Read Online Chosen by Blood by Virna Depaul - Free Book Online Page A

coughs racked Zeph’s body, clearly taking their toll. He closed his eyes for several seconds, and the dark circles beneath them had Knox’s pulse hammering out of control.
    “You should be resting,” he snapped. The product of Bianca’s only mating-union, something commonly expected of vamp females—single, married, or widowed—due to the vamp clan’s low attrition rate, Zeph was just ten years younger than Knox. Because he was a full vampire, however, the effects of the vamp vaccine had hit him hard, while Knox’s dharmire status had mostly protected him thus far. Compared to the elders in their clan, like his mother, Zeph’s youth had delayed the effects of malnourishment somewhat. However, the speed of his decline in the past month wasn’t encouraging.
    Zeph slowly opened his eyes. “All I ever do is rest. I’m tired of resting. I’m tired period.”
    “Meaning what?”
    His brother said nothing.
    Knox growled, “Damn it, Zeph—”
    “Oh, relax,” Zeph grumbled. “I’m not going to try and kill myself or anything stupid like that. If Mother can bear it, then so can I.”
    Although he was relieved his brother didn’t have thoughts of suicide in mind, helpless fury made Knox’s limbs tremble. Once more, he thought how twisted Fate was. His mother and half brother were full vampires, with the blood of their powerful ancestors running through their veins, and yet Knox, who only carried half that blood, was virtually immune to the weakness that was slowly destroying them. “Have you visited her today? I know she’d love to see you.”
    “Not today. Truthfully, I’ve been avoiding her. We’ve been butting heads and I don’t want to contribute to her feeling any worse than she does. Although I’m beginning to think she’s feeling more like herself. Arrogant and stubborn, just like you.”
    Knox snorted. “As opposed to you being what? Your father isn’t exactly the most humble vamp I’ve ever met.” That was putting it mildly. Dante Prime was an arrogant vamp whose arrogance had simply magnified after Bianca had chosen him for a mating-pair. The fact that he’d cared more for the honor of being chosen than for Bianca herself or the son they’d produced had been more than obvious to everyone—including Zeph.
    That was why, when his brother smiled, there was a trace of bitterness to it. “Good point and one my father would be quite pleased to hear. As a member of the Vamp Council, the last thing my father wants is to appear humble. The Council’s diminished capacity is humiliating enough as far as he’s concerned.”
    “What do you mean, diminished capacity?” Knox said with a frown. “The Council serves an important role in our society. It always has.”
    “The Council advised against a treaty with the humans, you ignored them. They can pass laws, but you can strike them. So be honest, Knox, the Council’s role is more advisory than anything else.”
    Knox studied his brother. He’d heard rumors of unrest and plans to up the Council’s authority. To impose more limits on the vamp ruler’s ability to override its decisions. Up to now, however, they’d only been rumors. “Advisors they may be, but my mother and I hold them in great esteem. We respect their opinions, even though we may not ultimately agree with them. Do you—or your father—have a problem with that, Zeph? Is there something I should know?”
    For a tense moment, Zeph merely stared at him. Then he shrugged. “The only problem my father and I have is with each other, but that’s nothing new, now is it?”
    Knox hesitated, studying his brother closely. Then, sensing no malice from him, Knox said, “Your father is a difficult man, Zeph, but he cares for you, just as he cares for our clan. You and I may not always agree with his methods, but he’s never given me reason to doubt his loyalty. If he’s unhappy with his position on the Council—”
    “I told you he’s not. And can we please not talk about my