Born In Blood (Born Hunter Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

affectionately welcomed her in.
                  “The food smells lovely Irina. Its scent teased me all the way to the door,” Cara complimented the housekeeper on the dinner she prepared.
                  Irina smiled widely and motioned her toward the formal dining room. Cara navigated her way out of her grandparents’ foyer and down a hall whose walls were tastefully decorated with various family portraits. She momentarily paused in front of one of her parents and herself that was taken the Christmas before her father was murdered. The mother smiling back at her was the Dianna of the past. Outgoing, high-spirited, and happy.  She saw the mother she loved so thoroughly as a child.  Edwin appeared as he always did… timeless, unyielding, respectable, and dedicated to providing for his family. Cara remembered how happy her family had been. How her parents loved each other, their daughter, and life so fiercely. She fought back tears at the unwelcome memory of life before devastation struck. Cara quickly moved down the length of the hallway, keeping her eyes straight ahead so she did not see any more reminders of the future that had been snatched away by her father’s murderer.
                  “Cara!” her grandparents exclaimed in unison the moment they spotted her.
                  “My how I miss you, ma petite fille ,” Carolyn gushed as she walked around the ornate wooden table and embraced her granddaughter in a tight hug.
                  “I miss you too, grand-mère,” Cara hugged her grandmother back, using the French endearment for grandmother simply out of habit. From the time she could talk Carolyn insisted she call her grand-m è re in lieu of grandmother or any other derivative of the name.
                  “I know our birthday gatherings are normally just between us three, but your grandfather invited a last minute guess,” Cara’s grandmother confessed with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
                  Taking that as his cue, her grandfather stood from his seat at the head of the table and wrapped her into a big bear hug. “I normally leave the meddling to your grandmother dear. However, I got wind that a strapping young lad and very eligible bachelor recently took up residence in the building. He bought out the entire 25 th floor! I ventured down to introduce myself and what you would have it, the rumors from the old hens are true. He is a fine, respectable fellow, and I thought now this is the kind of man I would like to see my Cara bear settle down with before I die.”
              Cara inwardly groaned. “Grandfather please stop calling me that. I’m not five years old anymore.”          
                  “Nonsense,” her grandfather waved his hand dismissively. “It does not matter how old you get or how many vampires you hunt, you will always be my little Cara bear.”
                  Most of the human world was intentionally naïve to the existence of any being other than themselves, but Edward Cavanaugh was arguably the most wealthy and influential man in New York City. He did not attain or maintain that level of power by not being in the know about any and every thing.
                Almost everything, Cara amended as Irina led their ‘last minute guest’ into the formal dining room. Cara’s eyes bulged out of her head as her heart momentarily stopped beating and then restarted itself. The damn Dark Prince himself was standing beside her grandparents’ dinner table bearing flowers and a bottle of vintage wine. Her grandfather had invited the devil himself into his home and was completely oblivious to the fact.
                     Aiden delivered a respectful nod toward her grandfather and presented her grandmother with the bouquet of yellow roses and bottle of wine. Her grandmother eyed him suspiciously, but politely accepted