A Wicked Hunger (Creatures of Darkness 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

“We’re only providing assistance.”
    She leaned forward. “You can’t let them take me.”
    “Sorry, little lady.” He hiked his thumb at Mason, pity quickly evaporating. “These guys are in charge. You know that.”
    She did. Since they’d revealed themselves to the world one hundred years ago, the vampires had graciously allowed the human institutions to proceed with almost no interruption, but there was no illusion that vampire law didn’t overrule human law, which was the underlining cause of most of the uprisings.
    “But he’ll kill me,” she muttered. Anyone caught with illegally obtained vampire blood was dealt a swift death. No trial necessary.
    “I’ve no intention of killing you,” Mason proclaimed.
    Terror dropped her heart into her stomach. Then what did they plan for her? She knew first ha nd that surviving in the custody of a vampire could be even worse than death.
    “Can’t I stay here…in a human jail until all this is sorted out?”
    Mason narrowed his gaze. “No, you can’t.” Then he addressed the officer in a demanding tone. “Fetch the person to administer the blood test. I want to be on our way.”
    The officer’s features pinched slightly, almost like a sneer, but not quite. He left without a word.
    Cora kept her eyes lowered to the table. Her tone came out no more than a whisper. “Please. I don’t want to go with you.”
    The vampires made no response, which was answer enough.
     

     
    Chapter 3

     
     
     
    “Can’t I at least get my suitcase from out of my trunk?” Cora pleaded, wanting more than anything to change into normal clothing.
    She stood, hopelessly, in the police station garage, next to the same black car that had brought her here.
    Mace opened the passenger side door for her. “Your car and everything inside it is considered evidence at the moment. I’m afraid it will take some time to clear it.”
    She glanced longingly to her left, down the sidewalk that fronted the police station. A brief, ridiculous fantasy of making a run for it trickled through her mind.
    She wouldn’t even make it a step.
    Mace waited, seemingly patient, for her to get into the car. Something in his expression told her he knew the way of her thoughts and was somewhat amused.
    As she settled in the car, she wrung her fingers nervously while Mace walked around the front and took the driver’s seat. The engine roared to life with the turn of the key. The sound was like an ominous prelude to an execution.
    She wondered briefly where Trent was. He’d allowed Mace alone to escort her out of the police station while remaining behind with the human authorities.
    In the small space of the car, sitting so close to Mace, Cora automatically reverted back to the mindset that kept her alive during her time with Edgar. She forced her lungs to work slow and even. She tilted her head down, and went as still as a possum. From the corner of her eye she saw Mace shoot her a sidelong glance before putting the car into drive.
    “Put your seatbelt on,” he ordered.
    She yanked the strap across her body and snapped it into place, then returned her hands to her lap just as he pulled onto the street. A moment of silence followed. She kept her eyes on her hands.
    She felt the car speed up, slow down, stop, then speed up again, but never looked up, never glanced out the window.
    After a long while of quiet driving, Mace said casually, “Are you trying to make me forget you’re there?”
    Her chin jerked slightly, but she made no response.
    “Believe me. Nothing could accomplish that.”
    She swallowed, keeping her eyes downcast.
    “Where did you learn to do that, anyway?”
    Her heart stuttered, and silence crushed the space around them.
    “Well, anyway, you don’t have to do that. I’m not a threat to you.”
    He took the highway on-ramp, heading out of town. She prayed he would stop trying to engage her in conversation, but she wasn’t so lucky.
    After another stretch of silence, he said,