The Prophecy Read Free

warned her to beware The Council and especially its leader.
    “So you’re the one who demanded my death,” she mused. “Yet now you want me to believe that you’ve changed your mind and actually want to save me.”
    “I made a mistake.” His tone was harsh.
    “What?”
    “I was furious with your father, but you were an innocent. It’s The Council’s place to protect, not to kill. But by the time I cooled down your father was gone.”
    She didn’t believe him. It was some trick. She shrugged. “So rescue me then.”
    “Not yet.” She gave him a scornful look, and he continued. “It’s too great a risk to try and move you in daylight, and besides, we can’t escape the castle without help. It’s too well-protected. I have an army under my command. They will attack after sunset tonight. I’m here to keep you safe until then and make sure you are away from the fighting.”
    “Why didn’t my father come?”
    “There are other…” He paused as if unsure of how to go on. Instead, he reached out a hand and ran it gently over her lower lip. “You should be healing faster than this. When did you last feed?”
    Her eyes flickered to his face. So he knew what she was. But of course he did. He knew her father, after all
    “Last night.” She swallowed down her revulsion at the memory, but he must have seen something in her expression. He looked at her closely, comprehension dawning in his eyes.
    “The man in the hall?”
    She nodded reluctantly. “Once a month they take me from here to the hall, and I feed.” She shook her head, she didn’t know why but she felt an overwhelming urge to explain herself. “I have no choice, I’m weak and the blood-thirst is too strong. I never take much, just enough to stop the craving.” She took a deep breath. “Once they brought a child. I couldn’t, I refused then. They killed her anyway.” She closed her eyes briefly at the memory of that death. “I tried to end my life, but they found me and ever since I’ve been kept like this.” She raised her arm, rattling the heavy chain. “The next time they took me I fed.” She finished. She didn’t want to look at him and see the revulsion that must be in his face.
    “Jesus,” he muttered. He closed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. When he opened them he appeared to have come to a decision. He reached behind him and drew a blade.
    “What are you doing?” she asked.
    “You need more blood, you have to feed.”
    He drew the knife across his wrist. Raven watched in fascination, breathing in the rich scent of fresh blood, sweet and heavy. She felt her own blood quicken in response. She licked her lips and saw him watch the movement. Then he slowly extended his arm toward her.
    She ran her tongue across her sharp canines, felt the prickle in her gums as her fangs elongated. She couldn’t believe this was happening. That he should offer his blood to her. She knew she should be wary of him, but couldn’t resist. It was richer than anything she had ever tasted, and she realised then that he wasn’t human, for magic coursed through his blood. She fed, the strength flowed through her and she sighed against his skin.
     
    Kael gazed down at the dark head locked against his arm and felt the same twist in his guts as when he had first seen her. He hadn’t meant to do this; his kind had always found the vampires’ kiss too seductive. That first lick of her small catlike tongue had sent shivers spiraling down his spine. The mouth at his wrist tugged at places deep within his body. He felt the heat coiling low in his belly and his cock hardened inside his jeans. He shifted and she glanced up from her concentration and caught him in the gaze of those strange eyes. She continued to feed as she watched him, and he saw that she was healing as she fed. The bruises were fading from her skin, leaving it white and perfect as new-fallen snow. His head fell back and he knew he needed to stop her.
    But for a moment longer he allowed