Kindred Read Free Page B

the back. He punched a number into the security control, careful to hide his hand movements from any prying eyes. Couldn't have the master's privacy interrupted by an over enthusiastic groupie. And then he held the door open for me without making eye contact.
    Hmm, what's he trying to hide? Never good when the nice ones couldn't even look you in the eye. I squared my shoulders and marched down the long, thin hall. My feet didn't make a sound on the plush carpet, but I knew Michel could tell I was here. Hell, I could feel him, no doubt he could do the same back.
    I didn't bother knocking on the door to his office. Shane had stayed back by the door to the bar area, hadn't even bothered to follow me to Michel's door. Sensitive much, Shane? I shook my head to clear the thought and turned the handle to the door in front of me.
    Power rolled along the floor and caressed up my body, sending tingles through my centre and goose bumps along my arms. I don't know how it is for others like me, but I've always been able to judge a vampire's age and level by their Sanguis Vitam. Michel is about as high up as they go, a level one Master. There may be stronger vamps out there, but I doubt it. Michel is as big as it gets here in New Zealand anyway, I've yet to meet a vamp who comes even remotely close.
    I swallowed visibly and pushed past that wave of pure, unadulterated joy Michel's Sanguis Vitam had over me and strode into his lair.
    “ Knock it off, would you!”
    “ Ah, Lucinda, ever the lady I see.” Michel smiled wickedly, his lush voice curling around my stomach and his vivid blue eyes trailing over my face. Devouring every feature, as though he was starved for a glimpse of me. “I thought you may have missed me and needed a little reminding.”
    “ Very funny, Michel, but could you can it for a bit? I can hardly draw a breath.” The only way to deal with a vampire is to be direct, anything else and they take it as an invitation to play. Playing with Michel was not a good idea.
    Instantly the power that had enveloped me, stroked me and whispered sweet nothings against the sensitive skin at the side of my neck was gone. I missed it already.
    In its absence Michel was looking at me intently. He wasn't breathing, sometimes they do that if they forget to cover, or can't be bothered. I guess Michel and I were past that pretence, I knew he was a vampire the moment I met him. Likewise, he knew what I was. I only wish he'd tell me sometime.
    “ You are hurt,” he said and was suddenly in front of me reaching for my cheek. I hadn't even seen him move. I mean not a flash, a sound, a sensation. Not a thing. Whoa.
    He stroked the side of my face, tracing the bruise lightly that had started to puff out and stretch my skin. His hands hardly touched me, but left a searing sensation. Not pain, but something else, as they traced the marks on my face, neck, arms and down the sides of my body, to rest on either side of my hips.
    It's not often he catches me by surprise, I've got good at anticipating his moves, but he's not usually this out rightly obvious in his affections for me. Flirts a little, sure, but to be so intimate, so quickly upon my walking in his office was new even for him.
    I realised I'd been holding my breath. I slowly let it out and as I did I also noticed I was no longer sore. There was a dull ache, a sense of fatigue that had been there before, but the pain on my cheek and in my back had gone.
    “ Wh..what did you do?” I stammered. Go the smooth talker, me.
    Michel visibly shook himself, just a small movement, but he was breathing again, human looking, almost. He took a step back and smiled. A coy smile that managed to light up the deep blue of his eyes. It was shockingly mesmerising.
    “ You were hurt, my dear. I could not have that.” Each word was articulated perfectly, as though he was fighting not to let his French accent show, straining to remain very English.
    “ You heal people now?” It would be good to know, if