Heir to the Coven Read Online Free PDF Page A

to be done. Before Dawn could push to see how far my adherence to the rules was, I put a snarl in my voice and said, “I only give one warning.”
    It seemed to sink in that her friend was not going to give her a free pass this time. Dawn bowed her head and went to one knee. “Forgive me Mistress.”
    “Return to the house and tell Kain you are at his bidding for the evening. I’ll decide if there’s anything further you need to do to earn my forgiveness in the morning.”
    Dawn snapped to her feet and walked out. I sat back down and sipped my drink.
    Here is an interesting commentary on human males. None of them would take a step near me when I was the icy brunette at the bar that they secretly feared might kill them, but seeing me bitch slap another woman had them all panting at my feet. I was literally surrounded five seconds after Dawn left. I looked over at Mercy and rolled my eyes. Her smile was hesitant and I knew she was reevaluating our friendship and me. She thought I overreacted to Dawn’s comment. Well, that was her problem to get over; I was no longer a child to feel stung when someone disapproved of me and seeking approval was not a quality that lent itself to a long life in a coven.
    “Hey,” said the twenty-something looking man who took Dawn’s former stool. He had auburn hair and green eyes and just enough vampire blood in him to attract my attention, but not enough to be useful to anyone.
    Just as not all vampires were required to live or associate with their castes, many roamed about alone, not all half-castes joined a coven. Usually the ones too weak to fight or who popped up accidentally because mom liked to get frisky with the undead and wanted no part of the war steered clear of coven life. Unlike vampires, our covens were a hodgepodge of bloodlines brought together by geography, or order of the Elders if one coven had too many strong fighters while another had too many weak members.
    I raised a brow at him and turned to talk to Mercy.
    “Christopher,” he said.
    “James.”
    “Huh?”
    “I was tossing out a male name. Isn’t that the game we’re playing?”
    “She has a sense of humor, I like it.”
    “And he’s not intimidated by what he saw and he has a fraction of the power the woman I sent sprawling does. It means you’re either very self-assured or very stupid. Neither is very amusing.”
    “Ok.”
    Once again I tried to speak to Mercy when he tapped my shoulder. To Mercy I said, “It’s persistent isn’t it?”
    “It told you its name,” Christopher said, “and it would like to know yours.”
    I laughed. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a smart ass. I held out my hand. “Natasha.”
    Christopher smiled. “Wow, an actual response. It must be my lucky night. I met a beautiful woman and managed not to get killed before I got her name. I was on shaky ground there I could tell.”
    “Most people do not consider themselves lucky to have met me. Usually they run in the other direction.”
    “Not me. Can I buy you a drink Natasha?”
    I tapped the glass of chocolately goodness in front of me. “I’m covered.”
    Christopher glanced over at Mercy. “What’s a guy have to do to impress your friend?”
    Mercy smiled. “I’m staying out of this one.”
    “Don’t want to end up on the floor?”
    “No, for this she’d be more creative. Bleach in my shampoo or maybe ipecac in my morning cereal.”
    “Now wait a second,” I interrupted. “You know I wouldn’t put ipecac in your breakfast Mercy. You get up at four to start guard duty and I’m still in bed.”
    Mercy’s eyes bugged. “See, creative and so subtle with her threats.”
    “What’s a girl have to do to dissuade you?” I asked.
    “Secretly be a man,” he joked. “Come on, one dance. What could it hurt?”
    I did come out to have fun and he was one of us, which meant he lacked most of the complications a human would come with. And it was just a dance. “Sure.”
    I took his hand and let him lead me