Given: Project Xol

by Amabel Daniels

  Luke opened the door to the office. Mrs. Phelan rocked Hendrick against her chest. She raised a finger to her lips, shushing as she sat in the rocking chair, keeping our boy asleep. Against the pale green walls with stencils of monkeys and trees, the babies slept.

  “Want a break?” Luke asked her quietly.

  She sighed and nodded. “I do need to use the restroom.” She giggled and gave him a beseeching wince.

  He smiled and gently scooped our son into his arms.

  Mrs. Phelan patted my shoulder as she hurried past me out of the room.

  I leaned over the portable crib Elena—Jonah nicknamed her Elle and it stuck—slept, one thumb in her little mouth.

  Dammit. I winced, wishing I could nip that bud earlier than later. She flat-out wasn’t taking to pacifiers and I had already settled myself in for giving up that fight.

  I caressed her soft cheek and sighed.

  Every time I looked at these infants, I lost a little of the fear that had once consumed me. That Tami could have succeeded, taking the idea of them from me before they were even conceived. With the unusual threat Tami had posed to me—to my body—I felt an extra sense of redemption knowing that Luke and I had created these beings.

  Such a young, precious life, just starting out to what I hoped would be great things in her lifetime. Only one lifetime, an existence that wouldn’t be extended by so-called drugs and cures that were actually a means for a psychopath’s quest for dominance.

  A fountain of youth. Project Xol had exposed one with grave side effects.

  Gazing at my husband with our son in his arms, and then at our daughter sleeping with what I hoped were sweet dreams, I knew how pointless that search had been.

  I met Luke’s gaze and knew more than ever that anyone seeking immortality or power over others had never been so blessed as I was.

  Because living with my husband’s love and the gift of our children, I saw that it was only how we treasured each present moment that mattered.

  Acknowledgments

  For editing, I thank C.J. Pinard at www.cjpinard.com. For the cover design and photography, I thank Kellie Dennis at Book Cover By Design at www.bookcoverbydesign.co.uk. For proofreading, I thank PSW.

  For all the never-ending encouragement, suggestions, and cheerleading, I thank my great team of betas: Allyson, Crystal, Rachel, and Dawn. I treasure your input and am so glad to have you in my corner!

  About the Author

  Amabel Daniels lives in Northwest Ohio with her patient husband, three adventurous girls, and a collection of too many cats and dogs. Although she holds a Master’s degree in Ecology, her true love is finding a good book. When she isn’t spending time outdoors, or wondering how to negotiate with her mightily independent daughters, she’s busy brewing up her next novel, usually as she lets her mind run off with the addictive words of “what if…”

  For more information about Amabel’s work, please stop by www.amabeldaniels.com.

  Other Books by the Author

  Project Xol

  Seek

  Lost

  Find

  Stolen

  Reclaim

  Given

  Newland Family

  Better Than the Best (FREE!)

  Appetite of Envy

  Resisting Redemption

  Covert Identities

  Don’t Go Back

  Always Was

  Indeed

  Across From You

  Next To Me

  Flawed Plan

  Olde Earth Academy

  Secrecy

  Discovery

  Mastery

  Victory