Blood, Body and Mind Read Online Free PDF Page B

addition to a strong friendship. And because of it, Duncan would live, never aging for as long as Aaron did.
    “ I see your point. But I must say, it was quite fun shopping for human food stuffs. I did not realize that things had changed so much in just one hundred years. And sire, you would not believe the variety of things. Why, there were several kinds of apples to choose from, I could hardly make up my mind. I did purchase plenty of fresh fruits for the young miss. Do you think she will enjoy them?”
    “ Duncan, I believe you need to get out more.” Aaron sat in one of the new kitchen chairs that had been delivered just yesterday morning. “Yes, I do, even if she doesn’t think she does. She’ll need to eat well. She’s much too thin as it is. Have you had any luck getting any help for the house? While I know that you are more than capable of getting everything done, with guests in the house, we don’t want to give them the worry of thinking you won’t be able to care for them.”
    “ No, sir, I have not. It would seem that the previous master was quite the monster, if you do not mind my saying so. No one will trust that you will not extract a payment of some sort to work here, as he did. And that you will not be as harsh or cruel as he.”
    Duncan was correct, he knew. It did not make the situation any better. That was why he had gone to see the Carlovettis. The young couple was well respected in both the human and the vampire world. He had gone to seek their help in bringing people around and convincing them to get to knowing him better.
    “ I feared as much,” Aaron said sadly. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to convince them that while I expect them to follow the rules set forth, I won’t skin anyone alive who doesn’t comply. I also plan to pay for the services rendered with a good wage.”
    Aaron had been doing a little research on the people he now commanded. They really were terrified of the leadership, and with good reason. In the month since he had become master, he’d only met with a handful of them and they had been nearly overwhelmed with terror.
    “ I had heard that a ‘skinning’ was his minimum punishment for disobedience and to do so while they lived...” Duncan shivered. “So it’s true then, sire? You will have much to overcome, I fear.” He said it as if he had fully expected him to accomplish it without any problems.
    “ I’m afraid so. And that was the minimum punishment. Once the little warrior wakes up, let me know immediately. She and I have a lot to talk about.” He started to leave the room when Duncan stopped him by clearing his throat.
    “ My lord...about the other guests, what should I do with them?” He suddenly looked nervous.
    “ They’ll be here until we get this settled with Miss Temple. I don’t want her to wake in a strange house with strange people.” He could not resist a little teasing. “Are they proving too much for you, old man?”
    Duncan huffed and walked away from him. Aaron laughed out loud. He could not wait for her to wake, he thought as he returned to his study. She was a distraction. A beautiful and stubborn distraction, one he wanted to kiss on the delicious mouth again.
    ~~~
    Just before sunset two days later, Sara woke up. Despite the great deal of pain from the bullet wound and soreness in a multitude of other places, she moved about enough to get herself going.
    While sitting on the floor, she felt beyond the room, checking for others in the house, discovering the immensity of the building. She felt the presence of the Carlovettis and the vamp, plus one other person one floor below her—Duncan. She traced the faint signal of the others to the lower regions of the mansion and realized they were both still at rest.
    Moving slowly to the bathroom to clean up, she found her clothes, clean and neatly folded on the large sink. Her backpack sat on the counter too, allowing her to brush her teeth first. This took a great deal of energy. As she