Blood Ecstasy (Blood Curse Series Book 8) Read Online Free Page A

anyone’s business. Tell the wizard to stay clear of my female.  
    Ramsey spoke with even, deliberate words. You’re zoned out, J—
    I don’t give a shit, warrior.
    Ramsey took a calm, measured breath. Understood. He softened his tone, probably on purpose, and then he switched the focus of the conversation. Hey, you okay? I mean…effed up circumstance aside…are you all right?
    Julien’s head fell a bit more to the side and his lids twitched, just a microscopic flutter, over his eyes.  
    Julien?
    I don’t need this shit, Ramsey. Don’t want it. Didn’t ask for it. His throat felt suddenly raw, which really made no sense, considering the fact that he wasn’t speaking with his voice. And damnit if that H wasn’t messing with the neurons in his hippocampus because his heart was all kinds of heavy, and his eyes were suddenly moist.  
    Just in the corners.  
    But still…  
    What the hell am I gonna do with a destiny ? he said almost absently. We both know there’s no room in my world for anyone but me. He paused to remember his original train of thought. Besides, I have half a mind to tell the Blood to go straight to hell and just let the Curse take me in the end. He chuckled, yet the impression was absent of mirth. Maybe take a trip to hell, visit dear ole dad. Finally have that conversation. You know the one—yo, pops, what the blazes was your problem?
    Ramsey immediately snarled, and his voice grew deathlygrave. That’d better be the H talkin’, warrior. Don’t even play like that. Let’s not forget: The Blood can take you on a lifelong trip, an eternal, never-ending vacation. To hell.  
    Julien exhaled slowly. Yeah…I got it…believe me.
    Ramsey Olaru grew quiet for the space of several heartbeats, and then he gentled his psychic voice. All right, brother, I’ll call Nachari now. He stopped talking, but he didn’t disconnect.
    Thank you , Julien murmured. Be well. He slurred his words.
    Yeah , Ramsey chimed back in, be well, warrior. And then the sentinel closed the connection.

    Ramsey Olaru kicked his feet up as he stretched out in the luxurious lawn chair, next to the fire pit on his tranquil wraparound deck,and reached out to Nachari Silivasi on a one-to-one telepathic bandwidth. He told the Master Wizard everything he needed to know, including the location of both human females in Julien’s great room, the condition of the zoned-out tracker, and the need to use a whole lot of caution and a heavy dose of discretion, the moment he entered the chaotic home.  
    Not to misrepresent the situation, Julien Lacusta was not a heartless or sadistic male, at least not with his friends and females. He had just been dealt a terrible hand in life. Just the same, Ramsey warned the insightful wizard to keep aclear and generous distance between himself and the human destiny, letting Nachari know that Julien was channeling some raw, territorial instincts—whether he recognized them or not—and unless he wanted to fight the brutal son of a jackal, he had better proceed with caution. And then he broached a much more ominous and urgent subject.
    Wizard . His voice had a no-nonsense, almost solemn tone to it—Ramsey fully intended to convey the full depth of his concern.  
    What is it, sentinel? Nachari asked, immediately registering the tone.  
    Before you go, before you leave Julien to his destiny , there’s something I need you to do…for me.
    Name it , Nachari said, and consider it done .
    Ramsey did just that.

three
    Ian Lacusta braced his forearms against the iron railing on the starboard deck of his sixty-meter yacht. He gazed out over the roiling ocean, noticing how the waves were really picking up, tossing, turning, practically churning now, and then he glanced up at the crystalline night sky.
    He immediately drew back.
    The moon was a stunning blood-red orb.
    How odd, yet familiar.
    The stark red globe was brutal with intensity; the entire sky was lit up like a bonfire; and the stars— great sons