“I hope I don't need to wear something fancy, because I don't have anything with me,” Lilith laughed.

“Wear your wedding ring and a smile,” Ginger grinned and stood up, “I'll tell Cinnamon she can come and see you before the ceremony.”

Lilith blinked at the other woman's answer.

“My wedding ring and a smile, huh?” she said shaking her head, “This day couldn't get any crazier.”

The bathroom door opened again and Cinnamon trotted full speed into the room.

“The vampire didn't eat you!” she howled.

“No, Lance didn't eat me,” Lilith laughed.

Cinnamon jumped up onto the side of the tub and licked Lilith's face.

“What happened to you? You fell asleep and I couldn't get you to wake up!” Cinnamon whined.

“I passed out,” Lilith said.

“Well, don't do that again,” Cinnamon barked.

“I don't plan on it,” Lilith assured her.

“Good!” the Yorkie said, “What's all this talk about a ceremony? Are you going to marry the vampire? You're not are you? Please, Lilith, tell me you're not?”

“No, it's not a wedding ceremony,” Lilith giggled, “I'm going to find out about my past life. I want to find out if Lance is telling me the truth?”

“And if he is?” she asked.

“I like him a lot,” Lilith admitted.

“But he's a vampire! A cat! Hunter is going to eat us!” Cinnamon whined.

“No, we're not going to be working for Hunter Lingston any longer,” Lilith said.

“What are we going to do then?” she demanded, “You're going to have to wash a lot of dogs to buy my steaks!”

“We'll figure it out later,” Lilith laughed.

“Fine,” Cinnamon sighed.

There was another knock on the door and the startled Yorkie nearly fell into the water.

“We're going to be landing soon, you may want to be out of the bath by then,” Ginger said.

“Okay, thanks for letting me know,” Lilith said and stood up.

“I almost forgot to tell you, Ginger has a poodle named, Marcus,” Cinnamon said springing into the air.

“Really,” Lilith teased, “Is he fixed?”

“No!” Cinnamon cheered.

“You're going to have funny looking puppies!” Lilith laughed.

“Not really, crossing our genetics will make our puppies designer dogs!” Cinnamon barked.

Lilith toweled off and slipped into a robe that hung on the wall. She walked slowly back to join the rest of the group. Things were moving quickly and the situation seemed surreal. Lilith half wondered if she was going to wake up and find that it all was one very strange dream.

She sat down in the seat next to Ginger and Lance quickly fastened her seat belt.

“I could have done that myself,” Lilith frowned.

“You'll get used to it,” Ginger told her, “Vampire life mates are a little over protective.”

After the plane had landed Ginger gave Lilith a sundress to wear while they were traveling. The neckline was a little too revealing for her taste, but face with the alternative of her stinky sweat drenched nightgown, she wore it gratefully. They left the plane surrounded by vampire security. Lilith had seen many of them in passing around the city, but hadn't been able to recognize them for what they were, and that worried her. Were there ways around her sight? She made a mental note to ask Ginger later.

Lance held tight to her hand as they walked to the car. The men that surrounded them all stood a foot or more taller than Lilith, making her feel small and puny. When they arrived at the car Lance lifted Lilith into her seat and fastened her in.

“I'm not a child!” she protested.

“I know that,” he said appearing on the other side of her, “but we're a little short of time, love. We want to make it inside before someone spots us.”

“Shouldn't we have a little less security then?” she asked.

“If we are spotted, I wanted to ensure your safety,” Lance chuckled.

The tent on the windows was so dark that Lilith couldn't see through them. She felt blind and it made her uneasy.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“I'll tell you later,” Lance said.

Lilith studied him for a moment and realized he was wearing a security headset. She sighed in frustration, but was quiet and let him listen to the voices that must have been talking rapidly in his ear.

She sighed in relief once they were inside of what looked to be a residential house. It was comforting to be away from the gaggle of vampires and back with their small groups. Cinnamon's fur was still standing on end when Lilith plopped down onto the sofa.

“Shh,” she said scratching behind the Yorkie's ear.

“Okay, so since we're short on time, and we can't make a decision until after the ceremony, let's say we get it started,” Ginger suggested.

