Microsoft Word - Betrayal-Ashlynn_Monroe.doc by Dawn Read Free Book Online Page A

cruel sire. Darius stood gasping and choking on his own flesh, clearly the women had made an impact. Good.
    He didn't see Dyanna. They fought, slashing the other vampires until only two of Darius's supporters still

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    stood. The rebellious clan members were winning. One of his comrades grabbed a knife that lay on the floor, slashing Darius's damage throat. Dark blood began to bubble from the wound. His body spontaneously burst into flames, and in moments, the whole room burned. Anthony's eyes ached as he looked around the room. In the dark corner, he saw them through the smoke. Dyanna. He stumbled over the bodies of fallen vampires. Picking up his wife, he looked down at her friend. Dammit. He couldn't just leave the mortal; Dy had enough reasons to hate him. He struggled to pick up the other woman. His strength was gone.
    Something inside of him was changing; pain gripped him, and he gagged. He could feel blood trickling down his chin and he spit out a mouthful. What was happening?
    Someone had pulled the fire alarm, and swarms of humans fled the club. The control over the blood slaves died with their masters, and they stumbled around in the darkness screaming and confused. Double Dammit. He couldn't just leave them there to die. Anthony coughed as the thick smoke rolled around him. That's when he realized he was breathing.
    "Follow me, I know the way out." He shouted, but the roar of the flames and the hysterical screams drown out his words. He had to get his wife out, so he ran to the exit.
    His speed was gone too. He couldn't see in the darkness,

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    but after a year of spending every night in the club, he knew the way without sight. When he stepped out into the darkness, Anthony took a deep breath of fresh air, the first free breath he'd taken in over a year. He carried the women across the street and deposited them safely away from danger. The mortal stirred. She gasped when she saw him.
    "Take care of her." Bettia looked down at Dyanna and quickly got to her knees. She took off her sweatshirt and pressed it to the wounds on Dy's stomach.
    "Don't let her die." Anthony growled the words before turning to sprint back into the burning club. Sirens blared in the distance.
    He made his way through the club, getting the panicked people to take hands as he went. The human chain followed him helplessly. He noticed the worst of the vampires lying dead, but smoke wouldn't have killed them, and they weren't drained. He tucked his confusion away for later and made his way across to the stage where the woman he'd savaged lay bleeding. He noticed someone had already helped the woman from the other stage down.
    Picking up the bleeding woman, he felt that the leader of the human chain still had hold of his shirt. The building seemed to breathe as the heat of the fire destroyed the evil place. Chunks of burning ceiling fell in, and the screams and jerks of the humans trying to avoid being burned

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    spurred him on. He lost his way, feeling confused as the oxygen deprivation began to affect him. Drawing on the need for absolution, he managed to find the back exit, leading the confused people out into the fresh air. He fell to his knees gasping just outside of the door as the roof collapsed.
    "Thank you, thank you." He heard the words as the people he'd saved helped him to his feet and away from the danger. The rabble of voices penetrated his blurry mind slowly.
    "Why don't I remember anything?"
    "How did I get here?"
    "Where are we?"
    Questions surrounded him, and he managed to avoid them by breaking free and stumbling across the street to where Bettia performed first aid on his wife. She was so pale. "How is she?" He coughed out the words.
    "I don't know. We need to get her to a hospital. She needs blood."
    "Can't we just get her a bag to drink?" Anthony was confused. Had they lied about being able to drink bagged blood?
    "No. Dyanna has a pulse.