Dancing Dragon by Nicola Claire Read Free Book Online Page B

Amisi takes a break for the night. In fact, she can have the rest of the evening off. It's not often the Lux Lucis Tribuo visits our city after all.”
    He leaned down and lifted my hand to his lips, brushing a light caress across the back.
    “Enjoy your stay, ma petite chasseuse . You are always welcome in my city.” And then he was gone, in a flash of preternatural speed, so fast that even the Norms nearby wouldn't have realised what they had witnessed.
    I glanced up as Amisi came out from behind the bar, two vampires escorting her across the dance floor, pushing would-be suitors out of their path and depositing her at my table, They melted into the shadows, but I could still feel them nearby. They oozed Sanguis Vitam .
    I lifted my eyebrow at Amisi and finished the last of my second drink for the night. Two more full ones appeared within a second, in front of us both.
    “I have the rest of the night off apparently," Amisi said through gritted teeth, "and my instructions are to stay by your side and not entertain any gentlemen. His excuse: you don't need the distraction right now, your kindred awaits your return with much impatience.” She did not sound happy at all. I couldn't blame her. Gregor was walking a very thin line.
    I let a huff of breath out in an indignant laugh, hoping she would take the sound as solidarity with her anger at Gregor, but I forgot Amisi's new talent for empathy. It brokered no misinterpretation. I was indignant at Gregor's comment of Michel waiting impatiently for my return and she knew it.
    She took a sip of her drink and levelled her beautiful almond shaped eyes at me, flashes of bronze hinted in the chocolate depths. I blinked. Only Nero had ever had that sort of ability, his eyes reflecting his emotions like a vampire. I had put it down to his vast age, over 500 years old. Normally Nosferatins like me have more human-like eyes, just bright and big and deep of colour, but no tonal changes and flashes of light. Maybe, it had been more to do with his lineage, than age. Maybe Amisi, being part of his Nosferatin community, shared something of Nero's blood. I had never considered that before.
    “Are you going to tell me what Michel has done? Or do I have to guess?”
    I didn't say anything, suddenly my mouth was very dry.
    “OK. I'll guess.” Ah crap. Give it a rest Amisi. “He is punishing you for something, maybe a hunt gone bad. You got hurt, he got angry. Now it's escalated into a power play for dominance, neither of you giving purchase to the other.”
    I just stared blankly ahead. Never show fear. Never give an inch. Always stay on guard.
    “No. All right then, how about this? He's jealous, you've had some unwanted attention from a male, probably vampire and he's spat the dummy. Tightened the apron strings and not letting you out of his sight.”
    Jeez, when did Amisi learn all of these colloquial sayings? Still, I didn't move, not even a blink. Just held my breath. She'd never guess, but part of me hoped she would, it would be easier than saying it aloud. My kindred no longer wants me, he's cast me aside. Oh damn and there's the ache in my heart again.
    Amisi blanched. Her voice whisper quiet. “He hasn't... he hasn't been unfaithful has he?” She asked tentatively, pain etched on her delicate face.
    I shook my head once. I couldn't be sure what he was doing right now, there could have been another he was seeing, how would I know, but the thought alone was enough to make me deny it. The shaking of my head more a movement to clear the image her words had created in my mind, than an outright denial of his unfaithfulness.
    “No,” she said, still quiet, still laced with pain. “It's more than that.” Oh and now the ache was a stabbing pain, cleaving my heart in two.
    She straightened her shoulders and held my gaze. I saw resolution there, determination, empathy, but a whole lot of whoop-ass. Amisi was a fighter, she knew I was too. My current state was not something she would