Prince of Shadows by Susan Krinard

His kiss had been anything but naive.

I only just remembered, he’d said. She hadn’t asked him what he meant. The wondering had tormented her ever since. And his words: This body makes you afraid.

The same masculine, powerful body that walked beside her. Alex stared straight ahead at the girls laughing and teasing each other as they retraced their path among the trees. Now she had something else to occupy her thoughts, though this visit wasn’t what she’d have chosen.

She hadn’t been to any sort of family gathering since before Mother died. In boarding school and college, she’d been the student who stayed on and studied during most holidays and vacations. The times she’d gone home to Father had been worse than loneliness.

She watched Tracy and Liz, squabbling one minute in high, childish voices and walking hand in hand the next. She saw Deanna’s affection for her younger sisters, the way the teenager tugged at their stubby braids and scolded them indulgently. And the way Julie looked on like the benevolent aunt she was.

Julie’s family. Belonging to one like it had been a dream for Alex in those years after her mother’s death. She’d watched television in the school dormitory and daydreamed about the people she saw on the screen—perfect families who resolved every problem. And loved unconditionally.

When things were going well with Peter, she’d altered her dream to one of making a new family, with her own children—several of them, so they’d never be lonely as she’d been. A chance to start over.

A chance long since passed by.

They were a half mile in from the border when they reached the edge of the residential housing projects Julie had told her to expect. They passed a gas station, general store, bar, and post office, all the staples of any small town. There were clusters of houses grouped together by decade, each built very much like its neighbor.

After another half mile Julie led them to a small, compact home backed by woods. A gravel driveway led behind the house, partially cleared of snow. Someone had begun and abandoned a snowman in the front yard; a large mixed-breed dog idly sniffed the base of it. Just visible behind the house were several half-rusted vehicles fender-deep in snow.

“Here we are,” Julie said. “Not so much to look at, maybe, but it’s home. Mom’s home, that is.” She studied Alex for an uncomfortably long moment. “You’re welcome here,” she added softly.

Alex had no chance to reply. The twins and Deanna were already barreling past Julie and into the house. A cacophony of human voices washed over them as Julie ushered her and Kieran in after; Alex had barely registered an image of several faces turning her way when a little boy, just past toddler stage, ran smack into her legs. Instinctively she reached down to steady the child, who grinned up at her with an expression almost identical to Julie’s.

“Hi!” he said, and promptly flung himself at Julie’s knees. “Joo-ee!”

“Hey, Bobby!” Julie hoisted the boy up in the air and over her head. “Prepare yourself. This is only the second wave.”

Alex swallowed, looking sideways at Kieran. He, too, had paused, head lifted, as if some new memory had been awakened by the cheerful chaos awaiting them.

“Come on. You’ll get used to it, I promise.” Julie set Bobby down and wedged herself between Alex and Kieran. “Hey, everybody, our guests have arrived!”

The small living room was overflowing with people. The twins were already bouncing enthusiastically on a worn sofa, and a boy in his late teens sat on the carpet, engrossed by a television in the corner. A woman near Julie’s age fussed over a baby. A small dog of indeterminate breed yapped at Kieran and darted away.

The hullabaloo faded just long enough to permit a general welcome and a series of introductions. Julie’s mother was a plump, merry-eyed woman who briefly emerged from the kitchen to greet them and vanished again. The woman with the baby was identified as Julie’s sister, Brenda. She had a serene reserve very different from Julie’s natural ebullience.

“You’ll notice Brenda’s quieter than me. Two of us would have been too much, even in this family.” Brenda made a face and Julie laughed. “These are mostly Brenda’s kids,” she said, gesturing around the room. “Bobby, here. And that’s baby Tim, plus the twins and Deanna you’ve already met. Brenda’s husband Toby drives truck and he’s away right now.”