Point of No Return

Published by

Melange Books, LLC

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

www.melange-books.com

Point of No Return, Copyright 2014
by Tara Fox Hall

ISBN: 978-1-61235-803-1

Names, characters, and incidents
depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or
are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales,
organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of
this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
or by any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States of
America.

Cover Design by Caroline
Andrus

POINT OF NO RETURN

by Tara Fox Hall

When Sarelle discovers Theo's love for Tasha
is not all it seems, she breaks the love spell, even as she fears
the consequences. Dreaming with Theo again awakens old feelings,
even as Devlin’s possessiveness increases when Sar is discovered to
be pregnant. Influenced by her blood bond to Devlin and Danial, and
her magical bond with Theo, Sar is determined to make the
relationship with her lovers work. But can Sar trust her heart
fully, much less her own desires?

To my beloved mom, the Wind Beneath
My Wings, who said it was about time she was mentioned in another
dedication.

And to Eric; my anchor, my oak, and
my rock. I love you.

Table of Contents

"Point of No Return"

Chapter
One

Chapter
Two

Chapter
Three

Chapter
Four

Chapter
Five

Chapter
Six

Chapter
Seven

Chapter
Eight

Chapter
Nine

Chapter
Ten

Chapter
Eleven

Chapter
Twelve

Chapter
Thirteen

Chapter
Fourteen

Chapter
Fifteen

Chapter
Sixteen

Chapter
Seventeen

About the
Author

Previews

Chapter One

An hour after Theo left, I washed my face,
pulled myself together, and called my lawyer. He said he would draw
up separation papers, and that Theo and I would need to be legally
separated at least a year unless one of us was willing to admit
we’d broken our marriage vows. Technically, we both had, but I
wasn’t about to have my sins written on a piece of paper. If Theo
was in a hurry to marry that wench, he could admit his own
infidelity. After instructing my lawyer to fax the separation
papers to Danial’s office, I went back to bed and cried some
more.

I cried for Theo and me, for the years we had
lost and now would never regain, for the marriage we might have
had, if he hadn’t been taken from me that year and a half. For what
might have happened, if I hadn’t made the choices I had, like
loving the vampire Danial and turning to him to help me raise
Theo’s daughter Elle, when I found myself alone. Or giving into my
desire for Danial’s brother Devlin, on the more than several
occasions he had saved my life.

When there were no more tears, and my nose
was so stuffed I couldn’t breathe, I got up. “It’s time I was about
my day,” I told the dogs bitterly. “Crying and second guessing
myself isn’t solving anything. Want to eat?”

After feeding them, I showered, put on fresh
clothes, strapped on my snowshoes, and took them for a long, long
walk.

The day was clear and cold. Everything was
sparkling in the sunlight. Angrily, I told God it was unfair that
everything could look so good and new when I felt so bad. Oddly
enough, right after, light snow began to fall. By the time we got
home, the snow coming down wasn’t light anymore.

After brushing off our extra coats of cold
white powder, I gave the dogs some Cheweez, and went to check the
wood situation. Seeing it was more than adequate, I settled down
with a good book near the wood stove, my black cats Cavity and Jess
on my lap. Before long, I was so comfortable that I put the book
down just for a moment to rest my eyes.

Sometime later, I awoke. The power had gone
off. Then two red eyes appeared, looking at me from across the
darkening room.

I let out a surprised yell, the cats bolted
in fear, and I howled again, rubbing the fresh painful claw
scratches on my legs.

“Sorry, Sar.”

“Terian, what are you doing here?” I asked
irritably.

“Danial sent me to check on you. It’s already
known around the compound that Theo came and got his stuff today,
not to mention the storm. The highways are closed for the entire
county.” He paused. “And I wanted to apologize for how I
acted.”

“Apology accepted.”

“Do you love him?” Terian asked grudgingly.
“Devlin?”

“Yes,” I said, glad it was dark so I couldn’t
see his expression.

“Do you feel for him like you feel for
Danial? Do you want his child?”

“Why are you asking me these questions?” I
said harshly. “I never asked you how you felt about Sundown,
compared to Erin or those other women you knew.”

“It matters to me you’re happy. If he’s what
makes you happy, then I’ll be content.”

Using that word was odd, but I let it slide.
“It has to be this way, Tears. You know that as well as I do. And
yes, in time, I think I’ll be happy. Right now I’m still in
shock.”

“I liked Erin,” Terian said, after a moment.
“But the demon side of me scared her, and she tried to hide
it—acted like it didn’t matter. I finally realized that she was
behaving as if she had to work herself up to being intimate with
me, and I never trusted her after that.”

I said nothing, knowing he didn’t want my
pity.

“Sundown I loved, pure and simple. I really
thought she cared about me, wanted me for me. But she didn’t.”

All these years later, he still hurt. “I’m
sorry,” I said softly in the darkness.

“So am I,” he whispered. “I still miss her
very much.”

The lights came back on with a click. Terian
and I blinked at one another for a moment, letting our eyes adjust.
Relieved, I got up, and started resetting the clocks. “You want
some dinner?” I called to him. “I’m going to make pasta now the
stove’s on again.”

