Covet (Clann)

shoulders hunched as she turned to face her children from many yards away. Don’t let this get even more out of hand. I know you can’t see it now, but your son’s still alive. Let them get out of here safely so he can come back to us someday.
    Mrs. Coleman’s jaw clenched for a moment, and my heart pounded hard in my chest. Finally, Mrs. Coleman nodded and faced the Clann.
    “Descendants! I know you’re upset over the loss of our newest leader. He…” Is. Was. Is. Was. Her mind struggled with the choice. She forced herself to say, “…is still my son, however, even if Clann law forbids him to continue as our leader now.”
    “Then I accept the leadership,” Mr. Williams said, stepping forward to the front of the crowd.
    Dr. Faulkner stepped forward. “Ah, but Clann law says you will not. Not as long as the parent of the previous Clann leader is still alive and willing to accept the role in their child’s stead.” He sounded like he had memorized every Clann law under the sun.
    Silence as everyone waited for Mrs. Coleman to react. Finally she spoke. “As Tristan’s surviving parent, I accept the leadership and will gladly take this position effective immediately.”
    Mr. Williams’s face turned red then purple. But he said nothing, his thoughts revealing that he knew Dr. Faulkner was right and hadn’t expected anyone to know such an old law. He would have to find some other way to become Clann leader.
    It took a few minutes for the rest of the descendants to realize that the Clann leadership had once again changed. During that time, Tristan’s grip on my hand grew steadily tighter to the point of near pain.
    He read the thought in my mind and forced his muscles to relax. I’m sorry. It’s just that the smell is hurting me. I can’t ignore it any longer. I have to—
    “Tristan, no!” Panicking, I blurted it out instead of only thinking it.
    Tristan lurched forward and dropped my hand. Dad’s hands darted out to grab his shoulders and hold him still.
    Emily gasped. “Oh God. Tristan, no.”
    “Savannah, we must leave,” Dad said as he pulled Tristan backward.
    Tristan’s eyes had narrowed, his lips pulled back to expose fangs as he growled.
    I stood there frozen as for the first time I watched a vampire lose control over the bloodlust.
    Mrs. Coleman turned to face us again, her eyes wide. She took a deep breath, and I heard her think, I must do this, for my son and the Clann. Then she said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Tristan Coleman, you are hereby banished from the Clann. Leave here, and do not ever return.”
    As if it were some kind of formal act, every descendant there except Emily and Mrs. Coleman turned their backs on us.
    “Goodbye, my son.” Mrs. Coleman silently mouthed the words, tears rolling down her cheeks.
    “Come on,” Emily muttered, grabbing my elbow and dragging me through the woods behind my father as he shoved Tristan down the path ahead of us.
    The farther we got from the Circle and all that descendant blood on the ground, the less Tristan struggled against Dad. Finally Tristan began to have coherent thought again. Why does it hurt so much?
    I know, baby, I thought. But it’ll stop if you keep walking with my dad.
    This man is your dad?
    Yes. Trust him. He’ll keep both of us safe and get you something to…eat, so your stomach will stop hurting.
    Okay. I trust you, so I’ll trust him, too. But Tristan’s eyes still darted from side to side like a wild thing in spite of our reaching his own backyard.
    “We will meet you at the house,” Dad said, his tone allowing no argument. Then they were gone, Dad teaching Tristan to run for the first time, using the woods along the way as their cover.
    “Oh my God,” I whispered once I could no longer hear Tristan’s thoughts. “What have I done?”
    * * * * *
    We hope you enjoyed COVET, Book 2 of THE CLANN! Want to know which songs Sav and Tristan listened to in COVET? For the official COVET playlist and other information about The Clann and Melissa Darnell, visit www.TheClannSeries.com !

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
    I would like to thank my editor, Natashya Wilson, for your tireless and truly brilliant editorial guidance throughout this series, as well as your undying faith in Tristan and Savannah. I am convinced that no one on this planet could possibly adore Tristan more than you do!
    I would also like to thank everyone else at Harlequin for their outstanding work on making each version of every Clann Series book