Aris Reigns Read Online Free Page A

be alone. Mariska took her once. She can do it again.”
    â€œAris, she was taken from the hotel with Gabriela in the next room. Sarah has human needs, how can one of us be constantly in her presence?”
    â€œI will not leave her alone. In London or Chicago or anywhere on this planet. Never again.”
    â€œBut you cannot spend every moment with her. You are needed in the Catacombs. Without you, there is no leadership for the army. Without an army our society is doomed. You are the core of whatever becomes of our military. Aris, the Immortals need you if we are to survive.”
    They sat quietly listening to the hum of the tires against the paved road. Aris was deep in thought until at last, he broke the silence. “I will speak with the Council. Under the circumstances perhaps they will offer Sarah sanctuary in the Catacombs. I know she will be safe beneath the ground with our people.”
    â€œThey will never agree. Never before in all of our history has a human visited the Catacombs and left without being changed into an Immortal.” Richard shook his head. “Aris, they will never agree.”
    â€œStrange times breed strange acts. I will approach Bartholomew. As head of the Council, perhaps he will listen to reason. We shall soon see.”

    A freezing wind blew the high drifts of snow in blinding swirls as Esteban drove the coven forward. Even with vampire vision it was a struggle to see more than just a few feet in front of him as Mariska trudged through the blizzard at his side.
    â€œHow much farther to the caves?” She could barely see him through the wall of white flakes.
    â€œNot much farther if the trackers are correct.”
    â€œWe must settle and feed on the herd of humans we have brought before they all die of exposure. We have already lost several.”
    â€œThey were not lost.” He smiled. “They made good fare and their blood will sustain us until we come to rest.”
    Turning to look behind them, Mariska could hardly see the herd being driven forward by her coven. Their own food was strapped to their backs as they staggered through the waist- high drifts.
    â€œYou were brilliant to collect them from the villages that we circumvented.”
    â€œAnd you, my Queen, were fast thinking to steal a supply of the blood taken from blood banks and stored in DeMarco’s vault.”
    â€œYes, without it we would not have the sustenance we need. It is tasteless and there are no death throes that are so delicious, but it will keep us strong and able to fight.”
    Stopping in his tracks, Esteban turned, raising his hand to halt the bedraggled army behind him. “There.” He pointed to a huge sharp overhang of rock. “That is the cliff. Come, the caves are just below.”
    Far behind them, one of their captives fell to his knees. One of the guards swooped down upon the fallen human and began to feed. When he was satiated, he passed the dying man to his comrade. Once drained, the limp form was tossed aside as the vampires forged ahead through the blizzard.

    Thick fog surrounded the castle as DeMarco sat on the window ledge of the highest turret. Gazing out over the dense forest below, his thoughts were of Sarah. Raw feelings of love and hate filled what should have been an empty heart. A battle raged inside his head. Her denial of him drove him to the brink of murder. He dreamed of draining her to her death as a captive Aris watched, powerless to save her. His mouth watered as he imagined the smell of her throat, the taste of her blood. He remembered the look of fright in her beautiful blue eyes as he told her who he was and who he had been to her.
    Memories of their life in a past century flooded his mind and his heart filled with sorrow that she was so unfaithful to their love. He knew his true wish was not for her to die. His true wish was to have her a vampire, ruling by his side, Queen to his King.
    â€œSire?” DeMarco turned to face