MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE: Book 2 of the Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles Read Online Free PDF Page A

Rosselyn, he helped Cailin from her mount. He grinned and eyed her swaying hips as she sauntered toward her mother . Swaggering after them, he settled at the edge of the small crowd.
    “Look how you have grown!” Rosselyn exclaimed and took Cailin into her arms. “I never thought it possible, but you are even more bonnie than your mother.”
    “Nay, no one is more beautiful than she!” Cailin protested and hugged both women.
    “Tell the man to get off his horse!” The dark-haired Gypsy with a Spanish accent waved toward James and strolled forward, his raven eyebrow raised as his eyes assessed James’s height.
    Davina laughed. “Nicabar, allow me to introduce you to my future son-in-law, James Knightly. James, this is my sister’s husband, Nicabar Mendoza.”
    James stepped forward and offered his hand to the stocky Spaniard.
    “He is almost as tall as Broderick,” he said with a hearty greeting, the two of them grasping each other by the forearms. “ Saludos , James Knightly.”
    “Well met, Nicabar.”
    Pulling a pair of strapping young lads forward, Nicabar presented them with pride. “My sons, Andre and Dion.”
    James nodded at Andre, who seemed to be a tad younger than Cailin’s age. The lad returned the nod. The younger Dion smiled and James clasped forearms with him as well.
    “And this is Zarita.” Nicabar gleamed, sweeping a thin girl into his arms. All three children had the curling ebony hair of their father. The little Zarita shared the hazel of her mother’s eyes.
    The various Gypsies approached and greeted the circle of friends and family. Rosselyn pulled Davina aside from the noise, but still close enough for him to hear their exchange.
    “We have much to share, Davina,” Rosselyn began, “but we are here for more than a family visit. I have a message to deliver from Amice to Broderick.”
    Davina’s eyes flitted over the band of Gypsies, her smile fading. “Forgive me for not even thinking of her. Where is she?”
    Rosselyn’s eyes welled with tears. “She passed this last winter, Davina. I am so sorry.”
    Davina covered her mouth with her hand and the two women hugged, sharing their grief. Not wanting to intrude on the moment further, James advanced toward Cailin to give the sisters their privacy. Sliding up beside her, he touched her elbow to catch her attention. She twirled to face him with that heart-breaking grin. The smile faltered when she saw who addressed her, fading to a memory on her full lips.
    James stepped closer and pressed his mouth to her ear. “Your smile is more radiant than a sunset over the North Sea.” He pulled back to gaze into her cerulean eyes. “Pray do not let it diminish in my presence.”
    Her lips parted in surprise and the doe eyes of the young girl he’d once known stared up at him. The grin returned and she gave him a saucy bump with her hip. “It seems school taught you to use more than blades, Master James. Such a silver tongue you wield to coax a smile from me!”
    Thankfully, she wheeled away before he could remark about what else he would coax from her with his tongue.

Chapter Two

    Broderick MacDougal’s heart ached over the sweet sobbing of his beloved wife. “Davina! Where are you, Blossom?”
    Sifting through the surrounding fog, he stepped into a clearing in the woods—the meadow between their property and the road to Leith. In the center of the clearing stood the band of Gypsies he’d traveled with when he’d first met Davina seventeen years ago. Weaving in and out of the trees bordering the space, Cailin dodged shadows…and Broderick shook his head. The faint clash of blades echoed through the forest and he squinted his eyes in speculation.
    Diverting his attention back to Davina’s crying, he faced the gathering group. Their backs to him, they encircled a large stone. As Broderick neared the small assembly, people parted, revealing Davina’s weeping figure kneeling beside the stone, holding the limp hand of Amice, who lay