Claiming Emerald by Kat Barrett Read Free Book Online Page A

beating heart, a drumbeat of life that sounded like the most melodious music.
    Em sank her fangs into his throat.
    Russell did not need to intercede. Em pulled back.
    “Is it really necessary for me to keep this blindfold on?” asked Billy.
    “It’s either a blindfold or nightmares. The sun was not kind to her.”
    “I thought you would instantly die from the sun?”
    Em’s face was healing, the skin starting to feel more normal. “I dove into a snow bank. I guess the snow put the fire out and gave me some protection from the sun. It probably also helped that I had so much clothing on.” She had another suspicion about that from her dreams. She didn’t have them much anymore, but when Joel and Gaelic were still an unresolved part of her life, she dreamed of them. Em would always be standing in the sun when Joel or Gaelic went up in flames and she didn’t. Obviously, she was burned as a normal vampire would be, but if Em was figuring correctly, she should actually be dead. The snow was really not all that much protection. Clothing was not really protection either. What she had said was simply an explanation for Billy to give the other humans.
    “That makes sense. I hope you are feeling better soon. We were all terrified to know that you were lost outside during the daytime. You are special to all us humans.”
    Em chuckled. “Thank you. You are all special to me, also. How’s the baby?”
    “He is adorable like his father and has a big mouth like his mother.”
    She stifled her laughter, knowing how much it would hurt to move the muscles of her chest. “I wouldn’t let Ruth hear you say that.”
    “She has and she agrees with me.”
    Ruth could be very outspoken. “I can’t wait to see him.”
    “You will. We have moved inside. Our house was too cold when the generator quit. We opened up three of the cubicles and are living in them until things warm up a bit.”
    Em hoped that the solar panels and the backup generator for the underground fortress didn’t give out. They would all be left in the cold.
    “I’ll see you later.” Billy got up and headed to the door. Em’s vision was improving slightly and she could almost make out what he was wearing. Billy walked out and a moment later Rick came in with a pink thing around his face. Em knew that Russell was blindfolding the humans and she was grateful for it. Russell led Rick across the room and helped him to kneel. He offered his throat to Em and she accepted.
    With each new human, Em felt a bit better. The burning in her skin began to fade, taking the pain with it. Then the tightness of her damaged flesh eased up a bit.
    After the twentieth human, Em put a stop to it. “I can’t take any more.”
    Russell glared at her. “But you are not healed yet.”
    Em pushed herself from the blanket she had been lying on and sat up. There were tiny twinges of complaint from different parts of her body, but none that were agonizing. “I know that, but I’m also not the only vampire here. Everyone I just took blood from is off the feeder list for two months. That leaves less than forty people to feed five old vampires and Salt who needs three to four people a week. Salt alone feeds twenty eight times in two months. That leaves twelve humans for five vampires. The numbers are running a bit short.” Em sat down carefully on the bed.
    Russell rolled his eyes as he took a spot beside her. She knew that he was well aware of the feeding schedule and the protective code that they would only feed on a human once every two months. It didn’t take more than a few weeks for their bodies to recreate the blood. It was probably faster than that because vampire saliva promoted red and white blood cells to produce quickly. The day watchers gave blood far more often than once every two months and they were perfectly healthy. She didn’t care. She wasn’t going to break code. She was not special and didn’t have any supreme right to feed more than the others. “I’m really