Nancy A Collins-Vamps 02 Read Online Free

shopping.”
    “You’re right about that part.” Peter chuckled. “You didn’t run into any handsome young vampires while you were at it?”
    “Are you kidding? Vampire guys aren’t that different from the rest of you! But I did have a run-in with Lilith Todd.”
    Peter froze. “Victor Todd’s daughter?”
    “You know who Victor Todd is?” Cally asked, surprised.
    “I know the names of all the major Old Blood families in this city,” he replied. “ Especially the Todds.” 22

    “Really? Did I tell you Lilith totally tried to kill me at school?”
    “I’m not surprised,” Peter said darkly. “The Todds have a mean streak. I should know. Victor murdered my grandfather Leland.”
    “Oh, Peter! I’m so sorry!” Cally gasped, placing a hand on his arm.
    “Todd killed him right in front of my dad. He was about my age when it happened. If it hadn’t been for your grandmother Sina, my dad probably would have been killed, too. So, in a way, she’s responsible for me being alive.”
    “That’s so weird.” Cally shook her head in disbelief.
    “I’m still trying to get my brain around Granny being a vampire hunter, back in the day.”
    “ That’s weirder than her being a witch?”
    “Hey, I knew she was a witch. That was never a secret from me. Besides, I’m a half vampire, so being a witch isn’t that weird.”
    “Point taken.”
    There was a long silence, and then Cally glanced back up at Peter, an anxious look on her face. “Is your dad still trying to find me?”
    “Don’t worry; he doesn’t know where you live or anything like that.”
    “Yeah, but you managed to track me down, didn’t you?”
    23

    “I changed the files after I hacked into the database.
    According to the New York State graves registry, your grandparents are now interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, up in the Bronx. You have nothing to worry about, Cally, I promise .” Peter smiled, giving her hand a comforting squeeze.
    “Have you discovered why he’s so obsessed with capturing me?”
    Peter shook his head. “Just because I’m his son, that doesn’t mean he tells me anything about his plans.”
    “I know how that goes.” Cally sighed, rolling her eyes. She snuggled in close to him, savoring the warmth of his body pressed against hers. “Peter—do you think there’s a place for us in this world?”
    “Yes,” he said as he gently stroked her hair. “There has to be. Why would we have found each other like we did if there was no hope for happiness for us? Life can’t be that cruel. Maybe we could run away together to someplace where no one knows who we are. Or better yet, some remote island paradise where the people have never even heard of vampires or vampire hunters. We could make love on the beach every night. How does that sound?”
    “Like a dream.” As she rested her head on his shoulder, Cally pictured herself and Peter walking hand in hand along a shore as white as sugar, watching the moonlight reflect across the ocean. She kissed his neck, 24

    savoring his musky smell and the salty taste of his skin on her lips. She felt a rising heat in her belly, born of lust instead of hunger. Even though they had grown increasingly intimate over the last couple of weeks, Cally had yet to taste Peter’s blood for fear of losing control and accidentally draining him. Besides, she didn’t want to be the first to broach the subject. If he offered up his throat for a love bite, she would have to rethink things.
    However, she did not want to put pressure on him. After all, it was his blood. Still, there were moments when he was sitting so close, she could feel the blood rushing through his arteries and veins. If she listened really hard, she could almost hear it calling out to her, tempting her to take just one sip. . . . What could it hurt? Besides, you know he wants it, too. . . . Cally shuddered, forcing her thoughts from the path they were on.
    “Is something wrong?” Peter asked, unaware of what had been running