The Vampire's Warden by S J Wright Read Free Book Online

Alex?”
     
    “ This isn’t the time to get into it, Michael.”
     
    “ She doesn’t know, does she? Well, now this is interesting.” He moved closer to me, close enough that I could see the tiny black flecks in the chilly blue of his eyes and feel the waves of dark hate flowing from him as he regarded Alex, “Are you here to protect her then, pretty boy? Are you going to save her from me?”
     
    Oh, God. His voice. Even though my brain screamed out against it, I could feel a beguiling warmth curling through me. I struggled to push it back and ignore what my body was telling me it wanted. I’d never felt a need as great as this. It felt like my very soul was crying out for it. For him. I wanted his arms locked around me, his mouth on me, that delicious voice whispering into my ear. It felt like an inferno was beginning inside me, little flames reaching up inside me and burning my throat. What was this?
     
    Vampire . He is a vampire, Sarah. He is not human, I told myself. It took a staggering effort for me to do it, but I managed to make my feet step away, back to Alex. Safe, but empty somehow. The fire inside me died down a little, dampened by the cold protection of Alex standing beside me.
     
    “ Let’s go, Sarah.”
     
    I turned back only once as Alex guided me away. I caught Michael’s stare with my own, trying to find something redeemable in him, anything at all. As I sent my silly wish out to the universe, Michael’s eyes widened slightly. Something softened him momentarily. I felt a sigh escape me as he turned and disappeared.
     
     
     
    Rays of bright penetrating light had swept across my down comforter and into my face. Rubbing my eyes in confusion, I turned to the alarm clock and shot up in bed. It was 8 a.m. I should have been up hours before, helping Nelly get breakfast for the Millers, the big group of ten who had rented the family cabin.
     
    I shrugged into a clean turtleneck sweater and the same worn pair of jeans I had worn before and rushed down to the kitchen, already hearing the laughter and bickering of children coming from the dining room. When I entered the kitchen, I found Nelly frying a pan of eggs and Alex dumping biscuits into a basket lined with a linen towel. The sausage was already cooked and still steaming on a serving plate on the butcher block.
     
    “ Why didn’t you guys wake me up?” I demanded, grabbing the egg mixture from the refrigerator to start the French toast. I slammed the door shut and turned to find them both staring at me, perplexed. Then Alex flashed one of his heart-breaking grins and put the biscuit pan on the counter next to the sink.
     
    “ Chill out, boss lady. We figured you could use a morning sleeping in. We had it covered.”
     
    I glared at him half-heartedly, “This isn’t your job, Alex.”
     
    He laughed brightly, “I go where I’m needed. Besides, we had some extra help.”
     
    “ The kids want some hot chocolate, Nelly.” My sister, Katie strode into the kitchen with a pot of coffee in her hand and a towel over one arm.
     
    “ Katie?” My heart fluttered when I saw her familiar smile across the kitchen. She put down the coffee pot and came over to wrap her arms around me.
     
    “ Hey, sis.” Her eyes, as warm and brown as our father’s had been, studied my face intently. Her super curly black hair fell across her shoulders just as it always had. It had taken most of her life to accept the fact that her curls were beautiful and not a burden.
     
    However, it was Katie’s warmth and understanding that had always stood out. Her ability to reach into me and pull out the thoughts that I would want to remain hidden. She had a way of reasoning with me, comforting me, and urging me in the direction of something more positive than my dark mind tended to dwell on.
     
    Knowing her abilities to get inside my head had never been more frightening to me. Protecting her was foremost in my muddled mind. I could not imagine telling her about