The Dark Gifts Birthright Read Online Free PDF

throat.
    “Don’t. Fight it. If you do you’ll have
to--”
    Bent over, still holding onto the tree, her
mind won the battle with her body and the contents of her stomach
emptied.
    “--hunt again,” Michael finished.
    A tearless sob escaped her chest as the cell
came back into focus. She pulled in her legs and rolled to the side
holding her throbbing head. “Please stop,” she begged.
“Please.”
    But they didn’t listen. They wouldn’t.
    “ Not much more,” the woman’s voice
whispered in her mind. “Open your mind to us. It isn’t painful
when you’re willing.” The room went black and she was back in
the cabin.
    Seeing him caused a dull ache in her chest.
Confusion clouded her thinking as some nefarious force tugged
inside her.
    He towered over her. His sheer size made her
feel small and vulnerable. As he moved, the muscles on his chest
and arms rippled through the baby blue polo he wore. His hair
cascaded down his head in a whirlpool of dark, shiny curls. It was
a little longer than she preferred, but then again, she’d never
been attracted to men with dark hair. Sparkling green eyes,
reminiscent of that first green of spring when leaves are fresh and
bright in the morning sun, peered from a nest of long thick lashes.
He blinked. His crimson lips drew back slightly to show perfectly
formed teeth and her heart began beating erratically. Even knowing
what he was did not alter his beauty.
    Apparently, he found the situation comical.
She didn’t happen to agree. Angry with herself for feeling such a
strong attraction to this creature, and even more upset with him,
her fists tightened.
    “You don’t have to worry about me now,” he
answered with a grin.
    “I should kill you.”
    He smiled. “Such hostility. And a serious
waste of time. That little stake you carved wouldn’t have done you
any good.” His lips drew to the side as he made a tisking
sound.
    She took a step back. “Oh yeah? Well, how
would someone, theoretically, kill someone like you?”
    He cocked one eyebrow while his lips curled
into a smirk. “You really aren't in any danger now. I had to hunt
you last night. Our laws don’t allow us to make new ones without
permission. They also do not allow us to kill each other without
provocation. Had I found you before the change was complete, I was
duty bound to dispatch you.”
    “Dispatch me? That sounds like a lame way to
say rip out my throat. Oh, no, wait--I forgot you did that
already.” Uneasiness returned as she felt him gaining access to her
thoughts. Feeling the tension build inside her, she forced him out.
“If your laws don’t allow you to make new ones, why am I here?”
    Still grinning, he nodded, and gave a slight
bow acknowledging defeat. “Honestly, I didn’t expect you to turn
like that. It’s never happened before.” As if meeting her for the
first time, he offered his hand. “Just in case you don’t remember,
I’m Michael.”
    Son of Satan would be more appropriate.
    Ignoring the thought in her mind, he sighed
and shook his head. “There’ll be trouble over this. You have no
idea how lucky you are I stopped you from killing poor old Amos.
Regardless, we must go before the Council of elders tonight.”
    “ You’re going to get in trouble? Have
you happened to notice that you killed me last night?” Liz nearly
hissed as she spoke. The darkness bloomed inside her, and like a
rising mist it attached to her anger. Seeping throughout her, it
began to take control.
    “How exactly do you propose I explain this
one to my parents? …Oh gee mom, I kinda had a crush on this vampire
last night. And the jackass bit me so I can’t come home for
like…ever! Yeah that’s going to go over real well.”
    “Look I’m not exactly thrilled with this
situation either. You were supposed to be lunch and I generally
don’t play with my food.” Stepping forward, his smile dissipated as
he loomed over her. “You’re stuck with me. Get used to it.” With a
shake of his head