Hunter's Blood by Rue Volley Read Free Book Online Page B

wiped it with his fingers and licked it slowly, closing his eyes and then opening them, all light blue and cold upon me.
    “Well, who else then? Who would have you and your insanity?” he asked and I sucked in my breath and realized just how much of a disappointment I must be. Not only had my Mother died when I was born but I was a girl with what seemed to be illness of the mental kind.
    Rachel stepped up to him and leaned over, whispering in his ear and I watched as he reached down and touched her leg, as it was slightly exposed through her dress.
    I held back nausea and she stood up and looked down at me.
    “Your Father thinks it would be prudent to make plans for your upcoming birthday celebration, of which he plans to announce your readiness to marry.”
    I stood up and knocked over my wine, watching it race across the table, deep and red like blood. The maid returned and started to clean it up and as she soaked up the red wine I felt as if she was cleaning up my spilled blood.
    “I always assumed Hunter would be…”
    “Well, it seems he is hesitating for some reason and I find it best we just place you on the market and let the chips fall where they may,” he said and with that he stood up, pushing his chair back quickly, making a terrible screeching noise in our large dining room. I narrowed my eyes and held onto the edge of the table as Rachel watched him go. He stopped at the door, looked back at the maid as she bent over the table and snapped his fingers at her. She dropped the cloth and followed him out, no doubt to return to his bed and be his toy for an hour or so.
    I stood there flush and dizzy from the thought of being offered up like meat to the royal blood around us and in neighboring villages. Rachel snapped me out of my stupor and placed her hand on mine. I looked up at her and shook my head.
    “I won’t be with anyone else but Hunter,” I whispered and she leaned in and grinned to close to my lips.
    “Then perhaps you should learn how to please a man.”
    I pulled my hand from hers and she stood up straight and watched me as I stepped out and straightened my dress.
    “I am sure I could,” I said to her feeling cocky for absolutely no reason.
    “Oh,” she said and I heard the deep chimes of the doorbell go off and knew it was Hunter coming to visit as he did every Monday afternoon. I walked quickly as Nanny Rachel watched me, I hesitated at the door and then decided to proceed. The butler opened the door up and there he stood, my Hunter, looking amazing as ever. Hunter is also of royal blood here in Farnham Royal village in Buckinghamshire, England. I have known him since I was a child and now that it has just turned 1901, I will be turning 21 soon, Hunter turned 21 three months ago and honestly it was then that I thought he would ask for my hand, but he had not. Maybe my Father is right, maybe he has reservations, I mean he would be due them since I seem odd, more so than anyone else here. I relaxed my hands and he stepped in, handing his hat to the butler and grinning at me. The butler left us and Hunter stepped towards me, took my hand and placed it to his mouth, letting his hair fall into his face slightly and then he looked up at me with those eyes. I felt the pink return to my cheeks and he noticed I am sure.
    “Vanessa, you look very pretty today,” he said as she held his arm out and I interlocked mine into his and walked with him towards the back of our house.
    “Thank you Hunter,” I said as he stopped and opened the doors to the garden up wide and I stepped though, letting the deep aroma of hundreds of flowers overtake my senses. Hunter watched me as he always does, as I walked out and let my fingertips run along the first high row of colorful flowers. Then I stopped and looked back at him. He grinned and walked up to me, stopping and staring into my eyes.
    “Vanessa, I have something to ask of you,” he said and I got fixed on his mouth as I so often do. I knew his lips were