The Vampires' Birthright Read Online Free PDF Page B

throughout the world are lessened.”
    “Like a typical guy,” I said under my breath, for the moment forgetting the handsome male vampire before me, or the fact his preternatural ears could easily discern my whispered scorn. “Nobody wants to hang out with the knocked-up chick.”
    “That’s not true.” He leaned in closer and grasped my fingers with his hands. His touch was cool, although not as chilled as I expected. “I’ll be delighted to hang out with the ‘knocked-up chick’ anytime.”
    He chuckled and squeezed my fingers.
    “Yes, I’ll most certainly be
delighted
to do so, Txema!” he said, after I shook my head. His smile widened to the point his slender fangs showed. “No matter what happens, know that I will always be there for you. Always.”



xema, it’s time for you to awaken.” Chanson’s voice dragged me out of a very deep slumber.
    She was staring at me with those intense green eyes that glowed behind her dark bangs. The only other light in the room came from other sets of eyes; blue, lavender, and four other green ones, which meant Armando, Raquel, Garvan and Tyreen were with her.
    “Where are we?” I was still groggy with sleep. “What’s going on?”
“You have an appointment with the big bosses!” Armando said, moving in closer to where I could see more than his eyes. “You’ll have to get your beauty sleep later!
Chop-chop!”
    “Why is it so dark in here?”
    I forced myself to sit up in my bed. My head throbbed, and I wasn’t sure if it was from lack of sleep or some fragmented and unremembered nightmare I had awakened from.
    “Oh, come on, damn it—Txema ain’t like us. She can’t see worth shit without a light on!” said Tyreen. Clothing rustled near my bedchamber door, and then soft yellow light filled the room from the lone overhead lamp. “There, that’s gotta be better, right?”
    I blinked and squinted. Yes. Much.
    They all stood around my bed, my team of protectors. Only at the moment, they seemed more like impish tormentors, as all five wore Cheshire smiles. All had changed their wardrobe, and most favored the hard-rockin’ Gothic look I had witnessed on several previous occasions, as if they wanted to ensure our Chinese hosts took them seriously as creatures of the night. More likely, though, I suppose it felt more comfortable, and nothing beyond that. Being ‘comfortable’ seemed especially true for Raquel who wore a white silk cheongsam covered with cherry blossoms.
    Chanson held out a dark green cheongsam for me as well. Perhaps the traditional attire was intended to demonstrate my appreciation and, I don’t know, subservient status to the Chinese emperor. Were I not so tired I would have been grumpy.
    “Does she even have time to change?” Armando pointed to the clock radio. “We have less than six minutes before the meeting starts, promptly at three o’clock!”
    “That gives us just enough time… provided Txema fully cooperates and doesn’t squawk about having to wear sandaled heels to go with her dress,” said Chanson. As she had the previous night on the plane, she silenced my additional questions with her forefinger. “Hold those thoughts, my dear, or we
will
be late!”
    Really, I was more concerned with how cold it would be outside the toasty comfort of my bedchamber. Knowing we would have to travel through the frigid main floor in order to reach the meeting place wasn’t exactly something to get excited about.
    Chanson motioned for me to stand once my shoes were on, and Garvan brought me the jacket I wore earlier. I zipped it up tight. If nothing else, it doubled the protection around my neck, since the cheongsam’s neckline came up past my birthmark. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about a room full of vampires lusting after my exposed throat.
    “Wrap your arms around my waist, cousin, and we’ll be on our way!”
    She didn’t feel near as cold as she had earlier, and looked flushed. She had finally fed. While my thoughts