Honoria Ravena Read Online Free

other sound as I thrashed against him, trying to get him to release my throat.
    I took a deep breath and attempted to calm my frantic mind. Freaking out was going to get me killed. I slammed my foot down on his instep before bashing my elbow back into his solar plexus, throwing all my weight into it.
    He released my throat and tumbled to the ground. He lay curled on his side, gagging. I scrambled for my knives, ignoring the wave of dizziness that caused black spots to dance across my vision. I seized one, rolled over, and shoved it into his chest, twisting it viciously. He cried out in pain.
    I flinched. The agony in his expression tore at me. Suddenly he looked so human and helpless.
    My grip loosened on the knife before I shook myself. This vampire was evil. He’d had something to do with my parents’ murder.
    It was still a shame, though. He had such a great sense of humor, and he really was gorgeous.
    “Bitch!” So much for regret.
    His hand flew up, gripped mine around the knife, and started to squeeze. My knuckles cracked, and I shrieked. This fucker was going to crush my hand into pulp. I spun and went for the knife at his feet. He kicked out, and it went spinning away toward the wall of people.
    I screamed as one of the bones in my hand snapped. My vision blurred as another bone gave under the pressure. I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t release me. I stood to get more leverage and threw all my weight back, but still couldn’t break free.
    He coughed and blood splattered his lips. Oh goody, internal bleeding. I slammed my foot into his chest repeatedly. He let me go, and I stumbled back into the crowd. They shoved me toward Zarek, and I fell on my face. I sat up, cradling my hand. Faintly, I wondered if I’d ever be able to use it again. I glanced at my palm. The Gaelic spells carved on my knives were indented in my hand.
    Excited murmurs broke through the crowd, and my gaze swung back to Zarek. He was sitting up now, my knife still sticking out of his chest. His hands gripped the hilt. His face contorted in pain as he drew the blade out.
    I got light-headed as I watched in horror. I had hoped Alaric was wrong about his ability to survive a knife to the heart.
    The knife clattered to the ground. Zarek’s body sagged forward. As if in slow motion, he stood. He swayed, but didn’t fall down. Blood seeped down his torso. He took an unsteady step toward me.
    I sucked in a gasp that made my lungs ache before I scrambled through the legs of the onlookers to get to my other knife. My shaking hand closed over the hilt just as arms came around my waist, and I was lifted into the air.
    Zarek set me on my feet, turned me around, and backhanded me hard. I spun, hitting the ground on my stomach. All the air rushed out of me. Zarek grabbed my shoulder and flipped me over.
    He jerked my knife from my hand. By some miracle, I’d managed to hold on to it. He straddled my thighs and sliced just under his collarbone. Wrapping his arms around me, he drew me up and forced my mouth to the cut.
    He was going to turn me! I shoved at his chest, but I wasn’t strong enough to force my body away from him. I raked my nails down his torso, drawing blood. He hissed and increased the pressure on the back of my head.
    The smell of his blood filled my nose. My stomach cramped as the bloodlust that overcomes a vampire’s victim preyed on me. I kept my mouth tightly closed as warm blood slid over my lips.
    His mind crashed over mine in a blinding wave of agony, attempting to crush my will to fight him. I grimaced. The pain in my brain pushed, expanded, and I pressed on my temples, fearing it would explode.
    “Stop fighting me and the pain will stop.”
    I wasn’t sure if he’d spoken out loud or in my head. One by one, invisible needles pricked my skin. Each one tormenting me more, until I wanted to jump up and run from the pain. I cried out against his flesh, and his blood rushed over my tongue. I was done for.
    I licked over the