Fallen Tears: A Blood Crave Novella (Blood Crave Series) Read Free Page A

became a blur and for a second, just before she passed out, she thought she saw her father staring down at her. Although she knew he couldn’t be real and was only a figment of her imagination. But still, she silently wished for her father to come back.
    That was the last thing she remembered before everything went black.

CHAPTER 2
    It was music that woke Rowan from her sleep. An unfamiliar sound, it was haunting yet calming. She lay peacefully on a soft surface, not wanting the music or the emotion of serenity that she was feeling to end. Breathing deeply, she finally opened her eyes as she blinked rapidly against the harsh lights that welcomed her. She realized she was lying on a white couch, a heavy jacket covering her body.
    “You’re awake,” a voice said, the music stopping abruptly as the last note hung in the air. Rowan’s heart ached as the fading melodic tones were replaced by silence. But she still tried to pay attention to the voice that interrupted the haunting music.
    The same man she had encountered earlier slowly walked toward her. His large body dressed all in black, he now blocked the harsh light from her eyes. He looked just the same as he did before, in this bright apartment. Eyes were as dark as onyx, midnight hair hung loosely around his face, and pale, gleaming skin was completely unblemished.
    So that really wasn’t a dream.
    She had thought the eerie man in the shadows had been nothing more than a figment of her imagination.
    I don’t even know his name.
    “Kaji.” He replied so casually, as if he hadn’t just read her mind.
    Rowan sat up, slowly removing the jacket that covered her. Clenching the material in her hand, she realized it was the same jacket he had draped around her earlier. Setting it aside, she brought her hands on her lap as she tested his name on the tip of her tongue.
    “Kaji,” she said, regarding him curiously. “That’s different.” And you thought my name was unusual?
    “Yes.” He seemed to like one-word answers.
    “Does it mean anything?” She voiced the question, then shook her head suddenly as she had an afterthought, her mouth forming a slight frown. “Wait a minute! You read my mind, again. I really don’t like when you do that so would you mind stopping?” She peered up at him anxiously, waiting for his answer.
    It really made her uneasy, his ability to easily read her mind. Who knew what she could be thinking at any given moment. Frankly, it wasn’t right for someone to know her innermost thoughts. She didn’t even keep a diary, for fear of someone reading it and exposing all of her true feelings.
    “Sure. I apologize for the intrusion.” He didn’t seem to care one way or another, his voice calm.
    “Okay, good.” With that settled, she relaxed her posture slightly. She realized Kaji had been holding something in his hand the entire time. She watched him as he set the object directly on her lap only to discover that it was a square, white plate with a sandwich neatly placed on it. She reached for it to discover that it was peanut butter. Smiling wide, she automatically brought the sandwich to her lips and took a huge bite, the taste of peanut butter filling her mouth as the paste coated her teeth.
    “You haven’t been eating,” he said, taking a seat across from her on a single sofa. Crossing his legs, he gave a stern look. “Feeding is of the utmost importance, no matter if you’re human or lamia. You shouldn’t let yourself get hungry to the point that it makes you weak and pass out.”
    Rowan took the last bite of her sandwich then licked her fingers, feeling blissful as she only halfway listened to his lecture. Then she grinned again, shocking Kaji at the suddenness.
    “Are you really a vampire?” She eyed him suspiciously as if she still didn’t quite believe him.
    Kaji rested back comfortably on the couch, placing his hands on his lap. “Yes. I can see saying lamia will be quite difficult for you.”
    She ignored his last