The Feeder by E.M Reders Read Free Book Online

keep them open and focused on the boring forms that had nothing to do with the club, and everything to do with the Council of Masters became near impossible, I decided to call it quits. Stumbling out of my office and up the stairs to my apartment, I failed to notice the tell-tale signs that something was very, very wrong. Never once had I not locked the door to the stairwell leading up to the top floor… ever! But as I pushed through the unlocked door and practically crawled up the stairs, I failed to notice the broken lock hanging from the door. But what I did notice as I reached the door to my apartment was its splinted remains.
    Suddenly I wasn’t so tired.
    Heart pounding, breath coming thick and fast, I slowly entered. Looking around, I expected things to be a mess, destroyed, as whoever had smashed their way through my door searched for valuables – not that I had any – but there was nothing. The place was just like I had left it only hours earlier.
    I was right. Someone was watching me; that was the only explanation.
    What if they are still here?
    The terrifying thought worked its way into my head and wouldn’t leave. I tried my best to calm, calm my heavy breathing and thundering heart. Though, if anyone were here they probably would have heard it by now, especially if that someone was a vampire.
    Creeping across the large open living space, I made my way over to the only other door in the room, the one leading to my bedroom. As I did dread began to form deep in the pit of my stomach, the feeling that something bad lay behind the closed door growing with every step. I didn’t remember closing that door.
    Hand shaking, I grasped the handle, sending up a silent prayer that I was wrong and would find nothing on the other side – other than my unmade bed and a pile of dirty clothes. Latch clicking the door swung open, my breath catching for only a moment before a scream of terror and sorrow left my throat and just kept on coming and coming.
    This can't be happening. My eyes had to be playing tricks on me. Because laid spread-eagled upon my bed, the white sheets stained red with blood, was a naked body. The body of Pippa, a young female familiar, and Dean’s lover.

 
     
    Thayne
    I found Eve huddled in the corner of the upstairs apartment she lived in, curled into a small ball, her mouth open in a now silent scream as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut. I didn’t need to ask her what was wrong; I could smell it.
    Following my nose, I moved over to the open door on the other side of the room, Eve’s tantalising scent faintly coming from within, telling me that this was her bedroom, but it was barely noticeable under the overpowering stench of blood and death.
    Stepping into the room, I gazed down upon Pippa’s broken body and my heart ached. Her hands were tied to the headboard above her, her legs bound together. Her chest was cut open, her blood soaking into the sheets below. She didn’t deserve this.
    Moving closer, I took a deep breath, pulling in all the scents in the room, trying to detect any that didn’t belong to Pippa or Eve. But I found none. I didn’t scent any hints of sex – which was a relief – but that didn’t help with the question of why?
    Pippa was a regular at the club, one that had actually been very close to being turned if the rumour mill in this place was correct. Why would somebody do this to her? And why here in Eve’s bedroom?
    Hearing the fast approaching feet of others, I made my way out into the main room and moved over to stand by Eve, placing my hand lightly upon her shoulder, relieved when she didn’t bulk at my touch. She was in shock; there was no telling how she would react.
    Gideon skidded to a stop in the doorway, Reese right behind him, nostrils flaring as the scent of blood hit them. Cutting his eyes to Eve, a frown marred his face. “What’s happened?” he snapped glaring at me, his amber eyes full of suspicion.
    All vampires had abilities. The ability to move