Caressed by a Crimson Moon (Rulers of Darkness) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Father of the Validus Clan. He had been selected to become a beast for his skills in the art of war. It was said that Imbrasus had bestowed upon Hadrian his own dark needs of blood and death.
                  Rumors began to play like a broken record in her head, the voices ran together until they became a steady stream of fear: He kills for sport and bathes in the blood of the slain. No one has ever met his rage and lived…He’ll suck the life right out you, down to the marrow in your bones. He’s a devil, that one, a beast straight from the fires of hell… You best behave and be cautious, vampires will eat you alive, little girl. Eva covered her ears, trying to block out the terrible voices. Her heart pounded in her chest as she gasped for air. Eva felt like screaming.
    “Eva, come inside.”
    “I–I can’t,” she answered, her teeth chattering viciously. She wrapped her arms tightly about herself as she hesitantly took a step back.
    Sacrifice. She was a sacrifice to the vampire king.
    Falcon’s liquid silver gaze began to harden to gray. Fear. He could scent her fear.
    “You will freeze out there. Please, come inside.”
    “N–No.”
    She stumbled down a few steps, briefly losing her footing on ice.
    “Eva,” Falcon called out as he darted for her. He caught her arm and pulled her against him before she went tumbling down the steps. She struggled against his hold, but he pinned her to his chest, his arms locked about her like steel bands as he carried her into the castle.
    The doors slammed behind them and Eva let out a wild scream, shoving relentlessly against him. Falcon set her on her feet placing himself between her and the door. Eva backed away from him, her eyes darting about the room as she tried to remain away from the shadows.
    Danger. It was a thick stench that clouded the air and Eva struggled for breath.
    “What has brought this on?” he asked. “What frightened you?”
    Eva shook her head. She had no answer. She did not know what had triggered her panic attack and she could feel her cheeks grow bright with a blush. Never had she acted this way. Her mother had taught her never to give in to fear, never to allow such a weak emotion to rule her and yet, it had just claimed her. She had never been so terrified in her life. When her mother had passed, leaving her alone in the world, she was not scared. When her father and his men arrived to drag her off to their secluded village in the jungle just days after her funeral, she had not betrayed her teaching. Never once while she lived amongst the shifters did she give in to any emotion, save anger. She could not begin to explain this.
    She took in deep breaths, desperately trying to regain her composure, ruthlessly shoving aside her terror. She needed to be calm, focused. If there was danger, she needed to be aware and not be overcome by panic. She smoothed her wind swept hair back from her face and unzipped her jacket, suddenly feeling extremely warm and completely embarrassed.
    “Eva, are you—”
    “I’m fine.”
    Falcon’s eyes narrowed as he studied her and Eva shifted beneath his scrutiny.
    “Nothing is going to happen to you here,” Falcon said, trying to soothe her. “You are a ward to my clan.”
    Eva wanted to believe his words, needed to believe them, but doubt remained as a dark shadow in her mind.
    “You are safe here.”
    That comment of his drew a sharp laugh from her and Falcon’s brow wrinkled with a frown. He stepped toward her and Eva resisted the urge to retreat.
    “I’ve no doubt you’ve heard…terrible stories of my king. I will not deny that his mind has been touched by darkness, but he is a good man.”
    Eva waited for him to continue, but he said no more. She wanted him to say Hadrian was nothing like the rumors claimed, that he would not harm her in any way. Instead, he offered her nothing. She swallowed hard and prayed that Falcon would be staying here with her. After spending the last few days with