Deadly Liaisons Read Online Free PDF Page A

desk toward her sword. A rush of adrenaline flooded her system, readying her for the perceived danger.
    Before she could reach her sword, a man appeared in the doorway of her office and silently observed her. An ancient vampire.
    Since she had not invited him in, who the hel had? And why had he come through the front door? A game, maybe. To give her warning he was on his way, taunting her. Or perhaps to ensure she was al alone in the apartment, to avoid complications should there be a hunter here to protect her back, lounging in bed, waiting for her to finish her work.
    The vampire’s dark brown eyes watched her with unblinking severity. His sinister look and the size of him—six-feet, broad-shouldered—chil ed her to the bone. Dressed in black slacks, shoes and a satin shirt, large-col ared with ful sleeves, he reminded her of a wel -clothed pirate. The buttons opened halfway down his chest revealed a smidgeon of dark brown hair, triggering the notion he was marketing his goods—to conquer, to wil her to him, to sate his hunger. He looked starved while he devoured every inch of her with his sexist glare.
    Bolting from the chair, Tezra yanked her sword out of its stand next to the desk. Her heart thundered, and she knew the blood pulsing rapidly through her veins would trigger his bloodlust. Yet, he watched, no reaction at al .
    “How did you get in?” she snapped. She spread her feet apart, giving herself better balance, preparing herself for his attack.
    “What have you learned about the kil er?” His voice, dark and deep, could seduce a female human easily into offering her throat to him before he bit into her jugular.
    “Why? Are you afraid I’ve told the police who you are?”
    His lips twitched.
    She didn’t waver in her stance. She couldn’t kil him unless she was certain he was a rogue. Then again, if he advanced on her, she’d assume the worst.
    “If that were so, what name did you give?” He walked over to her microscope, leaned down and peered into it as if he owned the place.
    Her ire grew.
    Since the distance between them remained the same, she shifted to ensure she stil would meet him head-on if he attacked.
    Her hands clammy, her sword grew heavy while she kept it raised and ready for a fight.
    The name Daemon flittered across his mind…and hers.
    Daemon looked up from the slides when she didn’t respond.
    “Your name’s Daemon.” She would have enjoyed the fleeting look of surprise that crossed his face if it wasn’t for the danger he represented.
    He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again. He rose to his ful height. “How do you know my name?”
    She wasn’t afraid of him. Being kil ed by a vampire in the line of duty was an honorable way to die, though she wasn’t real y contemplating defeat. “I’ve been investigating you,” she lied.
    He studied her, trying to break through her mental barriers to find the truth. The gentle probes stretched out to her, attempting to locate a weakness in her resolve, but her telepathic shield to keep him from penetrating her thoughts remained in place. His face grew shadowed in darkness. “When you wish to be honest, you can do some work for me.”
    She raised her brows. Conceited bastard . “Why have you kil ed the policemen?”
    “Dark huntress,” he telepathical y said, his gaze wil ing her to surrender to his superiority, his charm.
    Pursing her lips, she fought showing her surprise. He was the one who’d tagged her as a dark huntress while she was investigating Stevens’s murder. The same vampire who’d seemed sexual y fascinated with her. The one who appeared to be in charge. Her skin tingled with fresh awareness, though she tried to keep her reaction neutral.
    Then with a noble air, he cocked his head slightly as if dismissing her question. “You’l get nothing from me until you tel me how you know my name and have connected me with these crimes.”
    No one knew of her telepathic abilities except Krustalus. Not even what was