Read Online Blood Song by Lynda Hilburn - Free Book Online Page B

know about the silly nightgown she’d awakened wearing. “You were in my room?” Then a horrible thought smacked her in the head. She gasped. “Did you do anything to me?” Her mouth went dry and her heart pounded.
    “No!” He scooted closer and took her hand in his, a serious look on his face. His skin was unusually cool. “I told you I’m no angel, but I didn’t do anything... no matter how tempted I was.”
    She wasn’t sure why, but she believed him.
    “Why do you chase vampires?” She fought a snicker. “Are you some kind of male Buffy the Vampire Slayer?” Really, Grace? Vampires? You’re sounding as mad as him.
    He smiled. “I always liked that show, but no. I’m one of the creatures she’d hunt.”
    She felt the humor drain from her face. It was worse than she thought. How could she get away from this handsome lunatic? She tried to lift her arms and couldn’t. Maybe she could distract him, disable him without permanent harm. Can my voice heal delusions?
    “I see that look on your face. Before you send for the men with straitjackets, let me explain—”
    Without waiting, she closed her eyes, took a full breath and sang a high-pitched tone, imagining the sound penetrating and surrounding Ethan.
    He jumped up, rubbing his arms. “Holy fuck! What are you doing? My whole body is tingling.” He looked at his skin. “I’ve got goose bumps and my heart’s racing. That’s impossible.”
    Surprised to see he wasn’t bleeding, or hadn’t thrown up or lost his bowels, she prepared to launch another tone at him if he continued his bizarre story. She sucked in a breath.
    “Stop!” Ethan returned to the couch, noses almost touching, and locked eyes with her. “Believe me, Grace. Everything I’m saying sounds perfectly normal to you. You can listen without getting upset.”
    She blinked, and then shook her head to rouse herself from the sudden brain fuzz. “Are you seriously telling me you’re a vampire?” Her voice was flat and monotone.
    “Yes, I am. One of the foul creatures of the night, the undead—a blood-drinking parasite.”
    They stared at each other again.
    She licked her dry lips. “Are you going to kill me?”
    “No, of course not.” He raised his chin in the air, his tone of voice somewhere between shocked and insulted.
    “Why not? Isn’t that what bloodsuckers do?”
    “Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. And before I met you, I had to avoid humans so I wouldn’t suck them dry. You’ve done something to me. You’re messing with my vampire nature. I noticed it as soon as I carried you to your house.” He raised his arm to his nose and sniffed. “I don’t even smell like a vampire anymore.”
    “Well, it sounds like you don’t like being a vampire, so what does it matter if I’m changing you—not that I believe a word of your story.” Why does the cute one have to be a loon?
    “Are you saying you really can change me?” Ethan sprang up and began pacing before he stopped and stared at her, his eyes wide. “You’re a witch!” He pointed at her. “I should have guessed. You put a spell on me.” He slapped his hands against his thighs.
    “Witch? You really are crazy.” Although she had to admit she’d considered that possibility herself when she was young and trying to figure out her bizarre tendencies. She studied the frantic man in constant movement in front of her.
    “No, wait.” He held up a hand in a stop gesture. “The weird feeling started while you were still unconscious, so you couldn’t have bewitched me on purpose. Maybe I was transformed by being near you.”
    She watched his face. He did seem genuinely worried and confused. What would it hurt to tell him the truth? Especially since he’d shared his whopper of a fantasy tale with her. She patted the couch next to her, hoping she wasn’t making the worst decision of her life by encouraging the nutcase to come closer. “Sit down. I’ll tell you what I know about my abilities.”
    He hesitated for