Dreaming Of A Blood Red Christmas (Kindred, Book 8.1) Read Online Free PDF

ease and they would not ignore the summons. As friends, I need only ask. With a simple thought I order Alain to contact the Master of Wellington City, sending an urgent request for their attendance.
    I feel a modicum of relief having organised a suitable back-up, one Lucinda will not baulk at. In the next instant I am confirming with my vampyre stationed at Sensations that Georgia is working tonight. If she senses the Pull, she will respond to it immediately. The Nothus is half Nosferatin, after all.
    By the time we have come to the main foyer of the hotel I have done all I can to shield my kindred, and yet the greatest threat lies in the bar, not less than twenty feet away. My pace slows, Lucinda automatically matches it. I greet a few vampyres as we meander through the foyer, note the level of Sanguis Vitam on the air, and focus my attention on the bar itself. Picking up an alarming amount of excitement.
    Ordinarily this would not be unusual for The Plaza, this is the seat of the Iunctio . But right now the excitement is laced with uncertainty. The vampyres within unsure how to take this new information they are receiving. My eyes seek out our guard. Lucinda's and mine are dotted about the periphery, my shadow guards acknowledge my attention with a mental nod.
    We are as prepared as we can be, but it will not be enough.
    I pull on a fraction of the Iunctio's combined Nosferatin and Nosferatu power, aware I have now alerted the Keeper to my concerns as well. It cannot be avoided. Petra is powerful, not as strong as I, but having come from the same Sire, our power-base matches. To fight her, Sanguis Vitam to Sanguis Vitam, would be a challenge. And that is not even considering my pregnant wife being used against me.
    If Lucinda knew I was having these thoughts she would be appalled. There is no way my kindred sees herself as a weakness.
    I flick a glance to my side to see her expression. She is alert, on guard, the epitome of vampyre hunter. There is no fear on her face, if I couldn't sense her emotions through the Bond we share, I would not know she felt it. She smiles benignly at those vampyres who greet us. Murmurs a word or two to those of my line. Her heart rate is steady, as are the babies'. She is in control, regal, beautiful.
    I feel eminently proud to walk in that room with her on my arm.
    I feel so full of fear it almost floors me.
    I let my vampyre-within out. Right now I will not show mercy.
    Immediately magenta washes the marble tiles of the foyer, making Lucinda flick an intrigued gaze at my face. I see her thoughts there, I don't have to hear them. Hello, dragon. I smile, my fangs are showing.
    Her fear spikes, but I know it is not at the sight of my vampyre, it is because I am not attempting to hide him.
    She gets control of the emotion immediately, the only sign of her disquiet is the movement of her free hand into her jacket pocket. She is fingering her stake. I am quite pleased for her to be doing so. Right now I am the Champion and she is the Prophesied.
    We walk into the bar and the room hushes. It takes a moment to place the most powerful of those vampyres present, and send mental commands to my guard to position themselves near each one. There are no other Councillors here, but the Ambrosia approaches. Called by the power I am displaying right now.
    My eyes land on Petra and the group of vampyres she has accumulated to herself. I purposely stare at each one. It takes mere seconds for those weaker to fall away and flash from the room. She is left with three. Two belong to the Imposter, the last to the Diviner. Both Councillors now washed in Lucinda's Light, but I will never truly trust them.
    We have made inroads into the Dark that had encased the Iunctio for so long, but that does not mean we are home free.
    "Michel," Petra purrs, flicking a perfectly manicured hand, with over-long red lacquered nails, through her blonde hair. The movement practised, but casual in appearance. "I'm so glad you've chosen