Caressed by Shadows (Rulers of Darkness Book 4) by Amanda J. Greene Read Free Book Online Page A

plagued her every thought. All that separated them was a door and two pairs of jeans.
    “This is going to be a long few days,” she sighed.
    Turning to the shower, she pulled open the glass door and flipped on the water.
    She rubbed her chest as the ache intensified. A sharp pain slowly crept through her veins like poison. Her heart seized, her vision blurred, and the oxygen slammed from her lungs causing her to gasp for air.
    Anguish and disappear rocked her system as loneliness pierced her soul. Her legs gave out, her knees collided with the cold, unyielding floor.
    Images of the past flickered through her mind, silent clips of horror and sin. Regret and disgust drifted through her mind like sadistic shadows, taking turns slashing at her soul.
    The world crashed around her until everything faded to black. She tried to call out, but air only teased her lips. Her lungs felt like an unmovable steal cage. Sorrow uncoiled within her heart, its talons slicing at her humanity, challenging the vampire within her. Taunting the demon within her with hateful memories that she had long since buried. Nightmares of violence, death, and blood danced before her. Her stomach rolled as her horrific actions unfolded.
    She struggled against the dark abyss that clawed at her, dragging her down into Hell.
    A soft rhythmic knocking caressed her ears, it sounded so far away. She fought to focus on the here and now even as images of her murderous past flickered through her mind.
    Blinking rapidly, she willed her eyesight to return. The brightness of the white bathroom caused her eyes to burn. She sucked in a breath, her lungs reluctantly responded as her heart hammered into motion.
    “Your Highness?”
    Taking in one gasping breath after another, desperately trying to calm herself, she forced the memories back into the shadowy vault in her mind, locking them away.
    She pushed herself to her feet. Her legs trembled. Her hands shook as she brushed her hair from her face.
    The pain in her chest eased, leaving her soul battered and the vampire within her on guard, ready for another attack. The Death Curse had marked her.
    “Sonya?” Falcon called again.
    She stumbled to the dual vanity and turned the water on. Unable to speak, she hoped the running water would make Falcon think she was all right.
    “I’m heading out.”
    His voice deep, even, and smooth, a sweet balm to her raw emotions and tattered soul. Warmth spread over her, banishing the chill that lingered in her heart from the Death Curse.
    “I left a shirt and a pair of shorts out for you.”
    She could hear him shifting on his feet on the other side of the door. Sonya gripped the smooth ledge of the counter, her nails extending into claws, anchoring herself in place. She suddenly had the overwhelming urge to throw open the door and fling herself into his arms. She craved his touch and the comfort only he could provide. He made her feel protected and cherished. Falcon was the only man who saw her as a woman. Her past lovers had never looked past her crown, they had always wanted something from her. Power, position, riches, titles, anything other than her and because of this, she hadn’t taken a lover in so long. But Falcon, he would hold her, love her physically and emotionally. He would make a life with her. He truly was the best man she had ever known, honorable to fault.
    Shaking her head, she dispelled the foolish idea of them as a couple or her turning to him for comfort.
    “There are a few hours left until sunrise. I’m–uh–I’m going to see if I can find a place where you can feed. London isn’t very vamp friendly. No blood banks will be willing to sell. Not to mention, the hunters will be watching them all.”
    Sonya tried to swallow, her throat was still tight and her mouth was dry. “Okay,” she managed to say, her voice cracking.
    Falcon was silent for a moment. Did he hear the loneliness that laced that one word or could he sense the despair that had gripped her