Darling Read Online Free PDF Page B

feet away.

    “Are you
hungry, precious?”

    She replied an
affirmative and squeezed his arm. Feeling brave enough to look over
her shoulder again, Cassandra noticed an exquisitely beautiful
vampiress watching her from the entrance of a nearby tent. The black
and white stripes mimicked the colors of her voluminous gown, making
Cassandra wonder if the pavilion belonged to the vampiress.
White-blond hair tumbled down her back, unrestrained by hood or
jeweled circlet.

    Cassandra smiled in
greeting, half-expecting to be ignored. Instead, she received a
friendly nod in return. Cassandra’s feet slowed. She wished she
could converse with her.

    “Darling?”

    “Yes, my
lord?” She looked up at him, glittering with the happiness of
being acknowledged by someone from Lord Constantine’s world.

    Soft leather traced
the curve of her smooth cheek. “It pleases me to see you this
way.”

    “What way
would that be, my lord?”

    “Content and
at peace with our life.”

    Cassandra itched to
hug him. “I love being with you, Lord Constantine. Nothing else
could make me happier.”

    “Even staring
overlong at handsome blue men?”

    She swallowed hard.
Mouth uncomfortably dry, Cassandra stammered, “I was merely
curious, my lord.”

    “Curious?”
His dark brow rose in faint humor. “About what?”

    “His tent.”

    “Anything
else, darling?” Lord Constantine leaned down from his
considerable height and whispered, “Perhaps wondering where
such a handsome creature came from?”

    “Perhaps.”
Cassandra bit her lip. “Are you very angry with me, my lord?”

    “Of course
not.” His indulgent smile communicated the sincerity of his
words. “He is a very attractive fellow. Naturally you were
curious.”

    “You do not
feel jealous?”

    “No. I am
still your most important person, am I not?”

    “Always!”
Cassandra’s queenly offense at the thought of someone else even
attempting to supplant Lord Constantine made him laugh.

    “Your devotion
to me keeps me secure, darling. I do not fear your wandering eyes
because your heart stays with me. Do you understand?”

    Cassandra started to
answer him when a lilting voice interrupted.

    “Yes, little
girl. Do you understand what your lord is really trying to teach
you?”

    Cassandra turned and
gaped at the intruder. It was the smiling vampiress of before.
Cassandra waited for Lord Constantine to reprimand the woman for her
bold tongue.

    Suffocating silence
filled the space.

    “My lord?”
She looked up. Lord Constantine remained bent, mouth closed and eyes
sparkling with good humor. “My lord!”

    “He cannot
hear you, little girl.” The vampiress glided across the stone
roadway. “It is just you and I for the moment.”

    “How did you
do this?” Fear thickened, making it difficult for Cassandra to
keep a clear mind.

    “Do not be
afraid of me. I am not here to cause you harm.”

    “I don’t
care about me! Have you hurt my lord?”

    “You fear for
him. You are very sweet.” She grinned. Her fangs glinted in the
moonlight. “Your lord has not been harmed. I promise. I have
just taken a bit of time for us to talk.”

    “There was no
need for this witchery. I would have spoken to you.” Cassandra
dug her nails into his arm, hoping to awaken him from whatever spell
had fallen.

    Please, please wake
up! You can’t leave me with this strange woman like this!

    “I am sure you
would have. Your lord, on the other hand, would not have been so
reasonable.” Her eyes flashed crimson before settling back into
their eerie silver hue.

    “Who are you?”

    “Lady
Kamilla.” She dipped her head in a regal nod. “And you
are Mistress Cassandra, the promised Beloved of Lord Constantine.”

    “How do you
know?” Cassandra could’ve bit her tongue out for asking
such a silly question. Everyone in the kingdom knew of the human girl
Lord Constantine kept.

    “I do not
really have to answer that, do I?” Lady Kamilla’s
melodious voice did not