Fateful 2-Fractured by Cheri Schmidt Read Free Book Online Page B

would be nice if we
could just run away, just you and me, and leave all of the dangers,
the war and threats behind.”
    “That is reckless. And it would never
work.”
    “I know,” she agonized.
    “Though it is beginning to look more and
more appealing as time goes on,” he said, surprising her. He felt
the same?
    “Unfortunately, Uncle Nick would just call
the police again. And you’re sure there isn’t anything we can do to
defend ourselves?” Secretly Danielle hoped there was some defense,
like a stake through the heart, or a spell of some sort, or a plant
that was poisonous to them.
    Ethan groaned and then glanced at her while
he drove, she didn’t like the hopeless look in his eyes. “Sorry,
Danielle, there is no defense we can use against a vampire, unless
we were lucky, or rather unlucky enough to come across one who
happened to be weak with thirst. He’d need to be extremely frail
with it. That is the only vampire who could be killed by a mortal,
by the usual means—a gun, or knife, or anything like that—but he
would also be much more dangerous. He’d fight ferociously to get
his fangs into you.
    “That’s why you were able to break the
skin when you bit me. I was so weak my body wouldn’t heal on its
own. And ... I allowed you to
bite me. Most vampires would never allow
that. Ever.”
    “Figures,” she grumbled, then wanting to
change the subject, she asked, “What do you have in here right
now?” Without letting him answer, Danielle turned the stereo
on.
    A rocking blend of electric guitar and drums
filled the air. The measure wove through the car with a low beat
that rumbled lower and harder, banging through a varying range of
notes. Then the singer touched on a wide vibrato with his voice,
which caused throbbing notes to linger in the air. The vocalist had
an almost pretty voice that blended so well with the violent sounds
coming from the instruments that it gave her chills, and she leaned
back into the headrest to enjoy the ride without conversation.
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    The others were waiting for them in the
drawing room. Cedric and Seth were also there.
    “We need to double up on your security. We
can’t risk that ever happening again,” Beon said, unsmiling.
    “Danielle, I’m so sorry!” Cedric suddenly
wailed. “He offered to trade shifts. I had no idea he was—”
    “Cedric, it’s okay. I’m fine,” she said, but
hoped he didn’t see her shudder at the memory of a fanged Alex
going for her neck.
    Beon continued, “Danielle, may I have your
cell phone?” She fished it from her bag and passed it over. He
flipped it open and began pressing buttons, saying, “I’m setting
you up with an autodial to me directly. Just in case you need help
again.”
    “ Thank you,” she replied in a docile
tone dropping her gaze to the material covering the sofa. She ran
her hand across the textured fabric as guilt nudged at her senses.
She was certain Beon and the others had better things to do than
baby-sit her and Ethan. Plus, as she recalled the incident with
Alex, she was fairly certain she wouldn’t have been able to call
anyway.
    “I don’t believe this is going to get any
better, only worse. I had heard that Celeste and Lucas fled the
country fearing retaliation for Danielle’s death, so it seems they
don’t yet pose a threat, but word is getting out about Ethan being
cured. The other vampires are becoming even more of a problem. As
I’d said before, some desperately want the cure and may try to
force Danielle into giving it to them. But worse than that,
however, are others who are deeply upset about this discovery and
could pose a threat to either of you simply for bringing it about.
This incident with Alex has brought this concern to light. And from
what you said, it’s clear he wasn’t working alone,” Beon announced
solemnly.
    Troubled by his words, Danielle realized
that the number of vampires who wanted to harm either of them was
growing at an alarming rate. The