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

to join us. I was just telling these lovely vampyres how we first met." Her hand lands possessively on one of the 'lovely' vampyres, a vampyre I know can sever heads with just a flick of his fingers. Lovely is not a word ever associated with William.
    His eyes, burning a slight tinge of rust-red, lift to mine. He holds my gaze when others would have looked away. My vampire-within snarls. The sound audible in the room even when I haven't opened my lips to make it. His eyes lower, but not before I see his lips twist in a smirk.
    "You took to vampyrism with such aplomb," Petra is saying. "Of course, it helped that you had me to show you how to control those urges."
    Her tone of voice says everything her words fail to convey. I sense Lucinda's shock and disgust. She has assessed this threat and found it distasteful, and now she is alarmed I have entertained that which she finds beneath me, at one stage.
    It was not a conscious choice. At the time I was... not myself. Explaining that now is useless, there is greater danger before me than at my side. Lucinda is not a fool, she understands more of our world now than ever.
    "It will be like old times," Petra declares and I have had enough of this show.
    "There will be no walk down memory lane, Petra. You speak out of line." I am not merely any vampyre, I am her Champion. To speak thus is considered treason by some.
    But it appears I must spell this out for her as she continues to ignore my warning.
    "Now more than ever you require the appropriate ear at your shoulder," she says, making several vampyres through the room stiffen. I don't need to check that they are pro the Prophesied. "A vampyre-mate you can trust."
    Too far.
    My fangs are down, my eyes have passed magenta and now bleed red. The snarl that swarms the room has claws and slashes at all who hear it, except Lucinda. Even when outraged I protect my rightful mate.
    Seize her! I instruct my guard. They move in on Petra in a wave of oppressive anger, she doesn't even fight back. A small amused smile graces her lips, which leaves me rigid with ice.
    What is her game? I feel I have walked right into a trap, but I still cannot see the cage.
    I stand immobile as they usher her out of the room, those humans present being glazed to overlook the display of vampyric power. The vampyres not glazing doing one of two things. Some are pretending they have not witnessed an outright challenge to the Champion. Some are openly watching to see what I do next.
    I purposely flick my gaze around the room, daring any of them to step forward and continue what Petra has started. Not a soul moves. I turn to Lucinda, feeling more remote than I have for some time. She doesn't even blink at the look that must grace my face. Her gaze steady, eyes defiantly holding mine. I cannot glaze her, the joining does not allow. But to be stared at so openly by a human when I am so close to the edge of letting go of my rage is... unnerving. And, I realise, a relief.
    I am not so far gone that my kindred wreaths me in Light, nor am I so cold that my look freezes her to the spot. She reaches forward, confidently, to grasp my hand. The moment the warmth of her skin meets the chill of mine something melts. Triple heartbeats call me back from the abyss.
    This woman holds my heart, my future. My legacy.
    The magenta dims, but my vampyre is not so ready to relinquish all hold on our anger. And those present need not see how my kindred soothes the fire inside.
    She's Dark , Lucinda says in my mind, pointing out something I am well aware of. Petra is coated in Amicus' Dark. She does not have a kindred like I.
    "The Ambrosia is waiting in my office," I say instead of agreeing with her. Then direct her to walk from the still eerily quiet room with my hand on her arm.
    I know conversations will not start up again until we leave. I also know none will be stupid enough to discuss what happened here now. My vampyres are plentiful in this space. So are those who support