Refugee (The Captive Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

right
now.
    “Ashby,” he said tensely.
    Ashby had already stopped too, his head
tilted to the side as he listened. Braith’s hand tightened briefly
around Aria’s as he drew her back another step, pushing her behind
him. It would do little good, he knew that she wouldn’t stay there,
but for now he was at least mostly in front of her. He heard the
rustle of her cloak as she pulled her bow free.
    “Aria,” he growled in
warning.
    She didn’t say anything but there was a
low clink as she rested an arrow against the bow. The explosion of
motion seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. He
didn’t have time to alert Ashby and William, it was too late
anyway. Braith grabbed hold of Aria, spinning her out of the way as
the first vampire slammed into his back. Braith was knocked forward
beneath the impact of the weight; he braced himself as the creature
tore ferociously at him.
    Aria grunted as his arms momentarily
constricted before he was forced to release her. He grasped at the
creature clawing up his back, spilling his blood. Teeth snapped as
it reached his neck, the scent of it was fetid and harsh. He
finally managed to seize it; clutching its head as he pulled it
over his shoulder and threw it away from him. The creature
squealed, squirming on the sand as its attention was torn from him
and focused solely upon Aria.
    She took a startled step back. Her hand
shook on the bow as the vampire launched to its feet and rushed at
her. All of her fear vanished as she straightened her shoulders and
lifted the bow. Her hand was steady as she released the
arrow.
    The vampire fell back beneath the
impact of her clean shot, its hands clutched at its chest as it
gurgled and squealed. Braith seized the creature, determined to
spill its blood as rage overtook him. Fury swelled through him,
ripping through his cells, and enhancing his strength. For a moment
he teetered on the edge of madness, for a moment it felt so
unbelievably good that he almost let go completely, almost gave in
and let the monster take over.
    And then the smell of her blood hit
him. She pressed flush against his back as she sought to protect
him. A shudder rocked through him as she brought him back from the
brink he’d been standing upon. Even though it was dying, the
vampire launched itself back at him.
    He felt her elbow against his back as
she took aim again; he was keenly reminded that there were more
creatures out there as she let another arrow fly. He seized hold of
the creature, and with swift brutality, finished it off. Aria let
out a startled cry. Terror shot through him as he spun around. One
of them had reached her, but not before catching her arrow in its
shoulder.
    She caught the creature under the chin
as she swung her bow up, but it was too late. The pale, thin
monster was already upon her, its hands grasped at her arms. The
hood of her cloak had fallen back; her hair was the color of blood
in the bright light. That ominous sign terrified Braith as the
sweet scent of her blood hit the air.
    The creature, enthralled by the
prospect of fresh food launched itself forward. Braith wrapped his
arm around Aria’s chest, pulling her back as he seized the creature
by the throat. It squealed as its hands swung in the air trying to
grab hold of her again. He was going to kill it, going to destroy
it, but he couldn’t bring himself to release her, not quite yet.
Her chest heaved against his arm; he could feel the rapid staccato
of her heartbeat. Even over the squealing noises coming from the
monstrosity he held, he could hear the subtle splash of her blood
as it hit the sand.
    She was bleeding, this creature had
caused it.
    Fury tore through him. His hand on her
chest tightened, pulling her further back. In one violent motion he
snapped the creature’s neck and shoved it back. It was not dead,
but for the moment it was disoriented by pain. Braith was more than
happy to put it out of its misery.
    And then he heard it, the stutter in
her