Duella Book 3: The Witch and the Vampire Series by Fawn Lowery Read Free Book Online

materializing into his vampire form once he was inside the building.
    “Surely you can think of something better to fill your time.” Miriam materialized beside him, a smile on her face as she reached one hand to cup his cock. “I can think of something more interesting than reading an old book, Duella . Let’s go back to the house and have sex.”
    He covered her hand with his and, for a moment gave serious consideration to her invitation, then pulled her hand away and brought it to his mouth. He kissed her palm, his lips lingering for a moment. “My sweet Miriam, I have work to do before I enjoy your lush body. Now be a good girl and run along.”
    “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. What kind of book are you looking for? I’ll help you find it, then we can go.” She ran her hands across his chest. “I’m aroused. I want you to fuck me.”
    “Later, I promise.”
    She let out a little huffed sigh and marched across the room to flop down in a wooden chair. “This is a stuffy old place. It stinks of books.” She turned her head, looking across the room at a tall bookcase set aside from the others. “Do you sense something strange?”
    He thought for a second. He had slipped beneath the window for the sole purpose of looking at the city’s business directory, tax assessments and the like, in an effort to decide which business he wanted to obtain. The notion his tactics were a bit pompous gnawed at him, but being a vampire, what other means of obtaining a business did he have? Short of placing the present owner in a trance and having him sign over his deed, there was little else he would undertake. He wouldn’t harm the owner—if he could help it—just remove him from ownership of his business. Then, once the papers were legally administered, he would take the helm and be established as a New Orleans businessman. In time, the townspeople would adjust to him—his nighttime hours and the like.
    “Well, do you?”
    He shook his head. His mind wasn’t on chasing strange things that Miriam thought she felt. He turned his feet toward the business section of the library and left Miriam sitting in the chair staring at the bookcase across the room.
    Businesses had changed a great deal since his time, yet he seemed to be aware of all the necessary steps to locate the information he sought. He entered the business section of the library and went directly to the directory at the librarian’s desk. Choosing a thick leather-bound book from a glass enclosed case, he placed it on the wide desk and began thumbing through its pages.
    He considered his choices of businesses. There were many. And several that stemmed off one major resource. He noted the names of the founders, the present
CEO
’s and their addresses. Given his abilities of persuasion, he could own the whole city if given the notion. He smiled slightly, relieved to know that it would be easier than initially thought to establish himself among the business class of the city.
    All of a sudden, he heard Miriam hiss and jerked his head toward the direction the sound came from. He saw her flying across the room, her body propelled backward as though some invisible force was pushing her. She crashed into a long table flanked by wooden chairs and landed on the floor.
    Duella leapt to her side, his eyes alert, his fangs bared. He jerked his head from side to side, trying to identify the force that threatened Miriam, but he failed to see anything moving through the darkness or sensed any being in their midst.
    “Did you see her?”
    He lowered his gaze to Miriam as she clutched at his hand in an effort to get up.
    “I didn’t see anything.” He returned his gaze to inspecting the room, pulling Miriam to her feet. He wrapped a protective arm around her waist. Slowly, he gazed at the expansive room, taking in the dozen or so of long wooden tables and towering shelves laden with volumes of book. The side of the room facing the street had several tall