Eternal War Rising to the South: The Beynok Vampire Series by Erika Bradshaw Read Free Book Online Page A

it.
    “Just open yourself up to me, Anya, and you’ll know I’m not here to harm you.” He stepped back slightly, studying my body for any reactions.
    My instincts took over. My body knew the choice it was going to make before I had time to register it in my brain. I lunged toward him throwing a punch. He dodged it, and I landed further to his left than I had planned—too far to attack again and giving him time to turn and meet my gaze. I pulled my body down close to the ground mustering all the strength I had in my legs. In one bound, I was in the air. My legs extended forward advancing toward his face. A face so perfect, my body tensed in that slight second of thought, no longer sure of the action I was taking. What am I thinking? I’ve never question myself in a fight. Why now? I was still in the air as I realized I had missed him yet again. I landed on the rocks and slid a few feet further away from him. I closed my eyes in pain as the rocks pushed into my thigh and ribs. What was I doing? This was not the way I fought. My body was out of control, along with my emotions. He is making me question every thought and physical response I have to his presence.
    Seconds after I landed on the ground, he was on top of me, restraining my arms with his hands. His broad body hovered over mine. His eyes were looking at me with hunger and desire, so I had no choice. I had to continue to fight if I wanted to live. I fought back with the most powerful part of me, my legs. I thrusting them into his body, but he didn’t budge. My strength was nothing comparable to the strength he used to hold me down.
    His eyes grew a little darker, yes, amethyst turning black, and he sternly said, “Anya, stop this. There’s no point in continuing. You might hurt yourself.” His voice was angry, not like before. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I stopped suddenly and lay there, still and silent, looking into his eyes. Flashes of his fangs were running through my head. I was sure he had fangs. I had seen them a moment ago when he was yelling at me.
    “You’re a vampire,” I said.
    “Yes, I am.” He was only an inch from my face, but his fangs were nowhere in sight.
    We held in our position for a while. Ours bodies were tense, fighting for space. Ours eyes were fighting each other for light. His gaze was almost unbearable, but I was determined not to look away. Our lungs were fighting for air in the inch left between our mouths. Everything was silent around us. The only thing I could hear was the battle our bodies were in at that moment. I was sure I was done. Dead. He was going to eat me for dinner. If I was lucky enough to remember this moment on my next rise to the west, I’d track this vampire down and kill him. He would never find me off my guard again. I gave in, accepting my fate with hope for revenge.
    He finally spoke. I was sure he felt my body calm down, since he was a vampire. “Are you going to try to be rational if I release you?”
    Is he not going to eat me now? I guess they have bad manners and play with their food. I took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and took in another deep breath. This time I inhaled deeper than before, and his delicious lavender smell filled my entire body. The aroma of him was so calming and so familiar. I needed to get myself together. He was a vampire. Period. Killing him was the only thing I needed to think about if I thought of him at all. There should be no thoughts of smells, dimples, eyes, or face, I lectured myself.
    He pulled away from me to stand. I ran an examination of my body in my head. My ribs hurt a little, but nothing was broken. Everything else seemed fine, but, of course, I wasn’t up moving yet to get a real feel for myself.
    He offered his hand to help me up. “No, thank you. I can get up on my own,” I said. Although it would have been easier with his help, I managed to stand on my own. I could not accept a hand from my enemy.
    “How do you know my name? And how do