Blood Ecstasy (Blood Curse Series Book 8) Read Online Free PDF Page B

it had played out in her mind. Somehow, the reality was drastically different.  
    In the blink of an eye, Rebecca was back at Julien’s side, and his massive, bloodstained hand was curled around her ankle like a vise, and he was tugging…jerking…pulling her to the ground.
    “Nooo!” she cried in stunned alarm, even as her knees hit the floor and she toppled forward, landing on his massive chest.  
    She quickly scurried off him.  
    “Becca,” he drawled groggily. “Do not.”
    She froze in terror, and her eyes darted around the room, searching for the other man, the one with the thick black hair. “Help me!” she screamed in a full-throated voice, uncaring if she shook the rafters. “Do something, damnit! Don’t leave me here with him!” She leaped back up, once again darting to her feet, and tried to shuffle out of Julien’s reach, but before she could get away, he shot upright.
    And then he sprang to his feet in one lithe, fluid motion and literally towered over her, his eyes ablaze with something too powerful to name.
    Fury?  
    Incredulity?  
    Ownership.
    She recoiled and backed away.
    And that’s when the green-eyed man stepped forward, still carrying the sagging blonde in his arms, and the motion began to rouse her.  
    Rebecca’s heart raced in her chest.  
    Maybe they could fight these guys together.
    “Is she okay?” Julien spoke sensibly for the first time since Rebecca had met him, locking his gaze with the other man’s.  
    “She appears to be fine,” the guy answered in a dark, satiny voice. “No worse for the wear, but damn, J. What the hell ?”
    Julien narrowed his moonstone gaze and scowled. “Shit happens,” he murmured gruffly.
    The man lowered his head in a subtle, respectful nod. “Indeed. It sometimes does.” And then he glanced right at Rebecca and slowly inclined his head in a graceful nod. “I am pleased to see she is here. Your destiny …at last.”
    Julien shrugged. “Bad day. Bad timing. Like I said, shit happens, but I guess we’ll work it out.”
    Rebecca felt like Alice in Wonderland, absolutely certain she had just fallen down a rabbit hole! What the heck were they talking about? And why? I am pleased to see she is here? Your destiny…at last? We’ll work it out?  
    Work what out!
    She was too stunned to even think.
    And that’s when the blond woman stirred. “Julien?” She spoke in a faint, drowsyvoice.  
    The gladiator took a generous step forward, flexing those muscular arms and legs, and placed his right hand on the woman’s arm, even as the green-eyed man slowly lowered her to the floor, helping her to gain her footing. “Ah, baby,” Julien rasped, “ prietena mea loiala , I’m sorry.” He bent to her neck, where the wounds were still raw, and did…something…Rebecca couldn’t see, and when he pulled back, the flesh looked healed. He wet the tip of his thumb with his tongue and tried to rubthe bloodstains clean from her throat. “Forgive me.”
    The blonde winced and stepped back, and then she rubbed her neck in relief. “ Prietena mea loiala ?”
    “My loyal friend,” he said softly, and the words were almost touching.
    The woman nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry if I wasn’t able to…read the situation better. I should’ve called Kagen. I should’ve known—”
    “I compelled you, sweetheart,” Julien interrupted. “I…I was not in a good frame of mind. Again, my apologies.”
    The blonde looked deep into the gladiator’s eyes, as if testing the truth of his words, and then she nodded. “I know. I do . I’m fine.” She bent over to pick up her shoes, smoothed her blouse with one hand, and inadvertently turned her head to the side; and that’s when she caught her first real glimpse of Rebecca, from the corner of her eye. She jerked in surprise and frowned, but before she could speak, Rebecca jumped in and tried to plead her own case.  
    “You have to help me!” she insisted. “Your friend— Julien —he took me from