Cain's Identity (Scanguards Vampires Book 9) Read Free

the man she’d lost. The man she’d loved.
    Abel pointed to a bench, motioning her to sit there with him. She took a seat, and he joined her.
    “I’ve come to talk to you.”
    Her stomach instantly clenched. She knew what this was about. She’d counted the days too, though for other reasons than he had.
    “We all miss him,” Abel started.
    Faye pressed her lips together, suppressing the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her and rob her of the ability to think clearly. She had to remain strong.
    “The time is nearly up.”
    She nodded. “One year, one month, and one day. I marked it on my calendar.” Though she didn’t have to. She would always remember the horrible day when she’d been robbed of the love of her life.
    “Yes, in less than two weeks his official reign will end, and the new king will be crowned.”
    “I’ve never really understood why there is such a long period after the death of one king before his successor can take the throne,” Faye said to fill the air between them with words.
    Abel reached for her hand, clasping it. She shuddered internally, but let it happen. He would be her king soon, and her destiny lay in his hands. The privileges she’d enjoyed as the dead king’s fiancée would expire at the new king’s coronation. She would lose her home, her standing in their society, her influence. Though nothing mattered much to her anyway. Only love for the vampires who would have been her subjects, had her fiancé lived, had made her stay. Otherwise, she would have left the clan altogether.
    “It’s meant to give the people time to grieve without having to pledge their allegiance to the new king while they still mourn the old,” Abel explained.
    “It must be hard for the king-in-waiting, though.”
    “As regent, I already have many of the powers the king has. And it gives me a chance to get to know my subjects better and find out what they want from me.” He raised her hand toward his face. “Or what I want from them.”
    Faye’s breath hitched. “Yes, yes, of course.” She rose, making him drop her hand, and walked to a raised flowerbed. She reached for shears and started to prune the plants.
    Since that horrible day over a year ago, no man had touched her. And the thought of another man’s hands or lips on her sent panic shooting down her spine. She knew she had to do something about that, but tonight wasn’t the right time.
    Behind her, Abel rose from the bench. She heard his footsteps as he approached her.
    “Decisions have to be made. As you know, soon—”
    “I know,” she interrupted him. “I have been thinking about it. I’m preparing myself to leave.” She would be without protection once again. The last time that had happened she’d fallen prey to the cruelest of vampires.
    When Abel’s hands clasped her shoulders from behind, she sucked in a breath, trying to calm herself.
    “I didn’t come to ask you to leave. I came to ask you to stay.”
    Faye turned her head halfway. “But clan law is clear on it.”
    “I don’t give a damn about clan law. In two weeks, my word will be law.”
    Surprised at his sharp tone, her heart rate doubled instantly. She knew he would sense it. A vampire’s hearing was sensitive enough for it. Besides, his hands still lay on her shoulders, and by touching her he would not only feel her heartbeat, but also perceive the blood that rushed through her veins like a runaway train.
    “Forget what I said,” Abel added quickly. “This isn’t about the law. It’s about you. You were meant to be queen. The members of our clan love you. Your dream doesn’t have to end with my coronation.”
    The implication of his words sank in immediately. When he turned her to face him, she wanted to avoid his gaze, but out of respect for the position he held she didn’t.
    His dark eyes looked at her with an intensity she’d always loved about his brother. But in Abel, it scared her. Or was she simply scared because it meant she would finally