Night Fever (A Rue Darrow Novel Book 3) by Audrey Claire Read Free Book Online Page B

sounds that seemed to resonate with my hunger. Shame washed over me. I was no different than a ghoul.
    I left the theatre as Violet suggested. Okay, she commanded and threatened, but I’m just saying I agreed. Back at Nathan’s apartment, I removed my blouse and stood in the bathroom mirror. The bite mark was still there but healing. I cleaned it and then took a shower because who wanted ghoul cooties? Those things smelled like they hadn’t bathed in years. If they were this pungent, why hadn’t Violet found them before now, or someone? I was sure they had been hunted after the first attack.
    By the time I finished my shower and dressed in fresh clothing, my hunger had increased, but I resisted. Feeding after what happened tonight seemed wrong. Besides, I wasn’t a brand new vampire anymore. I could go a few nights without blood. The older I got, the longer I would be able to wait between feedings.
    I sank down on the couch and flipped the TV on. A news report was running on the theatre attack. Reporters questioned Violet, who seemed to have pulled herself together. In the background, Cam stood in front of an ambulance apparently denying he needed to go to the hospital.
    My cell phone rang, and I answered right away seeing Nathan’s name on the ID. “You made it.”
    “Rue, are you okay?”
    “Me?”
    “Yeah, I saw a report on TV about another attack in New Orleans. Maybe I shouldn’t have left when I did.”
    “Because you think I’m a delicate flower who needs my boyfriend to take care of me?”
    “You know better than that.”
    “I’m fine, Nathan.” I touched the spot where I had been bitten. The pain had lessened considerably, but it wasn’t all gone. If I had fed, the wound would have disappeared in an instant. “No ghoul is going to get the best of me.”
    “So it was the ghouls? How do you know?”
    If I told him about being at the theatre, he would have a fit, so I left out the details. “Humans attacked by crazy people trying to bite them. Isn’t that what that one witness said? What else could it be?”
    He agreed. “Okay, well stay safe, baby, and don’t feel you have to get involved just because it’s humans.”
    “Nathan, I know how to mind my own business sometimes.”
    He made a noise of doubt.
    “You concentrate on your MLM werewolf scheme. I’ll be fine until you return.”
    “It’s not multi-level marketing!”
    I giggled. “I know. I’m sorry. Hey, Nathan, are you going to challenge Trace for alpha of the wolf pack here?”
    He was silent. After Nathan’s best friend was murdered, who was the alpha of the local group, his second in command, Trace, had taken over. I had learned during the investigation that Nathan also had the potential to be an alpha and that he had refused to step into such a role because of his anger issues.
    “I don’t know,” he said honestly. “Trace is a good guy, but some have said he’s not strong enough to lead. I’m not saying I am, yet. There are other rogues in New Orleans I might be able to make a pack with.”
    “You mean Violet?”
    “She’s one. There are others.”
    The pack hadn’t wanted Violet to join because of the stench of law enforcement clinging to her, weird considering they all held various jobs. For instance, Trace owned a restaurant. Maybe she shouldn’t want to be a part of such a group that could look down their noses at her in such a way. Since Violet used to have feelings for Nathan, and he was still considered a friend, I assumed she would join him if he offered.
    “Will you join my pack, Rue?” Nathan’s voice had gone deep and seductive.
    “I’m not a wolf.”
    “You can be the token vampire.”
    “Funny. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can be in a vampire coven and a part of a wolf pack. Silvano might whine about it.”
    Nathan grumbled. “He doesn’t have designs on you, does he?”
    I looked down at myself although Nathan couldn’t see it. “I’m not spotting any patterns on my skin, so probably