Misty Read Free

down an escalator and ran away while human security guards closed in on him. He was forced to act human.”
    Rad’s smile did get larger. He respected a fighter and a female warrior.
    “So you are wondering if there is an additional catch?” Vasa knew him very well. A long time ago they had been lovers. He nodded and she smiled also. “Because of her importance, and until we find out how important that is, she must be treated carefully. You can’t force yourself on her. Since you can’t influence her, you can’t have sex, unless she agrees to it. You can’t draw her blood unless she agrees. You read mortals well, so maybe being with her will help give us a lead. Report back on anything that tells us who she is. We have done some research and found she was an orphan. She will be a handful, but perhaps your life has been a little dull lately. Take a plane to America and look after our little girl. Try to play nice.” She dropped her smile and he knew the audience was over.
    He nodded to all, turned, and left the conference room. The servant had the door to the elevator open for him. He did not hesitate as he reached the lobby, but quickly left the building to exit into the heat of a summer day in Rome. He had the ability to appear in daylight, but he was not really fond of the hot sun at midday. He put on dark glasses, got into his limo and gave his driver instructions to take him to the airport.

Chapter Two
    Misty came out of the store and because she was on the second floor of the mall, she started towards the escalator. She was struck with a flashback. Standing close to the top of the escalators, leaning against the rail that looked down on the first floor, was a tall dark guy. He was in the exact same position as the man who had accosted her several weeks earlier. It had been the strangest episode altogether.
    The man had approached her, seemed to know her, but she was positive she did not know him. He was tall and good looking, not the type of man she would forget. He had his hips parked against the railing near the escalators, waiting. When she wandered down the wide marble walkway between open stores and saw him, she had actually smiled. But she was surprised when he had walked up just as she reached the top of the moving stairs. He gave her a warm smile in return and said her name. He took her elbow and said she wanted to donate blood. She had pulled away immediately, but he was unusually strong and as she stepped back he hung onto her arm. He seemed surprised that she was resisting. People were stopping behind her and some were moving around as other people were moving up or down the escalators.
    She had looked around, shouted loudly, which was what self-defense classes taught her to do. She yelled help and told him to let go in that same loud voice. She only had one package, so she dropped it and with her free hand she reached into her large purse. The mace was a round can in the bottom and easy to find. An older man had stepped up to ask what was the problem and as the man holding her looked away from her, she got the mace out to spray him in the face. He let out a yell, letting go, so she pushed him backward. He fell onto the escalator, rolling downward, taking others with him who started screaming and hitting him. In the distance she saw a mall cop coming, so she just turned around, picked up her package and took off. She pushed through the people who were gathering to see what was so entertaining.
    Today she slowed down because of the flashback and because this guy was also looking at her. This guy had a different look about him. Strange — she had thought at first he had the appearance of the previous man who had accosted her. Very tall, well over six-three or six-four, and since she was five-nine, she was usually interested in tall guys. But he had a look that, although handsome, shouted danger. He had long dark hair and a dark complexion, as if he was Greek or Italian. He had his arms crossed, which