Corrupt Cravings Read Online Free PDF Page A

and tuned his senses to his surroundings. It was time to let the search begin.

    * * * *

    Tension ran high as Marcy and her men waited for Ben’s answer. The energy of the room practically crackled with electricity. Everyone’s emotions were definitely running on full throttle. The prickling of the hair on her arms standing on end had her rubbing her palms up and down their lengths.
    “He lives.”
    Marcella wasn’t sure whether to be thankful or uneasy, but she sure did feel her legs almost give out. “Thank you, Ben.” Bringing Sebastian down before her, she released him. A sharp intake of breath echoed through the stillness of the great hall. The vampire’s body collapsed at her feet.
    Easing from the chair, she joined him on the floor and cradled his face to look at her. “Sebastian, you’ve been given a second chance. Please do not lie to me again. The last thing I want is to lose anyone, including you. Do you think you can refrain from being dishonest?”
    Angry eyes penetrated into her hers. He jerked back and shakily stood. “No more lies, I got it.”
    Standing, she looked over at all the stares fixated on her. “This wasn’t how I saw our morning going. I’m sorry. I want you to all be happy here. As long as you’re honest with me and protect each other, nothing like this should happen again. I hope you all have a great time while I’m gone, and I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you personally when I return. Thank you for your time this morning. Now, you may all go eat if you’re hungry.”
    Marcella filled the table with every kind of breakfast food she could think of. It was true that vampires mainly consumed blood, but they still consumed real food at some point. Nothing was like she’d heard in so many stories growing up. Vampires were nothing like the myths. Although, besides Ambrose, who went out during the day on occasion, vampires did prefer the night, due to their light sensitivity.
    “Shall we eat?” Her breath was barely audible to herself. She wasn’t sure how her men could have heard her.
    “You did the right thing by letting them vote, love. They now know they have a voice, which is always good. You want them to come to you if they should ever need anything.”
    Marcella leaned against Dominic’s chest as he wrapped his arm around her. “I hope so. It’s imperative they don’t fear me. I’m not out to hurt anyone.”
    “I know.”
    The softness of his lips kissed her forehead just before he pulled out her chair. Marcella sat in her spot, at the very end, and looked down at everyone. The silence was killing her. They needed liveliness, fun. Suddenly, she had an idea that made her smile. It’d been way too long.
    “Dom, play us some music. Something to liven up this place. Geez, it is way too gloomy.”
    “Any requests,” he yelled.
    Jason laughed and winked at Marcy. “That’s my girl. About fucking time she came back. Shit, play some Disturbed or Breaking Benjamin. That would definitely get this place going.”
    Ambrose’s head reared back in distaste. “No way, play something a little more low-key. It’s way too early for that loud mosh music. We’re looking to liven things up, not engage in acts of screaming lyrics and breaking chairs.” Ambrose sipped his coffee but tried not to smile as he brought the cup back up to his lips.
    “Oh, I know, play ‘Angel’ by Massive Attack.”
    Marcella looked down at a strawberry-blonde woman in her early twenties. The black eyeliner made her green eyes glow. The shock Marcy felt at hearing the girl say that song, out of every song she could have requested, made her speechless. That was the exact song Dom had played when she had bit Jason and turned him into a collector.
    Bass thumped through her body as she lifted her glass and began to drink the orange juice. Not daring to look up at Dominic, she tried her best to keep her gaze down. It wasn’t long before he lifted her chin with the tip of his