Lure of the Blood by Doris O'Connor Read Free Book Online Page A

thousand years
made you so jaded, that you cannot see how wrong that is? And as for me being
hypocritical, I have no idea who hurt you so badly in the past…” His low growl
of warning stopped her as his eyes grew colder still, and he looked every inch
the ruthless killer.
    “Nobody hurt me, human. I wouldn’t give them
the satisfaction. So spare me your psychological mumbo jumbo. I don’t need
rescuing.”
    Marnie couldn’t help the stab of pity she felt
at the rigid way he was holding himself, his big shoulders slumped, the tension
in the room so palpable she could hardly breathe. His next growled words made
her eyes widen.
    “This is not getting us anywhere. You’re
exhausted and need to sleep. Ion will keep you safe, and if he doesn’t he’ll
have me to deal with. But––one thing. Don’t ever refer to him as a werewolf.
He’s a shifter, not the stuff of popular fiction and nightmares, but he may act
like it if you call him one.”
    “I don’t understand…”
    “Of course you don’t, chere. That’s half the
problem; at least you know now, and shouldn’t feel the need to throw yourself
in front of a train. Don’t think our furry friend could cope with that again. I
sure as fuck couldn’t.”
    And before she could even blink, Lucas was
gone, leaving Marnie more confused than ever. Bone-tired, she only just managed
to crawl back to bed before passing out again.
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Ion emerged from the edge of the forest as the
first rays of sun turned the night sky golden, his body exhausted, muscles
screaming; his wolf, for the moment, at peace. Not caring about his naked
state, he jogged across the clearing towards the main house. He needed a shower
and some sleep and then maybe he would be able to deal with the frightened
woman he left behind.  The mere thought of Marnie made his wolf growl in
appreciation and Ion cursed under his breath. What the fuck did he have to do
to shut his beast up for longer than five minutes? The scent, carrying through
the flowerbeds Louisa was so proud of, stopped both man and wolf in an instant.
Ion crouched low, his head raised to sniff the air. He was under his bedroom
window, where Marnie was supposed to be sleeping. Her scent was too weak,
completely overshadowed by the dry smell of ancient vampire. Lucas had come
then, as he had known
    he would, and left some time ago. So why was
Marnie’s scent so weak? One smooth leap carried him effortlessly across the
flowerbed, another one saw him crouch on the balcony, all his senses on high
alert. He could just about see her bare back atop the bed. Ignoring his wolf’s
low growls, he proceeded cautiously into the dim interior.
    Marnie was lying on her side, the sheet barely
covering the essentials, one rosy nipple standing proud in the chilly morning
air. Ion ground his teeth at the angry, red puncture marks just above her
areola.  Damn Lucas to hell and back. Of course he wouldn’t have been satisfied
with just healing her; he had to have it all. The barely noticeable rise and
fall of her now unblemished ribs did little to reassure the anxious yipping of
his wolf, and he forced himself to step around the bed, better to see her face.
Bile churned in his gut at the sight that greeted him. She was too pale, her
luscious mass of hair spread out over his pillow a stark contrast to her
pallor, dark purple smudges under her eyes testament to a hard night of… fuck.
He shouldn’t have left her. He never should have brought her here, leaving her
at the mercy of Lucas. The puncture marks on her neck screamed his guilt at him.
Right now he wanted to hunt the vampire down and tear him limb from limb.
    Her soft moan as she stirred in sleep shot
straight to his groin, and he covered his nakedness with one of the spare
cushions. Her eyes fluttered open. The sleepy expression in those chocolate
depths made him harden further, and he couldn’t stop his answering groan. When
her eyes slowly focused on his, all his protective