The Prophecy Read Online Free

trust anyone from The Council. And every reason not to.
    “You have to understand,” Kael said when she remained silent, “there are still those among us who believe we are fools not to take advantage of the prophecy, not to make the sacrifice ourselves. This is the only way to guarantee your safety once you’re out of here. If you want to live, you cannot leave this castle a virgin.”
    A shiver ran through her at his words. He was right, she knew it, but while she was ready to acknowledge that she felt the pull of desire, she was not sure she was ready to allow anybody that closeness. When she closed her eyes she could see again the fates of the humans brought here so she could feed. Raped, tortured and abused by Sorien and his men, their bodies torn apart for their pleasure. Kael must have seen the revulsion reflected in her face because his voice was harsh when he spoke again.
    “Would you rather the prophecy came to pass, that Sorien gains supremacy over the human race for a thousand years?”
    The words broke into her contemplation. She stared up at him, not attempting to hide her disdain. What did he know? A warrior? He had probably never faced defeat, despair. This was just one more thing over which she had no control. And he was so arrogant; he no doubt presumed that she would jump at the opportunity to lie with him.
    No, she did not want Sorien to win. And if she was dead then that wasn’t going to happen. But would she really prefer to die than to lie with him?
    She forced herself to really think about escaping from this place, being reunited with her father, and a tremor of apprehension ran through her. What would her father think of the monster she had become? He had always told her that a vampire didn’t have to kill, that she should never feed on the blood of the unwilling. How could she ever face him with the blood of innocents on her hands? Have him look at her with revulsion? She smoothed her features into blankness.
    “I’d rather you killed me.”
     
    Kael couldn’t believe the stab of pain that wrenched through him at her words. She would prefer death to lying with him. He stared at her and slowly took in the tenseness of her muscles. Strain showed in every line of her body as she held herself rigid. Her posture reminded him of how she had stood before Sorien, how she had taunted him, tempted him to kill her. What had life shown her that she should choose to live? What could she know of love?
    The thought brought him up short. Love? His people had always found love within their own kind, and when they had been wiped out by the fire-demons he had put aside all thoughts of ever finding a true mate. Now he looked at Raven and felt again that curious stirring in his heart. She was meant to be his.
    But he owed her. If he’d offered her the protection of The Council all those years ago, rather than a sentence of death, then she might never have been taken by the fire-demons. And, if the life she had led now made her crave the peace of death, could he deny her that? His mind went back to his sister. She had spent a year imprisoned by the fire-demons, and she had begged for death. Could he do less for Raven?
    “Do you really want to die?” He had to force the words out.
    “I’ve longed for death many times.”
    “I won’t kill you.”
    She sneered. “Will you rape me instead then?”
    He turned from her, his fists clenched. He didn’t know what to do. He had seen her fear, her pain. But he couldn’t just kill her, couldn’t just put her out of her misery like a damaged dog. His whole being fought against it.
    He forced himself to concentrate; there was something else here. Raven was a fighter, he’d seen that. She wasn’t afraid of pain. So why was she so willing to die? He took a deep breath and turned back to her.
    “I’ll make you a deal,” he said. “Allow me to do what I must. Don’t fight me and afterwards, if you still wish to die, I will see to it that you get your