Read Online Dark Descent by Christine Feehan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christine Feehan
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spears and swords. Here was a virtual treasure trove for Joie. She was drawn to the weapons, yet something held her back, some finely tuned warning system that prompted her to put her hands behind her back and ignore them.
Traian calmly regarded the black shadow that was emerging from the fog in the cavern. “Justice has come, Valenteen,” he said to the master vampire. “A shadow warrior has been awakened and he is seeking our deaths. Do we fight each other?”
Valenteen growled harshly, shaking his head, backing away from the large, smoky creature emerging from the shadows.
Joie twisted her fingers in the back of Traian’s shirt, peeking around him at the thing Traian had identified as a shadow warrior. It was insubstantial, made of ever-moving black and gray smoke. It’s eyes glowed an eerie red, not like the bloodshot eyes of the vampires, but fierce flame burning brightly.
I wouldn’t mind waking up now.
Traian reached behind him, circling her bare wrist with his fingers. Gently. Barely there. Just a whisper of contact, yet it was enough. They were together. It was all that mattered. He would shield her from the warrior, from the vampires.
Can you get out of here by yourself? It suddenly occurred to her that he could shape-shift, perhaps become as insubstantial as the mist. Maybe even burrow through earth and ice as the vampires had done.
The vampires dissolved, leaving behind a pool of black goo. It bubbled and spat a poisonous brew at the shadow warrior. Joie gasped. There was a strange silence. An icy blast of air cleared the stench from the chamber and pushed the smoky creature away from Traian and Joie.
It matters little if I could. I would never leave you behind.
His voice was reassuring. Calm. Steady. Confident.
Jubal and Gabrielle are still in the caves. Jubal will be hurrying to find his way up toward an entrance. He’s a good caver, but if they go after him... My brother and sister can’t protect themselves from the vampires.
Both vampires have remained in this room. They will not leave or move to give away their presence to the warrior. I do not sense any others close by. The shadow warrior has not attacked because we haven’t touched anything. If we draw his attention to us, or take something the wizards left behind, he will strike.
Voices whispered. Filled the chamber with temptation. Before she knew what she was doing, Joie’s fingers were nearly curled around a knife with a wicked-looking curved blade. It called to her. Her palm itched to feel the weapon in her hand. She clenched her fist, resisting the temptation. The voices increased in strength. She glanced toward the spheres, saw them all active, the clear colors swirling with life, with deeper hues and sparkling gems.
Traian caught both of her hands in his. Talk to me. Tell me about yourself. Everything you can think of. Look only at me. Look into my eyes. See me. Only me.
His hands were much larger than hers, enveloping them. When she obediently tore her gaze from the jeweled daggers and knives, she was caught in the black depths of Traian’s gaze. The world narrowed for her.
Around them, smoke and mist drifted upward from the floor, creating a world in the clouds where voices muttered, the words in an ancient tongue, harsh, yet not foul, insistent, yet not commanding. Colors pulsed in the room, bright banners from the spheres, which were alive with heat and energy.
Look only at me, Traian reiterated when she would have turned her head toward the pulsing lights. This is a trap. Think of me. Let me tell you who I am, what I am. What I need and want. I want to know everything about you and your family. Talk to me. Tell me who you really are, what you stand for. Tell me what you need and want.
His voice was mesmerizing, tugging at her heart when she thought there should be only physical attraction. He was easily the sexiest man she’d ever encountered. They were in mortal danger. Vampires huddled somewhere in the room,
Traian calmly regarded the black shadow that was emerging from the fog in the cavern. “Justice has come, Valenteen,” he said to the master vampire. “A shadow warrior has been awakened and he is seeking our deaths. Do we fight each other?”
Valenteen growled harshly, shaking his head, backing away from the large, smoky creature emerging from the shadows.
Joie twisted her fingers in the back of Traian’s shirt, peeking around him at the thing Traian had identified as a shadow warrior. It was insubstantial, made of ever-moving black and gray smoke. It’s eyes glowed an eerie red, not like the bloodshot eyes of the vampires, but fierce flame burning brightly.
I wouldn’t mind waking up now.
Traian reached behind him, circling her bare wrist with his fingers. Gently. Barely there. Just a whisper of contact, yet it was enough. They were together. It was all that mattered. He would shield her from the warrior, from the vampires.
Can you get out of here by yourself? It suddenly occurred to her that he could shape-shift, perhaps become as insubstantial as the mist. Maybe even burrow through earth and ice as the vampires had done.
The vampires dissolved, leaving behind a pool of black goo. It bubbled and spat a poisonous brew at the shadow warrior. Joie gasped. There was a strange silence. An icy blast of air cleared the stench from the chamber and pushed the smoky creature away from Traian and Joie.
It matters little if I could. I would never leave you behind.
His voice was reassuring. Calm. Steady. Confident.
Jubal and Gabrielle are still in the caves. Jubal will be hurrying to find his way up toward an entrance. He’s a good caver, but if they go after him... My brother and sister can’t protect themselves from the vampires.
Both vampires have remained in this room. They will not leave or move to give away their presence to the warrior. I do not sense any others close by. The shadow warrior has not attacked because we haven’t touched anything. If we draw his attention to us, or take something the wizards left behind, he will strike.
Voices whispered. Filled the chamber with temptation. Before she knew what she was doing, Joie’s fingers were nearly curled around a knife with a wicked-looking curved blade. It called to her. Her palm itched to feel the weapon in her hand. She clenched her fist, resisting the temptation. The voices increased in strength. She glanced toward the spheres, saw them all active, the clear colors swirling with life, with deeper hues and sparkling gems.
Traian caught both of her hands in his. Talk to me. Tell me about yourself. Everything you can think of. Look only at me. Look into my eyes. See me. Only me.
His hands were much larger than hers, enveloping them. When she obediently tore her gaze from the jeweled daggers and knives, she was caught in the black depths of Traian’s gaze. The world narrowed for her.
Around them, smoke and mist drifted upward from the floor, creating a world in the clouds where voices muttered, the words in an ancient tongue, harsh, yet not foul, insistent, yet not commanding. Colors pulsed in the room, bright banners from the spheres, which were alive with heat and energy.
Look only at me, Traian reiterated when she would have turned her head toward the pulsing lights. This is a trap. Think of me. Let me tell you who I am, what I am. What I need and want. I want to know everything about you and your family. Talk to me. Tell me who you really are, what you stand for. Tell me what you need and want.
His voice was mesmerizing, tugging at her heart when she thought there should be only physical attraction. He was easily the sexiest man she’d ever encountered. They were in mortal danger. Vampires huddled somewhere in the room,
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