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

him, she felt she could trust him and that he would not let anyone hurt her. She hoped that included his king.
    “There are so many rumors…I don’t know what to believe.”
    “Understandable,” he conceded. “I know all too well what people say. His reputation is legendary.”
    “Lethal,” she added on a whisper.
    Falcon did not protest and silence stretched between them. A piercing ring was a welcome interruption.
    “That should be the main house,” Falcon said as the phone’s ring echoed through the keep. “I was to report when we arrived. I will not be long. Stay here.”
    Eva nodded and Falcon entered the shadows. She removed her jacket and hung it on a tall iron coat rack. Heaving a heavy sigh, she stepped from the safety of the foyer. It was a small room, clearly used for the removal of snow-lined coats and other travel wear. It was a transition room, or, as Eva noted the holes within the ceiling with tiny spikes protruding from them, a last line of defense.
    She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall. While she waited for Falcon to return, Eva silently chastised herself for acting like a fool.
    Something had been here, in the shadows, she thought. Something…evil. And she had an odd feeling that it wanted her.
    She would not be scared and she refused to be intimidated. If she could endure and survive the pack’s treatment of her, then she could survive this. Thus far, Falcon had not been rough or violent with her. He had given her no reason to distrust him or to be frightened. Then again, she had yet to meet the king.
    Eva closed her eyes as she recalled her last night with the pack. She had stood outside her father’s office, waiting for Falcon. Teresa and a few of her other half-siblings circled about the hall, their eyes filled with twisted satisfaction.
    An elderly servant, who had been a servant for the alpha’s grandfather had rushed to her, eyes filled with horror.
    “Oh, you sweet child,” she said. She had reached out to take Eva’s hands then quickly drew back. The woman may feel sorrow for her, but she was not about to touch a half-breed. “I’ve only just heard you have been given to the vampires.” Fear filled her eyes. “Take care.”
    She shuddered and opened her eyes. Was the king as brutal as rumors claimed?
    “Or could he be worse?” she whispered.
    Dear lord, what had her father done?
    He sacrificed me . She snorted. He couldn’t send one of his precious purebred daughters off to what was surely her death.
    Eva pushed away from the wall and began to pace. Falcon had been gone for nearly fifteen minutes and her nerves were making her restless. Glancing about, she decided to take a little tour. She would not go far and, with luck, she may find the knight. Besides, if she remained immobile, consumed by her thoughts, she would soon have herself worked up into another fit of hysteria.
    Deciding to head in the direction Falcon had, she did not enter the main hall though the large arched entrance was directly in front of her. She turned left and headed down a long, dimly lit corridor. She paused outside each door she passed, she knocked and tried their knobs, but no one called from the other side and every door was locked.
    After the fifth door, she gave up her search and allowed her curiosity to take over. The hall was lined with wood paneling decorated by sharply detailed paintings. Each featured a portrait of a man and was accompanied by a gold placard with his name. These were the kings of the Validus Clan.
    The name of the last painting read Hadrian Lucretius, but the image had been savagely shredded. Stepping closer, Eva reached up, trying to place the pieces back together, wanting to get a look at the vampire.
    A cool hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her scream as she was hauled back. Eva fought for freedom, twisting around, she jabbed her elbow in her attacker’s side then kicked back, connecting with his shin. He growled in response and spun her