Immortal Wounds: Book #1 in the Immortal Wounds Vampire Series-Paranormal Romance/Vampire Romance/Romantic Fantasy Read Free

abruptly and began to bark wildly at me, baring its teeth.
    I jumped back, slowly putting some distance between me and the dog as his owner tugged frantically at the leash, trying to pull him away from me; all the while apologizing.
    “Gee Phoebe, you really freaked out that dog!” Leah stood beside me, her voice was as shaky as I felt.
    “I just looked at it,” I defended.
    “What’s wrong with your eyes?” Kim’s face was inches from mine, examining me closely.
    “What do you mean?” I tried to back up a little, desperately needing some personal space.
    “They weren’t like that yesterday . . .” she stepped closer again. “They’re wild looking; your pupils are really small.”
    “What?”
    “She’s right!” Leah agreed stepping forward. She began examining my eyes as well. “They are different.”
    “It must be the sun,” I suggested sharply as I pushed past them. I was bugged now. If I didn’t get some space quickly, I was going to scream. After all, I was just nearly mauled by a dog—again!
    The girls shrugged me off and started paddling out together. I headed out a ways toward the big rock. I needed a little time by myself, and I was also curious about the man who was clearly watching me.
    He was squatted down now, one arm on his knee and the other hand holding onto the rock for support. I could feel his gaze on me still.
    I pulled myself onto the surfboard, as a gust of wind met my face. And with it, a smell not normally found at the beach. It was sweet and fresh, like a spring rain—I knew that smell! It took only a moment for my brain to connect another subconscious piece of my puzzle. I looked up abruptly, and although I never should have been able to see from where I was, our eyes locked. My mouth dropped a little in amazement. I knew those eyes in an instant. They were the eyes from my dreams, the eyes of my stranger . . .
    I felt panic rise up within me, but I couldn’t look away; he drew me in deeper. My heart began to pump wildly as I saw the corner of his perfect lips curl upward into a smile. He was beautiful! I tried to imagine Zeus himself looking more handsome. I couldn’t. His hair was a deep brown that reflected auburn highlights as the sun bounced off it. His face was just as I remembered it, pale and flawless. I couldn’t believe I had remembered such detail, as I only saw him for a few moments.
    He continued to smile at me as I watched him. How could this be the man from my dreams? How could we be in the same place again, at the same time, in another country?
    His head jerked slightly as his attention was suddenly diverted.
    I wouldn’t have looked away if I hadn’t heard the screams from Kim and Leah. I looked frantically for them and saw that they were on the beach waving their arms wildly, yelling something to me.
    I strained to hear. “WHAT?” I shouted as loud as I could over the roaring ocean.
    Then a slight nudge on the bottom of my surfboard claimed my attention. I pulled my legs up; something smooth had just brushed against my left leg. I yelped, as it bumped me again, this time rocking me, nearly knocking me off.
    I could still hear Kim and Leah screaming. Then, the word: “Shark!” came across the wind loud and clear.
    “Oh God.” A violent bump knocked me from my board. Panicked, I began to swim toward the shore. I hadn’t realized how far out I was. I struggled with the waves that crashed down upon me, threatening to push me under. I spit the salty water from my mouth, while the fear of not knowing where the shark was consumed me.
    I sucked in a sudden breath of air. Something had rammed me in the stomach. I couldn’t breathe! I frantically looked toward the rocks. Our eyes met for an instant and I could see a look of sheer horror directed back at me.
    Another wave crashed on top of me, this time taking me under. I struggled to find the surface, but the waves kept pushing me deeper and deeper. The murky water made it nearly impossible to see—then it