Chapter 13

He had been born in the early seventeen-hundreds, the result of the mating between his mother, who was avampire, and his father, a full-blooded werewolf. The couple had fallen in love, despite the inherent animosity between the two species. As Niko’s father had laughingly said after they’d sat Niko down onhis sixteenth birthday to explain what he was, and why, “We were a true Romeo and Juliet, and believe me both our families were dead set against our union. But love conquers all, or at least it did in our case.”

“We never expected to have a child. We believed it was impossible,” his mother had said. “After all, our bloods are toxic to each other, which should have precluded it happening as your blood would be a mix of both. Obviously, it didn’t, although it was touch-and-go for a while whether I’d be able to carry you to term. It’s very rare for a female vampire to get pregnant, and by a werewolf…” She’d smiled at Niko’s father. “As you said, my dear one, love does conquer all.”