Embrace the Darkness Read Online Free PDF

could make a fortune off your blood,” he murmured, regarding her tight expression over the rim of his glass. “Vampires would pay any price for a taste of your potent elixir. However, I have no desperate need for more wealth, and for the moment I prefer to keep you to myself.”
    â€œYour own private stock?” she rasped, folding her arms over her stomach.
    â€œPerhaps,” he murmured in distracted tones as he reached into a small compartment beneath his seat and removed a small ceramic pot. “Hold out your arms.”
    She predictably stiffened, her breath catching in horror. She had made it clear that she considered sharing her blood with a vampire a fate worse than death.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI said, hold out your arms.”
    â€œNow?”
    â€œNow.”
    Her jaw worked as she glared at him with fury. Viper held out a slender hand, calmly waiting.
    Long moments passed before she muttered a low curse and thrust out her arm.
    â€œHere.”
    Grasping her forearm in one hand he used his other hand to scoop out the pale green cream from the ceramic pot and carefully began to smear it on the red and blistered skin of her wrists. The wounds from the iron shackles would scar unless proper care was taken.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she asked.
    â€œThere is no need for you to suffer. I have no liking for witches, but not even I can deny they know how to brew a hell of an ointment.”
    A frown touched her brow as he reached to tend to her other wrist.
    â€œWhy are you doing this?”
    â€œYou’re injured.”
    â€œYes, but…why do you care?”
    Viper met her gaze steadily. “You belong to me now. I take care of my own.”
    Her lips thinned, not entirely happy with his explanation, but her muscles relaxed beneath his gentle touch and she didn’t try to pull away. Not until he lifted her wrist so he could press his lips to her raw skin.
    â€œNo, please,” she whispered, “I…”
    Without warning her eyes widened, and with a powerful movement that caught him off guard, she had pulled free of his hold and had her hand pressed to the window.
    Viper tensed at the sudden danger in the air. “What is it?”
    â€œThe darkness from the auction house,” she whispered. “It’s following us.”
    â€œGet down,” he commanded, once again reaching beneath the seat. On this occasion he pulled out a sleek handgun.
    There was a sudden thump as the limo was hit from behind and Viper muttered a low curse. He wasn’t concerned they would wreck. The car had been built to withstand a small nuclear bomb. And, of course, his driver was a vampire. Pierre’s reflexes were the best he had ever seen. Not to mention the fact he was immortal.
    The perfect chauffeur.
    But he would have the heart of anyone stupid enough to so blatantly attack him.
    Leaning sideways Viper slowly lowered the smoke-tinted window. A gust of air whipped through the interior, stealing the comforting warmth. Fall had descended without mercy, leaving a chilled edge to the night.
    Behind them a large jeep was continuing to accelerate in a futile effort to run them off the road. Even at a distance he could tell that there were two passengers, and that they were both human.
    â€œGive me one.”
    Startled by Shay’s soft demand Viper turned to regard her with a narrowed gaze.
    â€œYou know how to use a gun?”
    â€œYes.”
    Keeping his gaze locked on her wide eyes he reached beneath the seat to offer her a handgun similar to his own. With startling efficiency she measured the balance of the gun in her hand, before smoothly flicking off the safety.
    He would wager his finest ruby it was not the first occasion she held a gun.
    Not precisely reassuring.
    At least she wasn’t about to accidentally shoot off her foot, or worse his own, he wryly acknowledged as he rolled down the opposite window.
    â€œAim at the tires,” he commanded,