Nightlord Lover by Kathy Kulig Read Free Book Online Page A

She poured
herself more wine and topped off Larissa’s glass. “Stay clear of Kashia and
Lazaro. They’ve been around almost as long as Bastian, the leader of the Guild.
They have many privileges but hunger for more. And they’ll manipulate the structure
to meet their needs.”
    “The structure of what?”
    “The Guild,” Jordan whispered. “Don’t go out at night alone
and don’t go under the bridge.”
    “Why? You think there’s really a hitchhiking ghost that
haunts the bridge?”
    “Yes. But he’s the least of your worries. Only rarely does
he speak to mortals and when he does it’s to warn them.”
    Larissa got up and walked to the door of her balcony. “You
won’t get into trouble by telling me this, will you?”
    “No. I haven’t told you anything I’m not supposed to. I’m
also protected.”
    “Protected how?”
    Jordan sighed. For someone so young, she was caught in the
middle of something and Larissa was determined to help her. “My father. He has
a lot of money and has paid many times over for my protection. Kashia and her
kind can’t touch me. Years ago I wanted to be a crimson swan, wanted to belong
to Bastian, have him as my nightlord, but my father’s money keeps me
untouchable.”
    “Your what?”
    “Never mind.”
    Something stabbed at Larissa’s heart. “Who’s Bastian? Are
you in love with him?”
    “He runs things. Even if I was in love I can’t do anything
about it. As easily as my father pays the Guild for my protection, Bastian
could hire the Council of Slayers to punish those who violate the agreement.” She
smiled and got up. “Thank you for dinner and the company. I can’t tell you any more
right now, but I’m really glad you’re here. I hope we can be friends.”
    “Of course we’re friends.”
    Jordan smiled and glanced around her apartment. “You don’t
have a couch. I know someone who sells couches.”
    “Jordan, don’t go finding me a couch.” Larissa laughed,
feeling the merlot going to her head.
    “No trouble. They owe me a favor.”

Chapter Four
     
    Vampires from both Edmund Manor and the Beaumont House
entered the dining hall and quickly took a seat around the long table. This
wasn’t a formal meeting, only eight out of the dozen Guild members were
present, but all were dressed elegantly out of respect to Bastian who sat at
the head of the table.
    Anger overriding proper etiquette caused Garrick to slam his
fist on the mahogany table hard enough to crack the wood. He glared at Lazaro
and Kashia sitting across from him then faced Bastian and lowered his gaze. “My
apologies, Bastian. Larissa’s my claim, she resides on my land. I demand she
remain under my protection until she willingly is drawn into the Guild.”
    The elder for the Guild tapped his fingers on a leather-bound
book as he stared across the room. Garrick knew he had to move fast, convince
the other elders to make Larissa off limits or mark her as his own.
    “Laws for the New Hope Guild allow any one of us to make a
claim on a new arrival, regardless of their residence. The number of claimed
crimson swans should not be determined by the amount of landownership,” Lazaro
argued.
    “I agree.” Kashia stood up. “The benefit is for all who reside
in the Guild. How many crimson swans does one member need?”
    Garrick growled at the female vampire. She had more
offerings in one week than Garrick took in a month. “Kashia, if we’re going to
take head counts—”
    “Enough.” At the end of the table, Bastian stood from his
carved wooden chair. His dark-brown hair hung loosely around his shoulders. The
European cut of his black shirt looked hand tailored and highlighted his muscular
build. “Lazaro has a valid concern,” Bastian said, locking his gaze with Garrick’s.
He watched the fury in his master’s eyes. Nothing angered Bastian more than
fighting among those within the Guild, especially over new claims for crimson
swans. “The more offerings we have, the stronger we