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

the gifts. She handed them both to Irina who disappeared down the hall.
                  “Cara, Aiden. Aiden, meet my lovely granddaughter, Cara,” her grandfather introduced them.
                  He made a show of bowing exaggeratedly before her and placing a light kiss on the back of her hand. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he discreetly smirked up at her.
                  Cara felt the urge to knee him in his sternum but fought it. She refused to visit violence upon her grandparents’ home. For a second time in two days this godforsaken vampire had popped up around her loved ones and she was growing sick of whatever warped game he was playing at. She yanked her hand out of his grasp and wiped the back of it on her cream-colored slacks.
                  “I am starved. Is dinner ready?” Cara asked her grandmother, rudely turning her back on the heir to the vampire throne.
                  Carolyn smiled approvingly at her. “Of course dear. Irina will be bringing out the first course any moment now. Let us have a seat.” She motioned towards the cherry wood dining table that spanned the length of the room.
                  Throughout dinner Cara’s grandfather kept telling Aiden how terrific Cara was and hinting at Cara what an amazing catch Aiden would be. It took everything within her not to stab her carotid with a steak knife and put herself out of her misery. Cara’s grandmother sat at the opposite end of the table silently scrutinizing her unbeknownst vampire guest the entire time. At least one of her grandparents was not fooled by his act. Eventually Cara excused herself to the balcony no longer able to stomach her grandfather’s matchmaking efforts.
                  Cara sensed the vampire’s presence long before he ever spoke. He smelled of spring showers and the crisp night air. His scent both cloyed and pulled at her. She did not have to turn around to know he was standing at the balcony’s entrance silently taking her measure, stealthily scanning for weaknesses, and slyly contemplating the precise moment of his attack. His actions were synonymous to those of a big cat with prey insight. Yup, Cara thought rather cynically. The hunter has definitely become the hunted.
                  Finally Aiden spoke. “Your grandfather asked me to bring you a post-dinner Madeira. He says it will pair nicely with the crème brulee.”
                  Fighting the urge to turn and face him, Cara gripped the edge of the balcony and continued staring at the glittering lights of the Manhattan skyline.
                  “Most individuals would be terrified at the mere thought of having me at their back.”
                  Cara rolled her eyes at the arrogance of his proclamation, which in all fairness was nevertheless true. As heir to the vampire throne, he had been raised in the image of his sociopathic father. Viktor, the vampire’s Sovereign Ruler, was the most bloodthirsty, diabolical creature to ever exist. Caligula, Nero, Ivan the Terrible, Attila the Hun, none of them came close to the ruthlessness of the vampire ruler. He murdered without provocation, massacred without prejudice, and definitively destroyed all those who would think to stand against him. The Dark Prince was every bit as deadly and pitiless as his father. Cara was in fact scared shitless with having him at her back, but her pride refused to let it show just as it kept her tightly gripping the balcony, giving him only her back.
                  “What game are you playing at?” She threw the question over her shoulder, masking her fear with ire and irritation.
                  “It depends on which one you are willing to play along with.”
                  The distance between them suddenly shrank. Cara felt Aiden’s searing warmth radiating from behind her. The invitation