“I'm ready,” Lance said taking her hand.

“Umm.. If I'm going to be..” Lilith said.

“Don't worry, you can use the guest room,” Ginger smiled.

“Wait a minute,” Lilith said looking around.

The walls were full of photos of Ginger at various stages of her childhood.

“This is your childhood home,” she finished.

“That it is,” Ginger smiled, “but I beg you to make yourself comfortable. We are family after all,”

Lance took her hand and led Lilith to the guest room.

“Do you know how to do this?” Lilith asked once they were alone.

“It seemed pretty simple when Ginger told me about it,” he nodded.

“So, do you wanna clue me in on the grand mystery?” she asked.

“You'll see,” Lance chuckled, “but first we need to undress.”

Lilith watched as he removed his shirt. Her heart skipped a beat when her eyes fell upon his well sculpted chest and abs. Sure, she had seen him shirtless before, but his beauty never ceased to amaze her. Her breath caught in her throat and she found herself unable to move.

It occurred to her maybe it was the beauty of a vampire that could entrance a crowd. Perhaps it had nothing to do with any mystical power they possessed.

“Are you okay?” Lance asked.

“Uh-huh,” she nodded.

Her eyes followed Lance's hands as they moved to unfasten his belt. Lilith bit her lip as she waited anxiously for him to unzip his fly. Memories of their lovemaking danced through her mind making her wet. She rubbed her thighs together and sighed.

Lilith knew that Lance was drawing it out on purpose, but she didn't mind. His sex appeal was intoxicating. He undid his pants and took them off. Lilith's eyes locked to his long thick manhood, which was already beginning to harden. Her tongue flicked over her lips lustfully.

“It's your turn,” Lance chuckled.

“Oh, yea, the dress,” Lilith said and pulled it off unceremoniously, “What now?”

“We drink,” Lance said.

Lilith studied the goblets that he held up and then looked down at her ring. No memories from past lives surfaced, but she did remember the first day she had met Lance. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered how she hadn't realized that he was a vampire at first.

Lilith sat on the edge of the bed and watched Lance pour the wine. Her hands shook, but she wasn't nervous about the sex that was sure to follow the wine. No, Lilith was worried about what she might remember, or even worse, that she wouldn't remember anything at all.

“Breathe,” Lance teased.

“I am,” she giggled.

“Didn't look like it to me,” he said.

Her amusement turned to horror when Lance pulled a dagger out from under the bed.

“What, it's just an athame?” Lance chuckled.

“No, that's a big ass knife,” Lilith blinked,

“It's a ceremonial dagger, hence the definition of athame,” Lance said.

“And what do you plan to do with it?” Lilith asked, although she wasn't sure if she wanted to know.

“You'll see,” Lance said.

“Why do I have a feeling that I'm not going to like it?” Lilith sighed.

Lilith drew in sharp breath as she watched the vampire bring the blade down hard against his palm and slash it. She winced and turned her head.

“It's just blood,” Lance chuckled.

“Doesn't that hurt?” Lilith asked not daring to look.

“Not as much as some things,” Lance shrugged.

Lilith glanced in Lances direction and grimaced in disgust when she seen that he was mixing his blood into one of the goblets.

“I'm so not drinking that,” she shook her head, “I'm not going to be a vampire,”

“Myth!” Lance laughed.

“What?” Lilith asked.

“Drinking a vampire's blood will not make you a vampire. In fact, the only way one can be a vampire is to be born as such,” Lance said.

“I'm still not drinking that,” Lilith shook her head.

“Why not?” Lance asked.

“Because I'm not a vampire!” she said.

“You won't even taste it,” He chuckled.

“Why do I have to drink that?” Lilith asked.

“Because my blood holds the memories of our previous time together,” Lance said.

“Fair enough,” Lilith shrugged.

“And the exchanging of blood is part of the life mate ceremony,” he told her.

“I'm not marrying you,” she said.

“You don't have to, you already did,” Lance said.

“Let's just get this over with,” she sighed.

Lance handed her the goblet and she hesitantly sniffed it. The last time she had drank this wine she ended up with the hangover from hell, and wasn't too keen on the idea of repeating the experience.

“Cheers,” she said toasting him.