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suggest it. That was dangerously contrary of her. She was obviously going to have to give herself some very stern lectures once she was alone.
    "That would probably be best," she forced herself to say, pleased by how calm she sounded.
    "I will make that easier by getting back to work on one of the reasons I came to this cursed place."
    "And that was?"
    "To find out more about my own heritage." He stood up straight and gave in to the temptation to kiss her cheek. "Burying myself in dusty scrolls and ledgers should cool my blood."
    Efrica watched him walk away and sighed. He was such a beautiful man, one who moved with a grace that drew and held the eye. If he had not been a MacNachton, she knew she would have been making a fool of herself trying to draw his interest her way. She had a strong inclination to do so now. The light touch of a hand upon her arm startled her, and she turned to face a concerned Barbara.
    "Ye look verra troubled and sad, lass." Barbara watched Jankyn stride out of the great hall. "Mayhap ye should—"
    "Nay." Efrica glanced around to be sure they could speak without being heard. "He is a MacNachton. I have naught against them. I ken they arenae creatures from a nightmare, soulless undead demons who see the rest of us as naught but food. Howbeit, what he is makes him unsuitable. Barbara, he cannae e'er join me in a walk through a garden to watch the morning sun dry the dew upon the flowers. He is already nearly thirty years my senior and e'en he cannae say how much longer he will live, but 'tis surely a verra, verra long time. We willnae grow old together. He is the only one born amongst the Purebloods for more than two score years. 'Tis clear the seed of a Pureblood is weak. Aye, despite his lecherous ways, Jankyn has bred but one child and that upon an Outsider, a MacMartin. A mon now and one who must still be cautious about how long he stays out in the sun in the full light of day. I want children, Barbara."
    "Your sister—"
    "Her husband isnae a Pureblood." She shook her head. "I weel understand the curse of ancient bloodlines that mark one as, weel, different. The Callans have dealt with it for generations, aye? Jankyn can toss grown men about as if they weighed nay more than a cushion. Those teeth he is careful to hide would make a wolf envious. He can rip a mon's throat out and drink deep of the blood that flows from that mortal wound. Aye, the MacNachtons have strict rules about such things now, saving such savagery for thieves, murderers, and enemies. He would have done it to the men who attacked me if I hadnae stopped him. The urge was there. To recover from being in the sun even that short while he needed to drink wine enriched with blood." She nodded when Barbara frowned. "Aye— too different ."
    "It does make our ancestress seem nay so bad," murmured Barbara.
    "Aye. Better a cat than a wolf. And the Callans have worked hard to breed it out until there is naught but a shadow of her left. The MacNachtons have only begun to do the same. ‘Twill be a long time ere many of them can walk freely amongst us."
    "I understand all ye say, but I think your heart doesnae completely agree with your head."
    "Nay, it doesnae, but I will make it do so."
    "E'en if he returns your feelings?"
    "Aye, tempting as that may be. I might be able to accept all the other things, but when I waver, there is one thought, one hard cold fact, that always stiffens my spine."
    "And that is?"
    "I may be able to condemn myself to living in the shadows, but I willnae condemn my children to doing the same."

Chapter Four
    She did not care that she had not seen Jankyn for a week, Efrica told herself firmly as she left the garden and entered the castle. The fact that she had spent a large part of her time in the garden looking up at the window to his chambers was just a matter of curiosity. It was a huge lie, but she clung to it. It was best to remind herself that the time she had just spent in the sun, enjoying its warmth and