Vampire Betrayed (Vampires Destined) Read Online Free PDF Page B

on concrete captured his attention. The way his head turned, so slowly, so purposefully struck fear in the center of Ariana’s chest.
    “Joaquin, no.” But even as she spoke, he was moving to intercept the young woman. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but in the space of an instant, Joaquin had his arm around her, and his long, sharp teeth sank deep into the woman’s jugular.
    “Oh, my God.” Ariana sank to her knees, her hands covering her eyes while her entire body quaked with horror. “Oh, my God.” It had really happened. “He...he killed her.”
    Charon knelt down beside her and captured Ariana’s hand. “I’m sorry, but you had to see that. You could very well be Joaquin’s next target. And if not him, then some other vampire. They’re all around us.”
    How could she not believe it now? What she saw, it couldn’t have been an hallucination or a dream. Sick with the knowledge, Ariana nodded. “If what I just saw was true—” And she didn’t dare doubt that it was. “—there’s not a lot I can do to protect myself.”
    Eyes gleaming, Charon tightened her grip on Ariana’s hand. “Ah, but there is. Let me help you.”
    “How?”
    “By giving you what you need to protect yourself.”
    Ariana’s heart raced. What was it that Charon was offering? “And what would that be exactly?”
    “You could not only save your life but others. Now that you know vampires exist, can you really sleep at night knowing someone you care about could be their next victim? That woman you just saw. I know she wasn’t part of your family, but she very well could have been.”
    Nausea rolled in the pit of Ariana’s stomach. “You still haven’t told me what it is you want to give me.”
    The woman stood, her arms outstretched. “I’m offering you the chance to be free, Ariana. Free from worry, fear, all of it, and to be more powerful than you can even imagine!”
    It was too easy, too much of a gift. “At what cost?”
    “You will help me in my quest to rid the world of this evil. Join with me, and we can cleanse the world of these vampires so that no other woman has to be scared or left for dead.”
    Ariana climbed to her feet and made her way back to the bed. She sank down onto the mattress and clenched her hands. “Why choose me? Of all the women in the world, why did you pick me to help you?”
    “Because you have been face to face with a vampire and survived. You know their cunning ways. I can’t save these innocent people all by myself, and I know you have a stake in helping me. There are so few of us hunters and so many of the creatures. We need to build our army, and you need to stay alive.”
    Everything made sense, but why didn’t that thought make her feel better? “I’m not sure.”
    Charon leaned in, pressing her face close to Ariana’s. “Are you so sure Joaquin won’t return to kill you?”
    The woman had a point. Being able to protect herself wasn’t such a bad thing. “No, I’m not.”
    “Then your options are limited, aren’t they?”
    “Yes.” Ariana’s voice cracked on the one word. Nibbling her lower lip, she battled with the seed of doubt nestled in her heart, but still, she nodded.
    “Excellent. Now look at me. Keep your eyes on mine.” Charon advanced as she talked. “You will feel nothing. Just focus on my face and the sound of my voice.”
     

Chapter Three
     
    California
    Redwood Forest
     
    Fury drove Joaquin into the forest, following the unique scent to Devlin, the only one of his kind he could call a friend. “I know that scent now. The one I couldn’t quite place when I went back to Ariana’s house.”
    Devlin leaned his back away from the tree. “And?”
    “It’s Charon.” The name came out like a hiss. “She’s the reason Ariana’s gone missing.”
    “I thought she was in hiding ever since the last time you battled her.”
    “I knew she wouldn’t remain hidden for long. She’s too egocentric.”
    “Yeah. Wants to rule the world and