Born of the Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

grandmother. "No one here will hurt you."

    The woman's dark brown eyes glowed with honesty and warmth. Kiara trusted her.

    Surveying the room as the lights brightened, she noticed the richness of the furnishings.
    The bed she sat upon was made of dark, carved wood, a rarity few could afford. White
    gossamer sheers hung over the tall posts, shielding the bed from a stray draft.

    Kiara looked back at the woman. "Where am I?" she asked.

    "The where isn't important. You'll be home soon now that you're awake." She stood,
    beaming with a face Kiara recognized as one belonging to a fan. "Are you hungry or
    thirsty?"

    At Kiara's declination, she moved toward the door. "My name's Mira. You stay here and
    I'll retrieve your battlesuit."

    Kiara watched her leave. In the still quietness of the room, she heard the fierce wind
    outside and an insistent thumping. Her gaze was drawn to the brightly colored windows
    on the far wall. An odd-shaped tree blew in the strong wind, knocking branches against
    the window. Kiara felt every bit as controlled by unseen forces and just as helpless
    against them.

    Kiara sighed, her thoughts turning toward her father. No doubt he was frantically hurling
    angry curses at his poor soldiers, ordering them out to search every fraction of space for
    her. Her throat tightened as she prayed these people really intended to return her to
    Gouran.

    The door slid open, startling her from her thoughts.

    She turned to see a man entering, not Mira. Kiara pulled the cover to her chin, hesitant
    toward the stranger, not quite afraid, but definitely grateful for the tiny amount of
    protection the sheers provided her.

    Nykyrian paused. He had assumed Kiara would still be asleep. He should have known
    better.

    Her wide, amber eyes watched him with keen interest. Morbidly, he wondered what they
    would look like if he were to announce himself as the feared, unholy Nemesis.

    But then, he knew all too well what her reaction would be. Her eyes would grow wide in
    panic, she would no doubt scream in terror, and beg for her life.

    He breathed a weary sigh.

    Her gaze drifted over him, and his body immediately reacted as if she had caressed him
    with her hands.

    She was the only woman he had wanted in many years. It took all his self-control not to yield to his torturous desire to kiss her and find out how it felt to have her slender arms
    wrapped tightly about him while he buried himself deep within her. He also felt another
    need he couldn't quite name.

    Kiara's heart raced. The man was tall, dressed all in black. Even through the sheer veil
    separating them, the silver inlays on his boots and gun-belt shimmered in the light. A
    thin, black coat trailed to his ankles, pulled back on the left side to show the presence of a holstered blaster.

    The first three buttons of his silk shirt were left undone, displaying the promise of a
    tanned, well-muscled body. A deep scar ran from the base of his throat along his
    collarbone, disappearing under the shirt. She had a strong desire to investigate where that
    scar led.

    Even though the top half of his face was covered by dark opaque glasses, she could tell
    he was extremely handsome. His face, tanned and clean-shaven, held a look of steeled
    determination. His long, almost white blond hair was braided down his back. By that, she
    knew he was a warrior of superb skill.

    An aura of power and danger emanated from him, intoxicating her. She could almost feel
    the strength of his body.

    "I assume Mira has gone for clothing," he said in an accent she couldn't quite place and a deep-timbred voice that sent shivers along her body.

    "You're Andarion," she said, noting his teeth. She was slightly afraid at the revelation.

    Nykyrian opened his mouth and ran his tongue over his long, canine teeth. "Don't worry,
    I don't eat humans," he replied.

    Kiara was relieved. "Are you the one who will take me home?" she asked as he came
    forward to lean against the tall bedpost.

    "If you