Destiny Read Free

effort to control it. Thanks to Jonas and his incessant training sessions, I could now turn my fire on and off at will like a light switch. Once activated, however, I struggled with control issues, hence Adrian’s concern.
    “Babe, I get it, I really do. But since you have a lot of old and powerful vampires on your side, why not let them take care of it?”
    On my side. Not so long ago, I hadn’t even known there were sides to take. Didn’t know I had twelve years of my life erased from my memory along with the knowledge that preternatural creatures existed, and some of them were members of my family. Now I was a vampire princess, and every bad vampire, like Dixon, wanted a piece of me.
    I shuffled to the table and glowered at the vials. “Dixon sent these to me. He’s taunting me . ” I glanced up at my friend. “And I will have a say in how we respond to that.”
    Adrian closed the dishwasher. “If Jonas and the others won’t talk to you, maybe it’s time to talk to your dad.”
    My stomach tied itself into a knot. Talk to my dad? The man who pretended to be my uncle, stole my memories, then abandoned me in San Francisco along with my three brothers when I was thirteen? My father, Prince Maurizio Agostino Ottavio Tranquilli, leader of the Tranquilli vampire cosca , was the very last person on earth I wanted to talk to.
    Yes, major daddy issues . “I’m not talking to him.”
    Amusement brightened my friend’s face as he raised his hands. “Fine, you win. Be right back.” He disappeared into the dining room and returned with a bottle of Grand Marnier and two cognac glasses. After filling the glasses, he handed me one.
    “ Salute , Princess.” He raised his glass, a teasing twinkle in his eyes.
    “Don’t call me that.” I glowered at him over the top of my glass, inhaling the orange scent of the liquor before taking a sip.
    “Just trying to lighten your mood.”
    I bumped my shoulder against his. “Try harder.”
    “Okay then, let’s work.” He set down his glass. “I’ll grab my laptop. Princess. ” He sauntered from the room, putting more wiggle in his walk than necessary and making me laugh, though the p-word still rankled.
    Every time someone uttered it, I heard Dixon’s voice growling, “ You are mine now, little princess,” as he crushed me against his hard body, buried his hand in my hair, fingernails scraping my scalp while he bent my head, exposing my neck, readying me for his bite.
    A fierce ache in my gums snapped me out of the memory. I rubbed the gum line above my front teeth then poked the tips of my canines. My gums had throbbed for weeks now, like a teething baby, or in my case, a teething, baby vampire. The constant discomfort didn’t help my mood. The lack of Alexander in my arms and bed continued to frustrate me and now with Dixon back in the picture…I polished off the cognac, relishing the trail it blazed down my throat. Damn you, Dixon.
    On the table, his gift taunted me. What was his game? Why warn me of his return? And whose blood was this? Human? Vampire? Dosed? Poisoned? Why nine vials? Did the number hold significance?
    Too many questions with no answers.
    I picked up the first vial, broke the wax seal, and pulled out the stopper. The iron scent, like molasses and pennies, tickled my nose. A hint of citrus hit me too. My mouth watered, gums tingling. If I inhaled again I’d take a sip, uncaring it might poison me.
    Adrian palmed my wrist. “If you’re thirsty, try me.”
    I eyed my friend. “You offering?”
    His mouth curved in a mischievous smile. “Sure.”
    “What would Jonas say about that?”
    A chuckle rumbled in his broad chest. “Not an issue. I wouldn’t offer to anyone but you. And he loves you, so…” He plucked the vial from my unresisting hand, popped in the stopper and placed it in the box. “I think Evil Dude has gone from trying to kidnap you to courting you.”
    My face scrunched. “Ew! Don’t even go there.”
    Adrian closed the box