Vampire Coven Book 3: A Vampire's Embrace Read Free

washed over him. Rhett had died for nothing except entertainment. He struggled in his father’s arms wanting to rise. Three other warriors, none he had ever laid eyes on came to lift him out of the arena. As his father followed, one of the three men turned to stare into his father’s eyes. Without a word his father turned and left.
    Rhett was spirited away as he lost consciousness. In wanting to save everything, he had lost everything.
    * * * *
    “Would you like to live forever?”
    Rhett could hear the words in his mind. He was consumed with thought. Darkness rolled with the light he could almost feel. He should go to the light, it was so beautiful, so compelling. There was love in the light, and peace. Peace was a gift. But the voice was cajoling. Rhett was then hit with the words that would seal his fate. He could still save his wife and child.
    “ It was my men who spirited them away to safety.”
    The second he heard the words Rhett turned from the light to follow the voice into darkness. He would walk into Hell for those he loved most. If there was a chance...
    “There, it wasn’t that hard.”
    Rapid blinking of his eyes and Rhett could see the three men who had taken him from the arena. He lay on a couch which he quickly vacated. The men were smiling. All three had dark as night hair and blue eyes, as did Rhett. All three were as powerful as Rhett, if not more so.
    “Where do you hail from?” Rhett asked suspiciously. “Never have I seen any of you.”
    “My name is Tavish,” said the largest of the men. His longish hair was out of place in Rhett’s world. The man looked like a barbarian. His voice was deep, strong, he was a warrior but from where, Rhett had no clue. “This is Laken and Caine.”
    Laken had the same looks as Tavish, perhaps they were brothers. Caine was clean cut. One look at Caine and Rhett saw a gentle soul. The man would not last long here. It suddenly dawned on Rhett he wasn’t dead. He felt a little off but hungry, surely that must be a good sign if his belly ached for sustenance. Quickly he glanced down remembering where the lion sliced him open. His guts were no longer protruding. Another thought occurred, though bloodied he felt no pain.
    Looking closer at his wounds Rhett stared in awe, there were no bite marks, no scratches or gaping holes. He was standing on a leg he had been certain was crushed. A wary hand touched at his face. The flesh no longer hung. Where blood stained no wound existed. He looked untouched when he was convinced he was almost dead.
    “You died all right,” Tavish said then chuckled at Rhett’s confusion.
    “But I feel whole and healthy… and so terribly hungry. The hunger grows.”
    “It will continue to grow until you are satisfied. I have brought you a gift,” Tavish said.
    A snap of his fingers and a beautiful young woman walked into the room and lay on the couch. Rhett, confused, went to gaze down into her innocent face. She looked at him in a daze. She was a real beauty, a prize. Someone’s pet for certain. A well-loved pet. The little slave was no doubt adored; it showed in the gold and jeweled trinkets she wore. Rhett wasn’t interested; his Cecily was the only woman to turn his head since they joined.
    “I am in no need of a female. I wish to see my wife,” Rhett snapped. He would not lay with a slave, a slave’s life was hard enough, especially a beautiful one such as this creature. Beauty was a curse in Rome. She did not need another man forced upon her.
    “This female isn’t for your pleasure; she is here to satisfy your thirst.” Tavish encouraged Rhett forward until Rhett knelt beside the blond beauty.
    “My thirst?” Rhett muttered.
    As soon as he drew closer Rhett could smell the flow of her blood, it was the sweetest of flowers; he could hear the gentle beat of her heart. A humming wordless come-hither. He trailed his fingers ever so gently down the side of her unblemished, perfect face. The pull wasn’t sexual, but it was