. He tossed the lighter on the nightstand without lighting the cigarette and decided to run his fingers across Justin’s stomach. He and Justin would live forever and until his childe was immortal as well, he wouldn’t take the change of harming it in any way. He was an admitted asshole, but he wasn’t a stupid asshole.

“Give me a few.”

“I’m wearing you down?” Justin asked proudly.

“You wish.”

“Whatever,” Justin replied, sitting up. “But if you’re not fucking me, then you should be killing the Slayer for me…for our baby.”

“The Slayer isn’t a problem,” Brian told his young lover. “Especially since Isis just put her in her place.”

“What happened?” Justin asked, very much excited.

“We’ll ask her later,” Brian replied, standing up and putting on the same loose sweatpants he had on earlier. “Right now we have a guest.”

Justin quickly put on some clothes and went to the living room in enough time to greet Matt and Willow. Where he once felt nothing but hatred towards the redhead, he now felt something different. He didn’t know what it was, but he was going to find out.

It seemed as if Willow was thinking the same thing. There was a power that was pushing her and she didn’t know what to make of it. She had always blamed it on the magic, but it appeared that there was something more. Something she didn’t understand.

“Right to the point,” Willow said, more bluntly than she had anticipated. “Who are you?”

“Brian Kinney, Prince of Pittsburgh,” he replied with a grin. “Give me your hand.”

Although Willow was hesitant, she did as she was requested. She flinched when Brian brought out a dagger, but something inside of her told her to trust him. It seemed absurd to trust a vampire, but Willow couldn’t help herself. She felt like she did when the magicks possessed her. She could do nothing when she saw her own blood flow, except watch like a spectator. First Brian drank from her hand then Justin tasted her as well. She didn’t know what to expect when she saw the smiles on their faces.

“Um…” she stuttered, “t-t-tast-ty?”

“Very,” Brian answered, cutting his own hand, “considering you’re a chick.”

“No, no…”

“It’s OK,” Brian promised, putting his bloodied hand to Willow’s mouth.

Though she tried to resist, Brian used his strength to force blood into Willow’s mouth. When it seemed she had had enough, Brian moved his hand away. He smiled when she took his hand again and continued to feed. As tempting as it seemed to let her drink until she died, that wasn’t to be her fate…not yet.

“Is that what I feel?” Willow asked, dazed. She saw Justin and sat at his feet, looking at his belly. “I understand now…I didn’t before, but I do now.”

Justin allowed Willow to feed from him, but only a taste. There only needed to be a link between them. Willow now belonged to Brian and he didn’t want to challenge that. He wasn’t sure if Willow understood what had just happened, but something told him that she wouldn’t mind at this point. There was something special about being Bloodbound to Brian. Justin knew that best.

“What do you understand?” Brian asked.

“We’re family,” Willow replied. “I am home.”