Redemption: My Vampire Lover Part #2 (A Dark Realm Novella Series) Read Online Free Page A

the wooden table, a few inches from his hands.
    He didn’t flinch one inch.
    “Freedom,” I announced as I swiftly bent over
to retrieve another knife lying on the bed.
    “Well that’s good. Freedom for Caroline. I
like that.” There was a trace of laughter in his voice. He paused
for a moment before he continued. “I know this is highly
unorthodox, and you’re in an extremely frightening situation. I
want to put your mind at ease, however. I’m not interested in
harming you. I know you are of immense importance to your people.
I’m going to try to get you out of here, but you’re going to have
to trust me. It’s as simple as that. Do you think you can do that?”
He yanked the knife from the table and with an ironically tender
touch, he bent the blade into a slight arch, disabling it so it
couldn’t be used for another but holding a bottle of wine or large
orange. I swallowed hard so my mouth wouldn’t fall open. This
vampire could kill me in an instant.
    Suddenly a vision from my wolf state hit me.
I recognized his voice. I’ll help you get out of here, but
you’ve got to trust me. I closed my eyes and relived the moment
again. “ Una bellezza come nessun altro. Così bella. Calmati.
Calmati. Io non ho intenzione di permettere a nessuno di farti del
male .” Over and over again, that voice. A ripple of awareness
surged through me. His voice was the same as the man who had come
to me to console me in my agitated wolf state. It was deep, almost
sensual, yet tranquil and protective. This man before me had calmed
me. “The wolf chant. That was you ?”
    “Yes.”
    “What did you say?”
    He paused for a moment, digging his long nail
into the wood of the table. “That’s not really important, is
it?”
    “I insist,” I replied with my polite royal
tone I used when I wanted it to be known I expected to get what I
sought.
    He chuckled. His laugh was low and throaty.
“I’ve seen pomp and circumstance from my father. You don’t have to
take that tone with me. There is no need for hierarchy.”
    I attempted to soften my insistence. “I’m
sorry. Please then.”
    “Don’t apologize. Let’s keep this a level
playing field. I treat you as an equal, and you treat me as one.
Okay?”
    His confidence was infectious.
    “Fair enough,” I whispered, only realizing a
second later that I had not fully enunciated the words. Clearly
this man had not kidnapped me so why was I in his presence? Did he
know who had kidnapped me? Maybe he could lead me to the person?
Equals? Why would he say we were equals? Men in my realm certainly
didn’t think like that. His words and actions of kindness and
hospitality thoroughly confused me. As a sign of good faith, I
placed the weapons down before me on the bed, noticing in passing
the letter ‘R’ carved into the blade of each knife. I needed to
know more before I made my move.
    “A beauty like no other. So beautiful. Calm
yourself. Calm yourself, my sweet. I’m not going to let anyone hurt
you.”
    “I’m sorry? What did you say?”
    He repeated his words for my benefit.
    I replied, “No demon would know how to
practice Wolfen Magic.” I observed his new nervousness. His mood
had shifted, and he refused to look at me as he continued to
scratch at the table.
    “I’m not a demon. I’m a vampire. I’m a
warrior, a vampire warrior.” He glanced at the ceiling, looking
again at the lighted design of the warrior and dragon. “I thought
we covered that?” His tone was very gentle even though I saw the
muscles in his jaw twitch a few times.
    “Raphael, the vampire warrior, it’s a
pleasure to meet you.” I curtsied, trying to appear more of a
princess than I felt as well as lighten the mood.
    The intensity of his serious face vanished,
and he laughed as he stood up from the table. Watching his
contentment was like observing Zeus shower the Earth with the
Northern Lights when he was in a good disposition. It immediately
put me at ease.
    “My mother is a sorceress,