Blood Legacy Origin of Species by Kerri Hawkins Read Free Book Online Page B

full force. She was clearly distressed by this turn of events. One last thought kept her from sleep.
    “Is Drake alright?” she asked Victor.
    “Yes,” Victor said. “He’s fine. Would you like to see him?”
    “No,” Ryan said, rolling over onto her side and turning her back to her father. “He should not be near me right now.”
    Victor clenched his jaw at the pain in his child’s voice, and at the knowledge that she was right.
     
    Susan watched the handsome dark-haired man from the hallway and Edward appeared at her side. Both were moved by Victor’s emotions. Edward could sense Susan’s emotions as well.
    “Ryan has been through worse,” Edward said, somehow doubting the truth of his own words. They were not exactly an untruth because he had no idea what Ryan was going through right now.
    “I am going back to my lab,” Susan said, pushing her sadness aside. She needed to focus on her work. “Will he stay with her?”
    Edward nodded. “Victor will not leave her side. I doubt she will be able to wander off again.”
    “I would take my turn keeping watch,” Susan said, “but if she wakes in her amnesiac form, there is nothing I can do to stop her.”
    Edward pondered her words. “I doubt there’s anything I could do to stop her. Which is why,” he continued, “it is good that Victor has taken additional precautions.”
    Susan turned to him, curious. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Edward smiled.
    “His lordship has taken it upon himself to summon the elemental forces of fire and ice.”
    Susan assessed the odd statement, then took a quick breath as she grasped its meaning.
    “Both of them?”
    “Yes,” said Edward said, “they should be arriving today, in fact.” Despite his usual misgivings directed at the incoming visitors, his approval for this course of action was unequivocal. Desperate times required desperate measures.
    For Susan’s part, this pronouncement brought an odd mixture of anxiety, relief, and pure exhilaration.
     
    CHAPTER 7
    THE MID-SIZED JETS ARRIVED almost simultaneously, quite a feat considering they had departed from different continents. The flurry of activity at the private landing strip was at a level normally associated with the arrival of royalty. The subsequent entourage from the runway to the mansion exceeded even that bloated standard. The long caravan wound its way about the circular drive and then the two central limousines stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
    Outwardly, Edward was a picture of efficient servitude, his patrician features calm and composed. Inwardly, he was steeling himself for the coming onslaught.
    The first door opened and a ravishing, dark-haired woman stepped out. Her dark eyes sparkled with wicked mirth as glanced up at Edward, instantly assessing his internal state. She tossed her head to the side, placing her hand on her hip and tilting her chin with sultry nonchalance. Power and desire emanated from her in equal parts like heat emanating from an inferno. Edward struggled to maintain his composure.
    The second door opened and another woman stepped out. Older in physical appearance and fairer in coloring than the first, she was just as stunningly gorgeous. Icily elegant, she carried herself with a regal and forbidding poise. Her power, unlike that of her fiery companion, was carefully contained and controlled, but just as unmistakable. Her eyes were filled with cool amusement as she greeted the raven-haired woman.
    “Hello my dear,” Abigail said, “it feels like we were just here.”
    “Bonjour, Ma Cherie,” Marilyn responded, kissing the cheek Abigail proffered. “I believe that we were.” She glanced up at Edward. “I am quite curious why Victor has summoned us in such short order.”
    Abigail extended her hand and Marilyn took it, giving the outward appearance of assisting the matriarch up the stairs. But Marilyn knew as well as any that Abigail required no assistance, rather this was one of the forms of subtle and