Nightshifters by Tamelia Tumlin Read Free Book Online Page A

beating.
    Calling.
    Alexandru stilled. He could take her right now. Right here
in The Voodoo Den. His body hardened at the thought. He wanted her more than
he’d ever wanted anything in his life. Or his death. Alexandru’s teeth grazed
her skin. One bite. That’s all he needed. Just one. He wouldn’t take more than
he needed. He raised his head…
    Rana pulled away and stepped back, her eyelids heavy as if
she’d been drugged. “Do you still want me as much as I want you?” The
insincerity in her words washed over him like a bucket of ice. Alexandru sensed
the deception. She was here for one reason and one reason only.
    To kill him.
      

Chapter 2
    “What do you want, Rana?”
    She blinked. Alexandru’s icy tone startled her. Had she done
something wrong? Granted, seduction didn’t come natural to her — especially her
inept attempt to seduce a vampire — but surely she hadn’t been that bad. Had
she?
    Should have read The Art of Seduction for Dummies first . Rana mentally ticked off the Dummies titles she had in her
small bookstore, but she couldn’t recall even one with that title. No matter.
She would never be a femme fatale. She would just have to do it her way and
hope for the best.
    “I want you,” Rana whispered. Tiny fingers of doubt took
hold of her. Who was she kidding? She could seduce a vampire about as well as
she could fly a rocket. But, for Damien’s sake, she had to try. It was his only
chance. Doubt cracked the window of her mind open. She immediately snapped it
shut before Alexandru could get a glimpse of the small boy occupying her
thoughts. She didn’t want him to know why she was here.
    A muscle throbbed in Alexandru’s jaw. “Go home, Rana.”
    Rana bit the inside of her cheek to keep from stamping her foot
like a spoiled child. He couldn’t send her away. He just couldn’t. He must have
felt something.
    Her teeth punctured the flesh inside her mouth.
    She could taste the metallic flavor. She wrinkled her nose.
How could anyone or anything hunger for such?
    Alexandru inhaled sharply and his eyes brightened. He
scented it too. At least she had some effect on him. Even if it was just as a
meal. Rana swallowed a sigh. She had to keep trying. She didn’t have any other
choice. She grabbed her purse from the bar and gripped it to her side, thankful
that she had the good sense to bring a stake and holy water.
    “Can’t we at least talk?”
    Alexandru’s eyes shuttered. “We have nothing to discuss.
What we had together is over. Go home.” He turned his back to her.
    Rana gritted her teeth. He had always been stubborn. As a
mortal man and now as a Master of the Night. Well, she could be stubborn too.
She lifted her chin a notch and reached for him.
    Her hands clasped thin air.
    Damn vampires! Always appearing and disappearing.
What did they think they were? Magicians? Rana blew a breath between her lips
and wove her way back through the crowded dance floor. She shaded her eyes from
the flashing light show and searched the room for Alexandru.
    He was gone.
    Disgusted, Rana marched across the room, opened the door and
stepped into the warm Louisiana night. The air, thick with the promise of an
approaching storm, engulfed her with humidity. The street, void of pedestrians
or city lights, reminded her she was alone. In vampire country. Not many humans
ventured to the underbelly of the Crescent City. Not if they wanted to live
long.
    Fear gripped her spine. She shouldn’t be here either.
Dhampirs were never welcome in this section of the town. She clutched her purse
and mentally assured herself she was prepared.
    Rana quickened her step. Thick wisps of mist wove around her
as if trying to prevent her escape. She aimed her keyless entry toward the
small sedan parked on the curb and pushed the button. Her lock clicked and
something hissed behind her.
    Rana froze. Nico materialized between her and the car. His
eyes glowed with the fires of a hundred suns; his lips pulled back