Flowers and Fangs (Stake and Dust series, Book II) Read Online Free PDF

curled into a ball. It could be a
trick. A damn good one. He reminded himself, but he didn't heed
his own warnings. He approached her and she scooted away from him.
"When were you turned?" he asked.
    "I don't know what you're talking about."
    He tried a different approach. "When did Tim
bite you?" he demanded of her again.
    Tears fell, and she sniffled as she brushed
them away. "What difference does it make?"
    "Just answer the question."
    "Tim came to my house and … and …"
    "Go on."
    "Please, just leave me alone."
    "Honey, I can't and if you don't start
answering my questions, I promise, you will not like what I'll have
to do to you." She tried to look away, but he wouldn't let her. He
grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Start from the
beginning and tell me what led up to your boyfriend giving you one
heck of a hickey."
    She jerked out of his grip. "He's been acting
strange."
    "How?"
    "I don't know, like he was high or something,
just weird." Her gaze shifted to him and he would bet he was added
to her list of weird. "Do I know you?" she asked, her eyes
narrowing as she assessed him with new interest.
    "Just stick to the storytelling." He didn't
need her remembering who he was right now.
    Anger sparked her eyes at his demand. "Tim
climbed up my trellis and knocked on my bedroom window. I opened it
and gave him hell for it, too. He could have fallen and broken his
neck."
    "Did you invite him in?"
    She just stared at him.
    "Did you invite him in?" he repeated.
    She nodded. He watched her closely as she
recalled that night. Her finely shaped brows furrowed. "He attacked
me. The jerk actually bit me." She touched her neck as if it still
felt tender. "And tonight, he told me we would be gods. Live
forever," she whispered, her brows furrowing into a deep frown.
    Damn if she wasn't telling the truth. Sloane
McBride had been bitten, but she didn't know what that entailed.
She hadn't changed yet. She was only infected.
    She leaned forward clutching her stomach. "I
don't feel so good."
    He'd bet since her lovely boyfriend hadn't
had time to give her the final bite to change her. Without the last
bite, her body would weaken and she'd become feverish until she
faded away. There was no cure and no going back to the way things
were once bitten by a Nosferatu. By all means, it would be kinder
if he killed her now. He palmed his dagger from his sleeve, but
then she peered at him with those baby blues. "God, I'm going to
regret this. Come on." He grabbed her arm, but she yanked free of
his grip.
    "I'm not going anywhere with you. I've
watched crime shows. Going with you is death."
    He chuckled. "Honey, any other time I might
agree, but right now I'm the only one standing between you and a
stake through the heart.
    Just then the teapot whistled its long drawn
out trill, distracting him for a split second, but it was long
enough for Sloane to slam something into the side of his head. It
fell to the floor, the porcelain shattering into pieces. The handle
still survived, telling him she used a coffee cup for her choice of
weapon.

    "Dammit!" He riveted toward her and swayed on
his feet. He caught a glimpse of Sloane as she darted outside with
her lab following close behind. He cursed under his breath and went
after her.

Chapter Five
    Sloane sprinted to her back gate, cursing
that it had a lock on it. It was supposed to keep intruders out,
but she never anticipated the intruder would already be inside. Now
she was trapped with the trespasser who sported a crossbow and
dagger. "I'm not going to die," she said to no one in particular,
but saying the words out loud bolstered her courage. She had
seconds to spare before the guy would be on her. He didn't strike
her as a man who would give up so readily and just leave because
she hit him with a coffee mug. Despite her stomach gurgling in
protest to the stress, the adrenalin rush pushed her along.
    Lad caught up with her as her hands fumbled
with the lock. It fell open, surprising her