Eternal Seduction by Jennifer Turner Read Free Book Online Page B

his throat. Concerned Logan might be overwhelmed by the amount of information Vouclade had the propensity to spout, he pinned his brother with a hard glare. “Why don’t we focus on the matter at hand? I’m not sure now is the best time to explain ancient history to Logan.”
    Vouclade, whose cold grey eyes were still locked on Logan, completely ignored the request. “Human scientists and historians know of the world, only what we want them to know,” he said in a dry but serious tone. He raised a boney hand and motioned towards Logan’s head. “The difficulty your mind is experiencing at this moment is exactly why we release historical truths in very small, carefully timed doses. The human brain has great difficulty reconciling advanced civilizations existed so long ago. I believe it has something to do with the human ego, which absolutely despises the thought of not being the superior species. However, it’s that very ego which allows most humans to reason away any interaction with a supernatural creature. They dismiss what is sometimes obvious as a side effect of stress or an over active imagination. The human mind is our greatest ally in terms of keeping our existence hidden. That is, until our true nature is revealed to someone like you .”
    Kerestyan watched as Logan’s green eyes shimmered with a dark but strangely beautiful light, which only worsened his surging blood problem.
    She narrowed her eyes on Vouclade. “Yeah, well, I stopped ignoring what was right in front of my face a long time ago.” She relaxed and brushed the hair from her eyes with pale, delicate fingers. “I won’t lie. When I realized vampires were real, it scared the crap out of me. But after a few weeks, I was shocked at how much more sense my world made.”
    Kerestyan smiled as she absently stroked the hollow of her throat. “The truth has an odd habit of illuminating even the darkest places.”
    She shifted her gaze to him. “Speaking of dark,” she said, peering at him through long black lashes. “I looked outside before I came out here. I thought vampires slept all day?”
    “The young ones do,” Vouclade offered before he had a chance. “However, as we age, our vulnerability to the sun’s crushing presence wanes. Unfortunately, our resistance doesn’t extend to its rays.” He glanced up at the ceiling for a moment before refocusing on Logan. “In other words, while we’re more than functional during the day, we still can’t venture outdoors.”
    The perturbed look on Logan’s face said she didn’t appreciate the layman’s terms. “I guess that makes sense,” she quipped. She switched the position of her legs, her sparkling eyes fixed on Vouclade. “So, how long has it been since you’ve seen the sun?” She arched an inquisitive brow, lips slightly pursed. “Do you miss it?”
    Vouclade didn’t even flinch at the personal question. “Far longer than it’s been since Kerestyan last saw the sun,” he offered plainly, “but not nearly as long as it’s been since our Father last gazed upon it. And no, under no circumstances do I miss it. I revel in my undead state.” He leaned forward as if he meant to stare through her. “So tell me, Logan, how is it you became homeless?”
    Logan fought the urge to smile. She wasn’t sure which was worse: Vouclade’s challenging stare, which she was more than willing to accept; or the way Kerestyan’s eyes kept lingering on her lips.
    You could accept those, too. She pushed the traitorous voice aside and focused on Vouclade’s question. “After my mom died, my father became a verbally abusive alcoholic. By the time I turned fifteen; I’d had enough of his mouth and figured I’d be better off on my own. I don’t have a diploma. I don’t have a license or social security card, and,” she couldn’t hold the smile any longer, “I don’t have any legally marketable skills.”
    “Where did you stay at the beginning of your independence?”
    “With