“Not that nasty whole wheat stuff,” Terian
said distastefully from the other room.

“I’ll make you regular if you want,” I
promised. “Pour us some wine.”

* * * *

Two hours later, we’d had dinner, discussed
the Vampire Gathering in detail, and had moved on to his newfound
mother and father with the help of the better part of two bottles
of wine.

“I can’t understand why she did it, Sar,”
Terian said for the fourth time.

“Leri loved your father, Titus,” I repeated.
“That didn’t make what she did right, but—”

“No, why did she make sure I was taken care
of?” He paused. “Keriam protected me his whole life. He gave up so
much for me. He was smart and he really wanted to be a doctor, but
he had to work to support me. By the time I was old enough to help
him, he was stuck in a dead end job, pushing paper in an office,
his dreams of medical school dead.” He downed his wine again.

I had serious thoughts about downing mine,
too, listening to this tragedy. But that would put me in squarely
into drunk territory. Instead, I set my wineglass down on the
table. “What happened to him wasn’t your fault. You loved him like
a brother, and he loved you. None of that was fake. It was real.” I
put my hand on his shoulder. “You can’t know that his life would’ve
been any better without knowing you.”

“I feel so guilty, though,” Terian said
emotionally. “I want to do something, but I don’t know what to do.
Keriam wasn’t even his real name.”

“There is something you can do,” I said, an
idea forming.

“What? He’s gone. I can’t tell him I’m
sorry.”

“No, but you can find out who he really was.
Maybe give him a marker near his parents with his real name on it.
With Danial’s help, and his contacts out west, you should be able
to find his family, if any are still living.”

Terian hugged me hard. “You’re right,” he
said, teary. “How is it you always know what to say?”

“I don’t,” I replied quickly. “Most of the
time, I wing it. It’s when I plan what to say that everything
usually comes out wrong.”

He looked down into my eyes. “You’ve never
done wrong by me,” he said, still emotional. “You’re a good woman,
Sar.”

I felt uncomfortable for a moment, then he
laughed, and the moment passed.

“But no more wine. I’ve got to drive the
Expedition back to Danial tonight.”

It took my alcohol-muddled mind a moment to
understand that Theo had taken his truck back to Danial’s house
with his stuff, but had driven one of Danial’s vehicles here. “Not
tonight in this storm. Teleport instead.”

“Most of it is over by now,” he said, looking
out the window. “There’s maybe five inches out there, but that’s
it. I don’t know why the power went off; it’s not bad at all.” He
turned back to me. “Keriam told me we lived in Dallas right after I
was born. I’ll start there.”

“I wish my problems could be solved that
easily,” I said ruefully.

He nodded. “It’s good Christmas and the other
holidays are over.”

I nodded. “Thank God.”

Terian winced.

“Sorry,” I said awkwardly, kicking myself for
reminding him with my religious faith of his demonic nature.
“Danial mentioned Theo would likely leave soon. Has anything been
said to you? I’m asking because I just arranged for separation
papers to be sent to Danial’s house. If Theo is leaving, I want him
to sign them before he leaves.”

“No one’s mentioned anything to me,” Terian
answered. “Theo hasn’t talked to any of us about anything personal.
He’s all business.”

“I’d rather he left,” I admitted. “But the
truth is we need him now more than ever. Perseus and Samuel may
have relented, but they would still like Danial and Devlin dead.
Then I’d be fair game.” I put my hand on his arm. “Please don’t
leave in the spring.”

Terian looked uncomfortable, but didn’t
reply.

“I’m sorry about what I said, back at the
hotel yesterday—”

“You were right about all of it.” He paused.
“I’ve tried my best to subvert the demon part of me. But the more I
draw on its strength, the more I feel the desire for violence.
Sometimes I feel like I can’t control it at all.” He looked up, his
glowing reddish eyes meeting mine. “I went into the Gathering
hoping someone would attack us.”

I was repulsed by his eager tone, but didn’t
drop my eyes. “Are you going to leave Danial’s employ?”

“I’m going to look for Keriam’s family to do
what you suggested, but it’ll be for only a week or so. I won’t
leave this spring, if at all.”

“Thank you,” I said, discreetly wiping a
relieved tear away.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, giving me a
small smile. “Is there any dessert?”

“No,” I said, taking his plate and mine to
the kitchen. “I wasn’t expecting company, and Aran cleaned out all
the leftover cookies.”

Terian followed me to the kitchen, aghast.
“Nothing? No pie? No cake?”

“If you want to wait, I’ll make you some
brownies,” I offered.

“Brownies would be good,” Terian said,
mollified.

Stifling a comment about men’s appetites that
would have come out all wrong, I mixed up the brownies. I was
pouring batter into the pan when the phone rang.

“I’ll bet I know who that is,” Terian sang
out. “Danial.”

“You answer. I’ve got my hands full.”

Terian picked up the phone. “Sar’s right
here. She’s baking, but she’ll be on in a minute.”

I put the brownies in the oven to bake, set
the timer, and took the phone from him. “Hello?”

“The power must have come back,” Danial
mused. “When Terian reported in, it was off.”

“Yes, we’re all fine here now,” I said
jokingly. “How are you?”