Blood Oath by Kit Tunstall Read Free Book Online

sensation swept through her as his
blood flowed onto her tongue. Already light-headed, the forest seemed to spin
around her. She attempted to move her mouth, but her teeth were hooked into his
flesh.
    Blood spurted into her mouth, and Anca
swallowed it. The light-headed sensation faded, and a surge of renewed energy
swept through her. She looked up at Demi through the veil of her lashes. He had
thrown back his head, and he seemed to be in the throes of ecstasy.
    With a frightened grasp, she tore her mouth
free. Anca cried out when she saw the jagged tears in his skin. Her eyes
fastened on the blood trickling down his hand, and she couldn’t seem to pull
her gaze from it. She whimpered when Demi brought his hand to his mouth and
licked away the blood.
    His eyes were dark with passion when he
pulled her against him. His lips were anything but tender when they claimed
hers. The kiss was hot and hungry—full of urgent needs and desires.
    Anca pressed her body closer to his, parting
her lips eagerly to accept his tongue. She stroked hers across his, wanting to
taste every inch of him. His blood was on both of their tongues, and the scent
and taste filled her senses. It was like the dream.
    She pushed against his tongue, trying to
push hers inside his mouth. She winced when her tongue raked across her teeth.
Her canine tooth punctured her tongue, and the flash of pain brought her back
to herself. Anca pushed against him as she became aware of their surroundings.
    She stared up at him, trying to make out his
expression in the deepening twilight, trying to pretend she hadn’t just drank
some of his blood and relished the experience. No! She hadn’t enjoyed it. It
had been an accident. Somehow, her teeth lodged in his skin, and when the blood
flooded her mouth, she had swallowed without thought. His kiss had aroused her,
not tasting his blood.
    “Why did you run, Anca?” His voice was
hoarse with passion, and his uninjured hand shook when he brought it up to
smooth his hair.
    She swallowed. “I changed my mind. Please
let me go home.”
    “Valdemeer is expecting you.” He sounded
regretful. “I swore I would bring you back.”
    She began wringing her hands. “What if he
won’t let me go? I don’t want to be a prisoner here.”
    Demi sighed. “Your father is a good man. He
only wants what’s best for you.”
    She wasn’t reassured by his answer. “I want
to go home. I don’t want to worry about being an heir to a kingdom. I don’t
want to look over my shoulder all the time. This isn’t the way I want my life
to be.”
    His eyes burned with an inner light. “I will
protect you with my life, Anca. Your father would do the same. You have nothing
to fear.” He touched her cheek gently. “Nothing happens without a purpose.”
    She frowned up at him dubiously. “You really
believe that?”
    “It is a tenant of our beliefs. Trust me.
Come with me now and meet your father.” He held out his hand.
    Anca stared down at it, reluctant to accept
his hand, but afraid not to. She didn’t think he would hurt her. Her fear was
deeper and less specific. Slowly, she raised her hand and grasped his. It felt
as though the actions of her arm were independent from her body.
    “Promise me you won’t run away again?” There
was a hint of steel in his voice.
    “I…” She hesitated.
    “I can’t protect you if I don’t know where
you are. Promise me.” He spoke firmly, and his eyes bored into hers.
    She nodded. “I promise,” she heard herself
say weakly.
     
    * * * * *
    The castle came into sight as Demi’s car
topped the last hill. The road from the capitol to the castle was a long series
of twisting curves, rising elevations, and poor roads. When she asked about the
condition of the roads, Demi told her few people had vehicles, and the horses
and wagons had little trouble with the rocky and uneven path.
    She gasped softly when Castle Draganescu
came into view. It was too dark to make out all the details, but she saw