Soul Inheritance by Honey A. Hutson Read Free Book Online Page A

has no… no part in this.”
    Greystone laughed. “She’s a McKlannen. That gives her a part in this . Power and human greed. No one is immune to that. Not even precious Katherine. She’ll come back to the fold soon enough. I’ve guarded the line long, I can’t let it die out now. I won’t let it all go to waste.” He bent until they were eye to eye. “Ummm, tasty.” The long, thick tongue extended, not quite touching her face. He inhaled deeply, drawing in her smell. Taking in the scent of her blood as it pumped through her veins. “Yes, she is sumptuous. You may even gain a few points for her. After all, you are the sire. Pure and strong willed McKlannen blood if ever I smelled it. She’s the key to rebuilding the family. A source of greater power than we have ever accomplished. Pure power runs through those veins and once she has tasted it there will be no resisting the urge to use it. It’s time for her to come home where she belongs. With power like hers we’ll never be vulnerable again.”
    “ You leave her alone!”
    Greystone crumpled to the floor, curling himself around the chair like a cat lounging on a window sill. He gazed up, his head propped on his hand like an admiring lover.
     
    ‡
     
    Katherine rubbed her arms, wondered where the chill was coming from. A vase of flowers on the bedside table caught her eye. She reached over, picked it up. There was a mixture of fall themed flowers carefully arranged around one single white rose. The tag read:
    From all of us at ‘We R Flowers’, get well soon.
    “ That was sweet, I’m sorry I missed you guys.” She looked at Mitch. “No, I’m not talking to myself, I’m talking to you. I know you can hear me. I can feel it,” her brow furrowed, “Somehow.” She turned the ornate vase in her hand, felt a sharp prick, pulled back as if she’d been stung by a wasp.
    A large crimson drop formed on the end of one finger, then dripped off. It plummeted toward the floor, disappeared mid air. With a start she pushed back on the chair. Not only did it not move, but her feet were stuck solidly to the floor as though they were held there.
     
    ‡
     
    Greystone chuckled as he licked the blood from his lips and held Katherine’s feet. “Oh, yes. She is as sweet as she looks.”
    Mitch fought hard for control. In a moment of epiphany he relaxed, went completely blank, completely limp. Greystone lost his hold. In one swift movement, Mitch leapt back to consciousness, felt his body, raised up from the bed as he opened his eyes wide, searching.
     

 
    ‡
     
    Katherine’s alarm rose as she struggled to move. She dropped the vase. It fell, hit something above the floor, then bounced and shattered.
    Mitch shot upward with a deep, gasping breath. Katherine watched in stunned dismay as he lurched forward, landing on the glass in the floor. He scrambled there, searching through the shards, cuts opening in crimson threads on his skin. Grasping a large, long splinter he drove it deep into his neck – drew it across the jugular vein with enough force to create a gaping, rushing wound.
    Katherine watched in ever growing horror. Her feet came free as she felt movement beside her. It was of no consequence. She rushed forward, tried to cover the gushing cut with her hands.
    “ Help me! Help! Somebody help!” she let out one earsplitting scream after another that ended in a gurgling sob. “Why, Dad, Why?”
     
    ‡
     
    His eyes sought her one last time. ‘You’ll come to understand,’ he thought as the world closed in around him and he felt himself slip away. Greystone had no choice but to follow.
     
    ‡
     
    She struggled to make her small hands spread far enough to cover the wound, to stop the flow of precious blood. Medical personnel replaced her efforts, pushing her aside to sit helplessly on the cool, hard floor in the corner sobbing. The battle waged for a half hour with personnel pouring in and out of the room, but to no avail.
    The events all tumbled