The Ruby Kiss Read Online Free PDF

Nightshade didn’t expect to win without a struggle. He gave Troy a calculating look. Was it possible he might gain his assistance?
    “The threat of Dragon returning to Cornwall to claim Rhys is hanging over the
whole
pisky troop,” he announced, trying to convey that Troy’s half-pisky grandsons were also under threat. “I must ensure Dragon leaves the piskies alone.”
    Troy flicked a negligent hand at the bar staff. Immediately, a tankard of honey wine was set before him. Troy handed it to Nightshade and watched him quench his thirst.
    “You didn’t fare well during your last battle with Dragon,” the immortal observed.
    The soothing whisper of calm underlying Troy’s words defused Nightshade’s instinct to deny the claim. “He’s strengthened through his blood bond with his damn dragon. He didn’t fight fair.”
    “And you think he will this time?” Troy raised a perfect golden eyebrow. “You, my friend, are living in cloud cuckoo land.”
    Nightshade flushed, thankful that his black skin masked the reaction. “I’ll do whatever it takes to secure Rhys’s safe future.”
    “I admire your honorable intentions if not your naive approach. Come to me, stalker.”
    The immortal stared at Nightshade from beneath heavy-liddedeyes, gestured him close, and the subtle compulsion of silver tongue lacing Troy’s words made Nightshade step forward against his will. Even though his fangs burned in his gums at the lure of a god’s blood, he was wary of Troy’s intentions.
    “I’m going to help you.”
    “You’ll stand with me against Dragon?”
    “No.” Troy’s answer strummed an electric tension between them. “Dragon is a member of the Unseelie Court. The Unseelie king doesn’t like me interfering in his affairs. But I shall level the playing field for you, my friend. Dragon borrows power through the bond with his Welsh Red Dragon; you shall borrow power from me.” The immortal laughed, a sound Nightshade had never in his wildest dreams expected to hear, a low sensual rumble that felt like raw silk stroked across his nerve endings. Then Troy added, “I’m pleasantly languorous tonight. You may bite me.”
    Nightshade’s fangs slid out of his gums on a groan; he’d fantasized about bringing this immensely powerful being to his knees with the rapture of his bite. To prove that he had power, power as great as the strongest of the strong. Yet, now that the time had come he was wary.
    Despite his reservations, Nightshade closed the distance between them. From beneath long, luxuriant lashes, Troy’s eyes were the impossible blue of crushed sapphires in ice. His skin glowed, radiating power like a force field. He unfastened the buttons on his jacket and eased aside the ruff of lace at his throat. The smooth, pale column of his neck was exposed. Nightshade took another step closer. When he was unwell, taking blood could help heal him, but he wasn’t sure how Troy’s blood would give him power.
    Troy’s hand shot out and gripped the back of his head in a punishing hold. “Do you fear me?” Troy whispered.
    “No,” Nightshade snapped. He had learned as a child to never show fear when someone threatened him. His pride wasall he’d had. He resisted as Troy’s fingers dug into his scalp to pull him closer.
    “Liar.”
    Then Troy laughed, breaking the tension. His fingers loosened their grip, and he smoothed down Nightshade’s ruffled hair. He leaned forward and pressed his cheek to Nightshade’s, whispering in his ear, “Centuries ago, I was blood-bonded to a nightstalker. Remind me of the decadent delights of a stalker’s bite. Drink from my poisoned chalice.”
    The word ‘poison’ pierced Nightshade’s brain like a hot wire, but the instinct to bite overruled caution. His eyelids fell as he ran his tongue along Troy’s silky skin; he tasted of sunshine in the crystal clear air of an arctic morning. Troy’s carotid artery pulsed beneath the tip of his tongue.
    He bit down. Power-charged