One Bite Per Night Read Online Free

oblivious to the torrential rain. Vincent was upon him in a heartbeat. As soon as Vincent’s thirst was slaked, the drunkard shambled on, still singing. A catchy tune—Vincent found himself humming as he entered the smoky establishment. Silence fell for a breath as the patrons gripped their mugs and stared, followed by the usual whispers of the “Devil Earl.”
    Ignoring them all, he made his way to a shoddy table in the rear corner where his second in command waited.
    Emrys Adair raised a brow at the puddles of rainwater trailing behind him. “You forgot your umbrella again.”
    Vincent sat and shook out his sodden hair. A reluctant smile tugged his lips as he recalled Lydia’s concern for his well-being in the storm. No one had cared for him in centuries.
    His second in command sipped his ale and related his weekly report on Cornwall’s small populace of vampires. Aside from a rogue being chased off to Devon, all remained placid and dull. Vincent only half listened, pondering his ward.
    â€œHas the girl arrived?” Emrys asked suddenly.
    Vincent cocked his head to the side. “Are you invading my thoughts?” he jested, knowing full well that the vampire lacked that degree of power.
    â€œOf course not!” his second huffed. “I only remembered that the chit was due this week.”
    He smiled. “Yes, she is here.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œShe is comely enough that I have every confidence in seeing her settled with no trouble.”
    Truly, Lydia Price was far more than comely. With that silken onyx hair and eyes so pale brown they appeared gold, his ward was a breathtaking creature. And her voice…he’d expected Americans to have brash accents, but hers was liquid music. The suitors would line up in droves just to hear her speak.
    Emrys shook his head, interrupting his thoughts. “I cannot believe you are doing this.”
    â€œWhy? You’ve known for over a month. I distinctly remember you being awake when I announced it at the gathering.” Vincent leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs under the table. “All that aside, I have been in charge of looking after the misfits of our kind for seventy years. An unwanted mortal is not too much of a stretch.”
    He frowned. Truly, unwanted should not be a word used to describe Lydia Price.
    â€œAnd you’ve done an admirable job,” Emrys replied levelly. “You’ve saved countless vampires from giving themselves up to the fatal dawn, and you’ve never had to execute any, no one denies that. Yet what exactly are you saving this human from?”
    â€œAn insane asylum, if her horrid grandmother is to be believed.”
    The vampire gasped. “ Is the girl cracked?”
    â€œNot as far as I’ve discerned.” Vincent rubbed his temples, weary of the discussion. “Speaking of which, we need to look in on the Siddons sisters. I have found something for them to do. How were they the last time you saw them?”
    â€œMuch better. Maria says that Sally’s bouts of depression have grown shorter, and reports that her own blue devils are much more tempered.”
    Vincent nodded. “That is good news. Whom do you have supervising their hunts?”
    â€œBronn for now. I think he’s become smitten.”
    â€œPoor lad. Those two will probably refuse to entertain any romantic entanglements for at least a century…if they survive that long.” He adjusted his damp greatcoat. “Shall we be off?”
    Emrys rose reluctantly from his seat and grabbed his umbrella.
    The rain had abated somewhat as they left the pub, coming down in a cold drizzle. The second huddled beneath his umbrella, cursing under his breath. The moment they were out of view, Emrys folded his umbrella, and both vampires took off in a burst of preternatural speed.
    The sisters lived in a secluded cottage some ten miles outside the village of Portloe. Before Vincent