Hunting Karoly Read Online Free Page A

cold…”
    “After biting the wino?”
    “Exactly. He stole my clothes.”
    Breathless with suppressed laughter, I gasped out, “Oh dear…”
    “This was outside the back door of Kelvingrove museum. I lay naked under a carpet undisturbed for two nights. On the third, I followed the night guard inside and stole this.”
    I frowned. “Why didn’t you just steal the guard’s clothes? They’d have been less conspicuous!”
    He shrugged. “I liked this better. Anyhow, no one questions me. I come here every night. Someone is always getting married, so I blend in with the wedding parties, although on the whole it is safer to drink from the staff. I limit my intake from the guests.”
    Involuntarily, I glanced over at Davie, still sleeping like a baby in the corner. “Do you never kill anyone?”
    “Of course I do. I’m a vampire.”
    Uncertainly, my eyes came back to him. He didn’t look sad or ashamed. He didn’t look proud or scary either. He simply stated a fact.
    “If I’d ever believed vampires really existed,” I said, “I’d never have believed in one like you. And I can buy into every kind of vampire you like—the aloof and evil kind, the savage animal kind and the vampire with a soul kind. I’ve been in love with Anne Rice’s Louis since I was fourteen! But you’re just weird.”
    To some, my words might have sounded like a criticism, a statement of disappointment. He actually seemed flattered. I saw a definite softening in his cold eyes and the skin around them actually crinkled as he smiled. Fascinated, I watched the smile die and the skin smooth out almost as pristine as a child’s once more.
    For some reason, my breath caught. I felt his touch, featherlight on my cheek. His head bent nearer mine and I saw his lips part. My heart began to drum because he was finally going to kiss me. The butterflies in my stomach went wild with anticipation. Then the door of the conservatory crashed open, letting in a sudden wave of noisy laughter and music. The overhead light blazed, blinding me, and Nick’s voice called out, “Oi, Jenny! Davie! Are you in here? Maggie and Jack are leaving!”
    I blinked to clear my vision and a frisson of renewed fear rushed up from my toes. Though close enough to kiss, the vampire’s presence had changed suddenly—or perhaps I’d just woken up to the fact that his idea of drinking companion wasn’t mine. His cold, hard eyes gazed beyond me, presumably at Nick, as if assessing his next meal.
    With a sickening jolt I realized my pleasant private party was about to turn nasty and that the only possible winner of the fight to come was the vampire.
    While I still tried to reorient myself, I heard Nick say uncertainly, “Davie?”
    Quick footsteps sounded and then Nick swung into view, kneeling beside the best man. The vampire stood, a blur of quick, menacing motion and belatedly, I scrambled into action, catapulting myself off the sofa to stand between him and Nick.
    The hairs on the back of my neck prickled like thorns. I needed to be watching the vampire and yet I couldn’t if I was to address Nick with any semblance of normality.
    “He passed out,” I managed—he would never know how guiltily.
    Nick glanced toward the sound of my voice. “Aye, so I see…” Catching sight of the vampire beside me, he did a double take and his eyes grew wide. “Well! Quite a night, Jen! And I thought I was the belle of the ball.”
    Ignoring that, I went somewhat belatedly to help Davie. As I walked forward, I felt the vampire move, knew an instant of terror as his cool fingertips trailed sensuously along my bare arm. I shivered, because despite the fear, his touch still inspired a lust I couldn’t deal with.
    “What’s your friend called?” Nick asked as I crouched down beside him and gently slapped at Davie’s mumbling face. He didn’t look like much of a lumber any more.
    “Charlie,” I said with the ghost of a laugh. It was hysteria. Davie shook his head and opened his