Blood Awakening by Tessa Dawn Read Free Book Online Page A

has
crossed an irreversible line: As a male who is bound by a covenant to protect
you, I no longer have a choice in the matter. These are the laws of my kind .”
    Marquis walked over to his desk and sat down in
the large burgundy chair. He placed his elbows on the desktop and folded his
hands; his chin rested on his fingers while he considered his next move.
    Kristina waited quietly, her body visibly
trembling.
    After several minutes had passed, Marquis raised
his head and regarded Kristina with resolve. He knew his eyes were cold, like
two hollow coals, as they always appeared vacant when he made up his mind to
enact final-retribution. “I will allow you to keep all of your memories, as
long as you show me that you can handle them. But Dirk’s time with you has—how
shall I say?—come to an end.”
    Kristina gasped. “No, Marquis! No! Please,
just listen. I have this—”
    Marquis raised his hand again, this time taking abrupt
control over Kristina’s body. For a fleeting moment, her vocal cords no longer
worked, and her tongue was paralyzed. It was just long enough to halt her
speech—like flipping an off-switch on her protest—while still forceful enough
to show her the discussion was over.
    Marquis meant business.
    Kristina sat down in one of the high-backed chairs
across the desk and began to cry, her face growing white as a sheet.
    Marquis hit the intercom and asked Chad to return.
    When Chad came in, he took one look at Kristina,
glanced over at Marquis, and winced, his soft, hazel eyes narrowing with compassion.
“It’ll be all right, Kristina,” he offered.
    “No, it won’t,” Kristina sobbed.
    When Marquis didn’t bother responding, Chad’s face
turned the same shade as hers. Only, he wasn’t about to question his boss.
    “So, has her schedule been taken care of?” Marquis
asked, abruptly changing the subject.
    Chad cleared his throat and ran his hand through
his short, dirty-blond hair. “Uh...yeah, Lacy is covering her shift for
tonight, and José was able to get Emily to cover for the rest of the week.”
    Marquis nodded. “Good. And security? How are you
handling that?”
    Chad sat down in the remaining chair across from
his boss. “Well, you said you wanted us to allow Dirk to come in if he showed
up; so right now, we’ll know the minute he breaches the perimeter, and at least
two guards will stay tight. But no one’s gonna confront him or call the police...not
without your go-ahead. Unless of course, he acts like the ass he is, and we
have to deal with him in the interest of our other patrons.” He immediately
turned to Kristina and shrugged. “Sorry.”
    Kristina began to sob all over again.
    “Good. That’s fine.” My brother...
    Kagen Silivasi answered the telepathic call
immediately. Greetings, Marquis: How are you?
    I am well, Kagen, and you?
    Very well.
    Kagen simply waited then.
    Marquis didn’t call out to his brothers often. Usually,
if he wanted something, he just demanded it, or took it, or put the command
directly in their minds. If Marquis was calling him now, Kagen had to know it
was important.
    I am at the casino with Chad and Kristina, Marquis
explained. Dirk has made a real mess of her this time. I would like to bring
her by the health center.
    Kagen sounded puzzled. You want me to
treat her? Why not just use a human doctor, as usual?
    Not this time, Marquis argued . As soon as
Dirk shows his face, I’m going to remove the problem once and for all; the less
contact we have with humans, the less potential drama...or mess.
    Kagen cleared his throat. I see. He paused
for a moment. Well, I must say, I’m glad you’re going to finally put a stop
to this.
    It is long overdue, and I have neither the time
nor the inclination to deal with it anymore—which is why I have an additional
favor to ask of you.
    ‘Ask?’  Kagen sounded surprised.
    Marquis sighed telepathically. Yes... ask... unless
and until you say no, of course. There was no hint of humor in