Cursed Kiss (Paranormal Romance) Read Online Free Page B
handle of his fork thoughtfully. "Taldom is a place where mythology comes to life."
"You're saying it's a fantasy world?"
"If you mean an imaginary place, no. It's a fantasy world that is as real as the world you live in."
"Shoot," Clare whispered under her breath as she realized Luka Vlad might be a few dimes short of a dollar. Had this whole trip to Europe been a massive waste of time? "So the Taldom's blood I want comes from this fantasy world?"
"Yes."
Clare's heart sank as what he said was obviously crazy. Although, Taldom's blood must be real. Her grandmother had used it in Moray products. "Where is Taldom?" Even if Vlad was a nutcase, he might still give her the lead she needed to find the herb or whatever Taldom's blood was.
"That is difficult to explain. The dimensions of Taldom and Earth exist in the same space. Where the veil between the worlds is thin, it's possible to catch glimpses of Taldom."
Clare's eyebrows shot up. The man had definitely been reading too much speculative fiction. She would be better off heading to Paris and doing some research there. She certainly didn't have time to waste weeks holed up in the French countryside doing whatever Vlad had planned for her. With a hand to her mouth, she pretended to yawn. "Excuse me. I'm suddenly very tired. I think I'll retire."
She moved to push back her chair and Vlad gripped her hand. "You must believe me, Clare."
A streak of sensation ran up her arm and seemed to burrow deep into her chest. The room shimmered and blurred. She clutched at the table, suddenly dizzy.
Luka snatched back his hand and gradually the spinning room settled, and she focused her eyes.
"I apologize." He raised his palms. "Pablo, please see the lady to her room."
Pablo quickly circled the table, and steadied her with an arm around her shoulders.
"What happened? I feel faint," she said.
"Let me take you upstairs. After a good night's sleep you'll be fine."
Chills raced across her skin as Pablo helped her up. Her legs were wobbly and weak as a newborn's. Had they drugged her?
"Clare," Luka said, a note of command in his voice, "it's important you understand how vital it is that you fulfill the task I've planned for you."
She blinked at him in confusion. Her brain felt as though it was stuffed with cotton wool. "What task?"
"I need you to help me cross to Taldom. Do you understand?" Luka's eyes reflected the candlelight like little pieces of fire.
She was so weary. It was impossible to hold up her eyelids. "What've you done to me?"
"You're the only person who can help me, Clare Moray. You owe me this."
His words drifted through her mind but made no sense.
"Look at me, Clare."
She blinked at Luka as if in a dream.
"You return me to Taldom, and I'll give you some of my blood."
Her legs folded and Pablo caught her. With a murmur of reassurance, he pulled her against the solid warmth of his body. Then darkness welled up and swallowed her.
***
Terrified of losing control and draining too much psychic energy, Luka had not touched a woman for years. Clare's skin beneath his fingers had been soft, warm, enticing, and focused his mind on all he was missing in his life. Yet he wished he had not touched her in a moment of distraction. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her harm.
Pablo carried the unconscious woman upstairs and Luka followed, carrying her shoes. Her long silky hair hung within reach. If he raised his arm, he could run his fingers through the strands. But he would not touch her again—he prided himself on his control and his ability to rise above the need that ate at him.
At the second floor, Luka opened Clare's bedroom door and threw back the bedcovers. Pablo laid her limp body on the mattress. Her eyelashes formed perfect dark crescents against her flushed cheeks. With her lips slightly parted, she looked vulnerable and desirable.
Luka sucked in a breath of frustrated longing and tossed the covers over her.
"Should we undress her?" Pablo
"You're saying it's a fantasy world?"
"If you mean an imaginary place, no. It's a fantasy world that is as real as the world you live in."
"Shoot," Clare whispered under her breath as she realized Luka Vlad might be a few dimes short of a dollar. Had this whole trip to Europe been a massive waste of time? "So the Taldom's blood I want comes from this fantasy world?"
"Yes."
Clare's heart sank as what he said was obviously crazy. Although, Taldom's blood must be real. Her grandmother had used it in Moray products. "Where is Taldom?" Even if Vlad was a nutcase, he might still give her the lead she needed to find the herb or whatever Taldom's blood was.
"That is difficult to explain. The dimensions of Taldom and Earth exist in the same space. Where the veil between the worlds is thin, it's possible to catch glimpses of Taldom."
Clare's eyebrows shot up. The man had definitely been reading too much speculative fiction. She would be better off heading to Paris and doing some research there. She certainly didn't have time to waste weeks holed up in the French countryside doing whatever Vlad had planned for her. With a hand to her mouth, she pretended to yawn. "Excuse me. I'm suddenly very tired. I think I'll retire."
She moved to push back her chair and Vlad gripped her hand. "You must believe me, Clare."
A streak of sensation ran up her arm and seemed to burrow deep into her chest. The room shimmered and blurred. She clutched at the table, suddenly dizzy.
Luka snatched back his hand and gradually the spinning room settled, and she focused her eyes.
"I apologize." He raised his palms. "Pablo, please see the lady to her room."
Pablo quickly circled the table, and steadied her with an arm around her shoulders.
"What happened? I feel faint," she said.
"Let me take you upstairs. After a good night's sleep you'll be fine."
Chills raced across her skin as Pablo helped her up. Her legs were wobbly and weak as a newborn's. Had they drugged her?
"Clare," Luka said, a note of command in his voice, "it's important you understand how vital it is that you fulfill the task I've planned for you."
She blinked at him in confusion. Her brain felt as though it was stuffed with cotton wool. "What task?"
"I need you to help me cross to Taldom. Do you understand?" Luka's eyes reflected the candlelight like little pieces of fire.
She was so weary. It was impossible to hold up her eyelids. "What've you done to me?"
"You're the only person who can help me, Clare Moray. You owe me this."
His words drifted through her mind but made no sense.
"Look at me, Clare."
She blinked at Luka as if in a dream.
"You return me to Taldom, and I'll give you some of my blood."
Her legs folded and Pablo caught her. With a murmur of reassurance, he pulled her against the solid warmth of his body. Then darkness welled up and swallowed her.
***
Terrified of losing control and draining too much psychic energy, Luka had not touched a woman for years. Clare's skin beneath his fingers had been soft, warm, enticing, and focused his mind on all he was missing in his life. Yet he wished he had not touched her in a moment of distraction. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her harm.
Pablo carried the unconscious woman upstairs and Luka followed, carrying her shoes. Her long silky hair hung within reach. If he raised his arm, he could run his fingers through the strands. But he would not touch her again—he prided himself on his control and his ability to rise above the need that ate at him.
At the second floor, Luka opened Clare's bedroom door and threw back the bedcovers. Pablo laid her limp body on the mattress. Her eyelashes formed perfect dark crescents against her flushed cheeks. With her lips slightly parted, she looked vulnerable and desirable.
Luka sucked in a breath of frustrated longing and tossed the covers over her.
"Should we undress her?" Pablo
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