Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole Read Free Book Online Page B

But you’d only want to return to that state, killing even more than before. And you’d lose all the power you’d amassed.”
    â€œI know this!”
    â€œThen did you know you can learn to control the memories if you’re not constantly adding new ones?” At Conrad’s mildly surprised look, Nikolai said, “We’re aware of the memories. They’re a sickness. You can’t differentiate between those of your victims and your own. They make you hallucinate constantly, and your head feels like it will explode from them.”
    What did they mean? Conrad was sick ? Was there an actual medical reason behind his madness?
    â€œYet what if you could turn them on and off, accessing them at will?” Nikolai asked. “How much better do you think your life would be without them tormenting you? If we can get you stable, you can learn to hold them at bay.”
    Conrad shook his head sharply. “I want blood from the vein. Only from the vein—”
    â€œThat’s why we’re going to help you find your Bride. Because there is one drive that’s strong enough to compete with bloodlust.”
    His Bride? Did Nikolai mean the need for sex?
    â€œAnd the need to kill?” Conrad bit out. “I savor it…ache to end you right now.”
    â€œJust as there’s one drive that can overcome bloodlust, there’s one need that’s stronger than the need to kill.”
    â€œAnd what’s that?” Conrad sneered.
    Nikolai said only, “You’ll know when it hits you.”
    Conrad glanced at the window yet again. “What are you injecting me with?” Sometimes when he spoke, he would hesitate as if even he couldn’t believe he’d just sounded sane. He must have been mad for a very long time.
    â€œA soothsayer got it from the witches for us. It’s a sedative of sorts. It’ll continue to weaken you physically, but after a few days, it shouldn’t put you in a stupor.”
    Attention back to his brother, Conrad snapped, “You’ve no right to drug me!”
    â€œWe’ll do whatever it takes,” Nikolai said, with steel in his tone. “You were a good man and can be again.”
    â€œNot a man ! No longer!” He ground his teeth. “I’m a killer, that’s all.”
    â€œMost in the Lore believe you’re lost. That the red automatically means we have no choice but to destroy you. I do not agree. Mark me, Conrad. One way or another, you will be cured of this,” Nikolai vowed, his voice fierce, his gray eyes turning black, as if with emotion. No matter what had occurred, she knew that Nikolai indeed loved his younger brother. “We have resources at our disposal that you can’t begin to comprehend.”
    Nikolai’s answer seemed to be just cryptic and confident enough to intrigue Conrad. “And exactly how long am I to be jailed and drugged?”
    â€œA month. We’re going to keep you from killing for a month. If there’s no change by then, we will…reevaluate.”
    Any interest in Conrad’s expression dimmed. “I don’t have that long.”
    â€œWhy? What do you mean?”
    Conrad didn’t answer, seeming to go adrift in his own thoughts, his red eyes skittering in her direction again. She could have sworn he began following her movements, so she floated to the window seat. But he continued staring at the spot where she’d just been.
    She saw the exact moment Nikolai knew he’d get no further, because he looked whipped with disappointment. With a grave nod to Conrad, he traced out, and seconds later, Murdoch appeared.
    He turned the folding chair around and sat, leaning forward, elbows to his knees. “We’ve missed you, Con,” he said quietly. This brother seemed weary to Néomi, like a man undertaking an arduous journey. And his expression constantly looked as if he’d just, at that very instant, determined he