Mating Fever Read Online Free PDF

the toxic fluid. It tasted of diluted dirt with a hint of copper to it. Once I was done, I set the glass down. A wave of dizziness enveloped me. It took a moment to pass. When it did, I got up from the couch and backed away from Keaton. No pain or lust consumed me. My head was clear.
    “Thank you.” I hugged Stephania.
    “You’re welcome. I’ve hailed you a cab. Keaton, I think you should go for the night.”
    He stood up. The muscles tightened in his jaw. “I will not leave my mate.”
    Stephania stepped toward him. “This is not a request. Don’t make me revoke my invitation.”
    The darkness of the room enlarged in the space, like a monster taking shape. I backed away and felt a coldness descend into the room. I ran my fingers over my arm to ward off the chill. Nothing was going to stop them. I bit my lip and touched Keaton’s shoulder. He looked at me and I didn’t recognize him for a moment. His nose was scrunched up. His mouth pulled back into a sneer. Keaton’s pupils were fully dilated, filling his eyes until they were completely black. His teeth hung over his lip. His skin had taken on a waxy pallor. He lunged at me, but stopped inches from my throat. When he looked up again, he was more familiar.
    “You shouldn’t have done that. I could’ve hurt you,” he said, slowly forcing his words.
    “You have to try and woo me remember?” I kissed him lightly on the cheek.
    He drew in a ragged breath. I stepped away. The darkness that had been building in the room dissipated. He forced a smile to Stephania. “Thank you for tonight.”
    Darkness surrounded around him until he was consumed by it. It seemed forever when I was with him, but he was gone in an instant. Then I was left alone with Stephania. I flashed her a nervous smile and then backed away.
    “That was a good thing you did and a stupid one. No one gets in the middle of a vampire pissing contest. You have balls. I think you and I’ll be great friends.”
    “Ahh, thanks. Umm, how long will that potion you gave me last?”
    She straightened the pillows on the couch. “A month or so. You’ve got it bad already. As one of the founding members of the council, Keaton knows better than that. He knows what can happen by wrapping shadow around humans. You’re lucky that it didn’t kill you.”
    “What can happen?”
    “The touch of the darkness can drive a person mad. It can deform them physically. There are many things that may go wrong. Don’t worry about it. You seem to be fine. I didn’t sense any side effects. Your cab is here. I already took care of the fare and the tip. Guy’s a client of mine.”
    She ushered me outside. I wanted to ask her more, but she closed the door on me. The night surrounded me, but the haze that hung over the city distorted the stars. It would be wonderful to see their familiar light. I shook my head and went into the cab. The cabbie asked my address. I rattled it off, but I barely felt the cab pull away. I was too focused on what I had learned that night.
    Real monsters lived in the dark. I rubbed my neck, felt the bruise from the other night, and thought back about my attack. It made sense now. I was going to be food for another vampire and Keaton had come out of the shadows to save me. He had threatened me because he didn’t want me to reveal what he was or what I had seen. Closing my eyes, I rested my head against the window. Exhaustion from the night’s events swept over me.
    The cab stopped outside my house. A chill penetrated my bones from the oncoming winter. I checked my pockets for my keys. They weren’t there. Shit . My purse was still sitting on the table on the other side of the door. The house was dark and I had no cell phone.
    “Need to get inside?” Keaton stood at the bottom of the steps. He looked relaxed in the darkness.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “I had to get my car, and I wanted to ask you out for dinner tomorrow night if you’re up for it.”
    I chuckled. “Maybe. Pick me up