The Dark Vampire: Last True Vampire 3 Read Online Free Page A

let her go. She wasn’t in pain. To the contrary, she felt
nothing
.
    I want this
. The words formed on her tongue, but her lips refused to move.
I can’t live this life anymore.
    Her uncle’s step faltered and Bria’s eyes snapped open. A house so large it might as well have been a museum loomed above her, shadowed and foreboding in the gray light of dawn. A tall door swung open and Bria’s gaze came to rest on a female with long wheat-colored hair and brilliant gold eyes. Concern marred the female’s foreheadas she ushered Bria’s uncle inside the house.
No!
her mind screamed.
Send us away. I don’t want to be saved.
    “Please, take me to the king!” her uncle’s panicked shout rang in Bria’s ears.
    “Claire, step away.”
    A deep, commanding voice that vibrated with power echoed in the large foyer.
    That powerful voice was answered with an exasperated sigh. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Mikhail. Can’t you see that they need help?”
    Bria didn’t need help. All was right in her world.
    The female must have been the vampire queen. Only the king’s mate would have the audacity to speak to him in such a brazen way. Bria admired the fire in Claire’s voice, the fearlessness she exuded in her tone. Bria had always wished she could be a female like that: fierce and commanding.
    “Claire, wait for me upstairs.” It appeared that the king wasn’t too pleased with his mate’s fire. Bria shivered at the chill in his tone. He was a male who would not be defied.
    “The hell I will.” For a brief moment Bria willed herself to hold on to life. If only to hear how this power struggle would play out. “Look at them, Mikhail. This isn’t a trap or a trick. She’s bleeding to death all over your overpriced marble floors. If you won’t do something to help them, then
I
will.”
    No!
Of course, she admired the queen’s fire, but Bria didn’t want any favors from her. Not when she was so close to leaving this miserable world behind.
    Silence stretched between the two and Bria’s uncle held her tighter against his chest, his own breath and heart racing with distress. He would mourn her, but in the end her death would be better for all of them. She would be free of his protection and he would be freed of having to protect her.
    “Claire, I can’t help anyone if I’m worried for yoursafety.” Had Bria not been dying, she would have swooned at the king’s gallantry. To have a male love her like that! “So step away, love, and put me at ease.”
    “Help her, Mikhail, and put
me
at ease.”
    The vampire queen was obviously a female who didn’t know how to lose. Bria admired her.
    “There’s only one way to help her,” the king responded.
    “Yep. And the sun is going to rise in less than an hour. Time’s wasting, so let’s get her upstairs and get to work.”
    Another stretch of silence followed and Bria drifted further toward darkness. Her uncle let out a shuddering breath, much too relieved for her peace of mind. It didn’t matter, though. She was fading quickly. She’d lost all sensation in her limbs and the chill of death settled over her skin. It wouldn’t be long now. Her body was jostled as someone helped her uncle to remove her pack from around her shoulders and off of her back, but Bria barely felt it. They could race her upstairs but it wouldn’t change the fact that her heart was about to beat its last. Blood no longer trickled from the wound at her throat. It was time to let go of this lonely existence once and for all.
    Thank the gods.
    Darkness penetrated the periphery of Bria’s vision as her heart stuttered in her chest. So close. So near that dark abyss that called to her. Her mouth went dry and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Her senseless hand flopped out and she managed to grip the queen’s arm. They had to let her die. “P-please . . .” The word died on her tongue and a soft smile curved her lips as she toppled over the ledge and into infinite