Lure of Forever by Doris O'Connor Read Free Book Online

and Lucas's chance of
killing the demon went down the drain again.
    Lucas sensed the wolf before he saw
him and with one last careful scan of the perimeter he too sunk back into the
shadows.   He found Ion waiting for him in
the park. The little cluster of trees shielded them from view of any
passers-by.   The shifter was back in his
human form, the scowl on his face matching Lucas's own.
    "I'm getting mightily fed up
with chasing shadows. The bastard moves all over the place. Tonight alone we
thwarted three attacks. Three, for fuck's sake. He's
getting bolder."
    "And
more careless. We'll find him, Ion. We have to,
and soon. He's making too many mistakes."
    Ion shook his head in disgust.
"He's not the only one. The brunette that showed up on your boat last
night, she…"
    "She
what?" Lucas whirled around and pinned the shifter to
the nearest tree in the blink of an eye. "Her name is Coralie ,
and you've no business sniffing around her."
    Ion growled in response and
pointedly stared at Lucas's hand on his throat. Merde ,
what had gotten into him? He released Ion with a muttered apology and forced
himself to unclench his fists. Ion's amused laughter made his blood boil anew.
    "Well, well, well. It's been a
while since I've had that response from you. What's so special about this
one?"
    "Nothing
at all."   Lucas
ground the words out through clenched teeth, an image of Coralie's doe-like eyes darkened in the throes of passion in his mind. No way in hell was
he going to tell Ion about her abilities. Ion may be his friend, but he also
now sat on the council. And Carmen had shown too much interest in Coralie already. If she knew he'd been unable to erase her
memory, his maker would order her execution without a moment's hesitation and
he would have no choice but to obey. The branch in his hand cracked and Ion's
mocking laughter echoed around the park.
    "Sure, Lucas, that's why you're
abusing innocent trees. Marnie will be delighted.
She's been worrying over you."
    "There's no need. I'm fine. Or
at least I will be, once we have sent Jacomo back
where he belongs." He forced a smile on his lips at Ion's doubtful look.
"Just because you and Marnie are all loved up,
doesn't mean I want to be."
    "Of
course not. I wouldn't dream of suggesting such a
thing." Ion's voice shook with barely suppressed amusement. "But I
know you spent the night with the little human, and when all this settles down,
perhaps you should bring her over for dinner." He ducked the punch Lucas
aimed at him and continued, "That's if she doesn't get herself killed,
walking the streets by herself at night. Don't worry––she got home safely. I
followed at a distance."
    ****
    Lucas rolled his shoulders, watching Coralie's house. He'd left his watch soon after that
conversation with Ion in the park, giving curt instructions to the young vamp
come to replace him. Anxiety clawed a hole in his gut, leading him here. Having
to leave her in the morning hadn't sat well with him after the night they'd
shared.   Even though he'd left her a
note, he could imagine her reaction when she'd woken up alone. Guilt gnawed
away at him, an unfamiliar emotion. He never had a problem leaving before, but
every fiber of his body had wanted to stay holding the woman curled up so
trustingly by his side.
    He didn't deserve that trust, and if
she knew what he really was, she would no doubt run away screaming. They always
did and he usually enjoyed the thrill of the chase, knowing that taking their
memories away would keep his secret safe, and him well
fed. So why did the fact that he'd tasted her sit so heavily on his
conscience?   He hadn't meant to bite her
last night, but blown away by her responsiveness, his ironclad control had
slipped and he'd sunk his fangs into her soft flesh. His cock hardened,
recalling her passionate response. She'd passed out, bringing him to his senses,
and he'd spent the rest of the night making it up to her.
    He hadn't taken enough blood to
establish a strong