A Dark Passion Read Free Page A

Alara before disappearing in a blinding light, while Shade disappeared in darkness.
    Lord Theraux glared at her, but Tyroz blocked his line of sight when he stepped in front of her and bowed his head. “Once again, I am sorry. I will make sure this does not happen again.”
    Lord Theraux didn’t speak and a second later, Tyroz relaxed slightly.
    He turned to face her, the murder back in his stare. “You have some explaining to do.”
    Shit.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    Alara stuttered at his words, but didn’t explain anything. Alara . He should have known. The name was human.
    “Alara,” he warned. He could barely contain his anger as it was. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a… dhampir ?” he spoke the word with disgust.
    She crossed her arms and glared at him. “You didn’t ask, and you didn’t seem to care while you were banging my brains out!”
    Tyroz felt her anger and hurt as she spun on her heels and stormed off. He sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face. “Alara!” He ran after her, catching her as she reached her room. He turned her and held her in place when he felt her stiffen, ready for a fight. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you with my words. I just don’t have good experience when it comes to dhampirs.” He inhaled deeply, knowing his words were going to hurt him as well as her. “I cannot be in a relationship with a dhampir, nor can I allow you to drink the blood of my people.” He’d learned from his past mistakes. He won’t let it happen again.
    “We weren’t in a relationship in the first place.”
    Tyroz heard the hurt within her words, but she spoke as he opened his mouth.
    “As for drinking blood—there are only a handful of dhampirs in the World, why set up such a meaningless law?”
    “You have met Layla—she was captured by the humans, herself and her twin. Both were tortured, but only Layla survived. After that, Guardian Nikalye gave up his post as my guard to look after her. She couldn’t be saved and went into bloodlust—she attacked my people and killed them before she could be stopped. Since then, I set up a law forbidding dhampirs from drinking blood.”
    “You make it seem like it was her fault she went into bloodlust.”
    “Everyone has the willpower to resist bloodlust. I have lived for hundreds of years and have resisted the lure many times. She gave into that darkness and brought her own fate upon herself.”
    “I suppose I can understand that. As I am in your debt, I will abide by your law and refrain myself from drinking blood.”
    “Thank you, Alara. My people’s safety comes first.”
    Alara nodded and met his eyes. “If you will excuse me, it has been a very long day.”
    Tyroz frowned. She didn’t sound at all like herself. “Of course.” He watched her walk into her room. She spoke just before she closed the door.
    “Goodnight, Master Tyroz.”
    His heart slammed into his chest. He felt like the heartless vampire most people called him.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Alara poked her head out of her door when she heard Tyroz walk away, muttering to himself. She sighed heavily, knowing he didn’t mean to hurt her, but it didn’t excuse the fact that he did. Where has the carefree vampire I first met gone? She remembered him all those years ago. Remembered him not having a care in the World, despite the chaos the humans caused at the time. He protected his people and still had fun.
    You’ve changed also.
    Alara couldn’t deny that, and for the most part, she blamed Tyroz for that. If he hadn’t left her so soon after having sex, and taken her heart with him, she wouldn’t have wanted to seek revenge and wouldn’t have signed a contract to become an assassin for Jahlmari. She wouldn’t have been hunting him for all those years, waiting for him to come out of hiding so she could kill him.
    Alara closed her door after she stepped out of her room, angry over the thought of what ifs . What if she hadn’t taken that contract? What if