"How do you kill a god?" Ashley asked several days later at the weekly family dinner.

Everyone around the dinner table froze.

She glanced up from the home cooked meal made by none other than a vampire that didn't eat real food. Xander had stumbled into celebrity stardom and was still king of the networks with his cooking show and the ongoing television series about a vampire trying to fit into the human world. He had met Ashley's cousin Jessi when she was sent by Jonny to be his personal assistant - and to steal a necklace of great power Xander possessed. Their perfect love story was one that made Ashley swoon and her heart flutter every time she thought about it until she recalled her own foolish involvement and Jonny betraying everyone she loved.

Jessi was staring at her hard, though Xander appeared unfazed, as usual. The large vamp was sawing through raw steak, his backup food source to human blood.

"How do you kill a dog?" echoed the raven-haired three-year-old son of Xander and Jessi seated beside Brandon. The child had begun repeating everything his elders said several months before. Ashley was always amused, especially when an occasional fuck he'd learned from Xander slipped out and threw the house into chaos.

"Why do you ask?" Jessi was the first to speak, her maternal defensiveness always on high alert.

"Just curious." Ashley shrugged.

"Brandon," Jessi snapped.

"Why are you looking at me?" Brandon replied. "I didn't ask!"

The baby in the next room began crying. Jessi rose immediately. "This isn't over!" she called over her shoulder.

When she was gone, Xander sat back.

"This isn't over," repeated Alex.

Ashley returned her gaze to her food. It was impossible to lie to Xander. She shouldn't have said a word, but the question wasn't one she could ask anyone else.

"You don't," Xander replied in his naturally gravelly voice.

"Can you do it?" Ashley asked.

"Can you -"

"Alex." Xander touched the boy's arm. He fell silent with a smile.

"Jessi told you not to use mind control on your son," Ashley reminded him, entertained.

"If she wants him to survive to adulthood, she'll make allowances."

Brandon laughed and Ashley giggled.

"What was that?" Jessi called from the living room of the spacious La Jolla mansion overlooking the ocean.

"Nothing, kiri," Xander replied and leaned forward and pinned Ashley with a look. "If you want to survive to your next birthday, don't say another word about it."

Brandon bit back a laugh, while Ashley covered her mouth. The most powerful immortal in the universe was leery of attracting the ire of his short, blonde wife. Their interactions had always been a source of laughter for Ashley, and she used the distraction to try to suppress any thoughts of Jonny the way Xander had taught her when dealing with a mind manipulator.




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