Embracing The Lion (Gray Bears 6) by Natalie Kristen Read Free Book Online

is an ancient vampire and he acts his age.
He's terribly outdated and old-fashioned.”
    “And you're just the
opposite! You're so kind and warm and...normal!” Tara gushed.
“I always thought that vampires were cold and unfeeling, and
cruel...”
    “Phillip Lancastle is a
psychopath. It is a crime for a vampire to attack a human. The
Sheriff will tell you that. And under the laws of my coven, any
vampire who attacks a human will be subject to the harshest
punishment.” Rosalina's black eyes flashed and Tara had a
glimpse of the tremendous strength, power and restraint that the
Master Vampire possessed.
    Tara gave a faltering smile
and said, “You're a Master Vampire, but you look so young...”
    Rosalina chuckled. “I
was turned in my forties. I've been a vampire for over fifty years
now. I'm actually the same age as Glynda and Neveah. We're all in
our nineties...”
    “And ninety is the new
forty!” Gramma, Ne-ma and Rosalina hooted and jumped up to
twerk round the table.
    There was some commotion from
the living room, and Tara saw Tristan and Jackson trying to dig their
cubs out from a big, deep flower pot in the corner.
    “We better make a
move,” Gramma said. “The cubs are getting restless.”
    “Are you having a coven
meeting tonight?” Ne-ma asked.
    “Nope. But I have to
finish knitting those booties by tonight,” Rosalina said. “One
of my coven members is expecting twins, and she's due any time now!”
    At the door, Rosalina gave
them each a hug and a kiss. “If you need anything at all,”
she told Tara. “Just come over. I'll be here.”
    “Thank you, Rosalina.”
Tara shook her hand politely. Then on impulse, Tara threw her arms
around the Master Vampire and hugged her hard.
    “Thank you so much! I
didn't want to live as a vampire, but you...you changed that,
Rosalina. I hated what I've become, but now that I've met you, I'm
not angry and ashamed any more. In fact, I...I'm actually proud and
happy to be considered a vampire. Thank you!”

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN

    Gareth dropped Gramma and
Ne-ma off at the inn and drove home with Tara. She was silent during
the drive home, and when he glanced at her, he caught her staring at
him with a strange light in her eyes.
    When he opened the front door
for her, Tara hesitated at the threshold for a moment. She turned to
him and said very quietly, “Thank you, Gareth. For
everything.”
    He locked the door behind
them and pulled her to him. “Tara, talk to me. That's a lot
for you to absorb tonight. Are you okay?” He stared at her
for a long while. Was she still thinking of destroying herself? Did
she still want to die...and leave him? His grip tightened painfully
around her waist. He couldn't let her leave him. He couldn't lose
her.
    Tara took a deep breath and
nodded once. “Yes. I'm okay, I'm more than okay actually.
I'm really grateful, to all of you. Thank you for saving my life,
Gareth. You gave me your blood, and you took care of me. Your
brother and sister-in-law, Gramma, Ne-ma and the whole Gray family,
stood by me and did their best to help me. And Rosalina was
wonderful! I'm just a stranger, yet all of you did so much for
me...”
    “You're not a stranger,
Tara,” Gareth said hotly. “You...you are so important to
me.” He grabbed her shoulders. “My lion found you, and
it recognized you. You—you are mine, Tara. Do you...feel this
connection between us? Or do you feel nothing at all for me?”
    She gasped but didn't flinch
even when his nails dug into her shoulders. “I feel for you,
Gareth. A whole lot. And it frightens me,” she whispered at
last. “I don't understand what I'm feeling, or why I'm feeling
this way. I thought it was a side effect of my turning. I've never
wanted anyone like this...” She shook her head and winced. “I
should fight this...”
    “No. You shouldn't.”
    Gareth tilted her chin up and
forced her to look into his eyes.
    For a long while, she stared
deeply and searchingly into his eyes as she listened