Romanoff Family…

Natasha rubbed her eyes. Her mother’s discourse on Nymphology could be trying under the best of times. When she assumed Tasha was neglecting the Nymph part of her genetic pool, mom got downright mean. In most languages, Nymph essentially meant a bride or manageable woman. Hah! That certainly didn’t describe her mother...or Tasha for that matter. When her mother wanted her to do something she nagged about the importance of social duties until Tasha wanted to scream.

Allowing herself to think about Nymphs was safer than worrying about her next speed date. At this point, Tasha would happily write an essay on the subject if it would get her out of the next couple of rounds. Such a simple thing to do...

A paranormal with a form indistinguishable from humans, the term Nymph is a generic title for a class of female fairy, closely tied to every environment on Earth. Their bewitching beauty and erotic powers are legendary. If their chosen habitat remains healthy, a full-blooded Nymph can live for over nine thousand years.

Her mother was half Cryad or Woodland Nymph. She was over five-thousand years old and didn’t look a day over forty-five. Her mom was a little pissed off that somehow her only child, Tasha, had inherited very little of the gentler Nymph abilities with music and prophecy.

Nope. Tasha liked music well enough, but she couldn’t sing or play any instruments. She would rather fight than dance, like some thousand-to-one times. Her mother continually lamented Tasha’s warrior nature. The were-tiger half of her mother’s inheritance, and all her father’s genetic code—had beat the softer qualities of Natasha’s Nymph genes into gleeful submission a long time ago. Tasha was born to fight.

To add insult to injury, Tasha liked a solitary life and had little inclination to party, a trait that also upset her mother.

This attribute often pushed her mother over the edge. Then mom would forcefully demand that her daughter get a social life. Not for the first-time, Tasha wondered how old she would need to be before her mother let her lead her own life?

Obviously, a hundred and thirty-three years wasn’t old enough.

It didn’t matter to mom that she was happy. She loved her work, most of the time. She had great friends, a fantastic little house in the mountains, a devoted—if a little bossy—body servant. Mom’s real intent was to see Tasha mated, even if her daughter didn’t want a man in her life.

Where her mother’s genetic code was enough to place her at the front of the room at the speed-dating mixer, her father’s hereditary addition sent her into a realm few could match.

Tasha wasn’t exactly sure what her father was, or all that he was. It gave her a headache anytime she tried to sort it out. If there was a name for his species, she never heard it mentioned. And she had never met another like him. Every once and a while she got a little metaphysical gift, due to her father’s addition to her genetic code. Then it would take Tasha a few days, months, or in one case...years, to figure out how to control what she was given. The real bitch in figuring out her gifts was that her father’s powers were often just a little different after being modified with her mother’s DNA.

She had yet to tap all the powers she would one day inherit from her parents. The power gifts were often lethal surprises, bestowed in the blink of an eye. Sometimes the gifts from daddy kept her alive, sometimes they landed her in trouble.

Books:
Supernatural Speed Dating
Vlad & Veronica

Family Excerpt: Meeting the Parents
Natasha walked up to the Council Secretary, who was pacing in front of the door. “I need to speak with Edelfieri. Could you get him for me please?”

The man nodded and hurried away.

She put her hand on Vlad’s arm. “You can’t let them do this,” she repeated.

Vlad smiled. “Tasha, why stop this? It is what you asked for at the Council. Isn’t this what you need? I know I need you to have more Guardian bodies. If you worry about having money to pay them, don’t. I have money from all of the Vampire Sentinels and many of the heads of Shifter groups. We will finance GOTH. We don’t need the idiot Council.”

She winced and looked at Vlad in amazement. “You got them to agree? That is wonderful and will be such a huge help. But we still can’t let these paranormals sign up.”

Edelfieri entered the Chambers and crossed the floor toward Natasha.

She tried to smile but failed.

“Natasha, I heard what you said and know that there are dozens of paranormals out in the Hall waiting to sign up as Guardians. I am also aware of Vlad’s efforts on your behalf to raise money for GOTH. It would seem all your wishes are being granted. Yet, still, you are unhappy. I am as confused as Vlad. Why can’t you let those who are willing, signup for GOTH?” Edelfieri asked.

“Because they aren’t doing this of their own free will. You don’t understand Edelfieri, Vlad, I had a power breakthrough last night. I haven’t quite figured out how to control the new power—but it truly gives me what I wish for. When I wished for help fighting the demons, Vikings showed up and made a big difference. While getting Vikings to come to my call in the middle of battle was great, having dozens of immortals out in the Hall respond to that wish isn’t right. Many of them don’t really want to be Guardians, they are just answering to my power,” she earnestly tried to get them to understand.

“What do you mean you wished for help?” Edelfieri demanded.

Natasha sighed. “When we were fighting, I said, ‘By hell, I...” she stopped and considered, “the w-word, there were more freaking Guardians!’ If you don’t believe that it works, I can show you. Step back, closer to the wall.” She motioned for Edelfieri and Vlad to stand out of the way. “I’m not sure how much room this might take, and I don’t want you hurt.”

She walked further out into the room and turned toward the men. “This is what I mean.” She squared her shoulders, stood straight and clearly said, “I wish Roger was here, standing in front of me.”

Roger, bare-chested with a towel thankfully fastened at his waist, appeared in front of her with his back to Edelfieri and Vlad.

“Natasha! What in the holy hell? I’m getting tired of this already.” He glared at her.

Before she could comment, Dominic stepped into the room from the little curtained alcove.

“This is your body servant?” He looked stunned, and more than a little upset. “This young, long-haired, and very masculine man is your body servant?”

Again, she didn’t have time to say anything.

Roger was pissed at being summoned, now he had someone else to focus his irritation on. He rolled his eyes and chortled, “Oooh. This is the man you power-banged last night, Tasha?”

“You told him we had sex?” Dominic glared at her.

“Hard to miss when she landed naked on her bed, with love bites covering her body and scorch marks on her ass.” Roger crossed his arms on his chest and smirked.

Tasha threw her hands in the air and hissed. “Would you both shut up?” She would just wish herself...

“Natasha Elvira Josephine Romanoff, don’t you dare wish yourself out of this room!” Edelfieri commanded.

Busted. Now she couldn’t go anywhere. She sighed.

Roger whipped around. “Oh, hell. Hi, Ed. Hi, Vira.” He turned around and glared at her, “I didn’t know your parents were here, Tasha,” he hissed under his breath.

Yeah, she hadn’t seen her mother arrive either.

“Her parents?” Dominic demanded.

Andrea laughed, coming out from behind Dominic. “Yes, her parents. Hi, Ed and Vira. Sorry, Tasha. It looks like your secret is out.”