The Third Fate Read Free Page A

coursed through her veins. Cursing, he raked his hands through his dark, wavy hair, mustering every ounce of self-control he possessed to stop himself from going to her. It was against everything he knew to desire a mortal this way. Yet her blood told another tale, a tale of the undead, of Druid lines.
    Go to her. Drink and fuck…
    Back and forth he paced like a caged animal, hanging onto his sanity by a thread. He needed help. Conjuring the image of Raven House, Cael faded until nothing remained but the faint hint of shadow where he had just stood. Then even that was gone. The wood plank floor creaked as Cael solidified in shape at his destination. He hoped to discover The Raven willing to accommodate him. Many years had passed since he last partook of her services. He’d been desperate then, too.
    Overwhelmed with grief and burning with blood lust, Cael had been deposited by his worried coven mates in this reception room after Rose MacAllister had been taken from his bed and left to burn in the dawn. He never discovered whose hand had been responsible. Fevered with thirst, thirst he had denied rather than betray the memory of young, carefree Rose and his failure to protect her, Cael had writhed on the floor – the very same where he now stood willingly - then helpless to refuse the attentions paid to him in Raven’s care. He hoped she would have the cure for him now as she had then.
    “ You have need, Cael Maccinnis?” the sultry voice purred.
    The curtains parted revealing Raven, her sensuous beauty unchanged over time.
    “ I do,” he ground through clenched teeth.
    “ And you wish to find relief from your torments within the walls of Raven House?”
    Her sexy tone left nothing to the imagination. Cael remained silent before her.
    “ Have you had another incident? That would be a shame. I cannot imagine why else an ancient would have need of the soothing I offer. If you needed to feed only, well, the human chattel would suffice.”
    Her smile never touched her eyes. She was bargaining, he realized.
    Or fishing…
    “ What is it you ask of me?”
    Circling, Raven drank in his scent, her laugh soft and throaty.
    “ Her scent is strong on you, Maccinnis. No scent of death surrounds you this visit. Has she refused you?”
    Cael offered no answer, which The Raven took as affirmation of her suspicions.
    “ Ah, I see,” she whispered. “Rest easy, Highlander. Your desire shall soon be slaked. First, there is the question of payment – but,” her feline purr admitted, “you were such a pleasure to ease before, Cael Maccinnis, that I ask only a trifle, really. I desire the company of your coven-mate, Alden, for one night. It is not too much to ask, is it?” Running her hand over the bulge in his pants, Raven cooed, “You know I cannot take but what is offered freely, Maccinnis. Open yourself to me.”
    “ Raven,” his voice stilled her hand, “I will accompany Alden here, but I make no promise that he will welcome your attentions.”
    “ It is enough, Highlander,” she allowed. “He will not refuse my offering.”
    Betraying every instinct he possessed Cael opened his thoughts to the she-vamp. He had to put an end to his lust for the mortal. Otherwise, he would bond himself to the human woman before Samhain. Wiping his mind blank, Cael focused only on the relief he would gain mentally and physically under Raven’s expert hands. Stroking him as her fangs scraped across his neck, Raven encouraged his lust.
    Unbidden, images of the beautiful mortal flooded his consciousness. He raged with lust, eyes reddening once again, the memory of her taste awakening the beast within him. Raven hissed, shrinking away from him as if burned.
    “ What is this?” she shrieked. “You lie, Highlander! The female has not refused you; your mind cries out to her even now!” Backing away from him she continued, “I can do nothing for you, Cael Maccinnis. Your desire is unwilling, bound to another. Another who yet walks among