Read Online Daughter of the Thirteen: Bourbon Street Witches Book 1 by Lorraine Kennedy - Free Book Online Page A

her way through the tombs of the St. Louis Cemetery, she searched for anything that would provide secure cover.
    There was nothing, not a single open crypt.
    Leaning her back against the cold tomb of some unknown person. Laurel concentrated on slowing her heart rate and breathing until she was no longer gasping for air.
    Now was the time to form a plan.
    The vampires would have followed her into the cemetery, so going back the way she’d come probably wasn’t a good choice.
    They would be expecting her to hide, which meant her best option would be to keep going and find another way out.
    “Come out and play Laurel!” The woman’s voice carried on the night air, followed by malicious laughter.
    Keeping to the shadows, Laurel darted from one crypt to another. Just as she’d begun to feel some confidence that she might get away, he jumped out in front of her.
    It was the one with the top hat.
    His lips spread into a mischievous grin. In a moment of panic, all she could think of was that this was would it. She imagined that the vampire was really the Angel of Death coming for her.
    “Where do you think you’re going Laurel?”
    “How do you know my name? What do you want?” she demanded.
    “Your blood … and your life,” he said, his tone matter of fact.
    “Why?”
    “The answer to that is easy. You must die because you are a witch.”
    The other vampires approached, one on each side of her. Now she was surrounded.
    “You have me mistaken for someone else.”
    Shaking his head, the vampire took a step toward her. “No, I don’t believe that to be true.”
    In a blink of an eye, she was no longer looking at the vampire, but the broad back of Marcos St. Claire.
    “Not a good idea Bale Spencer.” When he spoke, the ground beneath her feet actually seemed to vibrate.
    Startled by Marcos’s sudden appearance, the three vampires backed away.
    “This is not your affair, Marcos!” Bale responded.
    “That is where you are making a grave mistake. You know the witches are under the Dark Prince’s protection … especially this witch,” Marcos added, a barely detectable tremble to his voice.
    “What kind of fool do you take me for?” The vampire tossed furious words at Marcos. “I know it to be only certain witches to have the favor of the Dark Prince … and Laurel is not one of them.”
    “She will be,” Marcos came back, leaving no room for argument. “Now be on your way.”
    “You will not always be at her side, Monsieur St. Claire, and when you are not looking … I’ll eat her!” The laughter ringing in Bale’s voice was even more sinister than his anger.
    She could feel Marcos’s fury invade the air around him. It came off him like waves of fire.
    When he glanced back at her, she nearly choked on the fear erupting inside of her. His eyes burned like the fires of Hell.
    At that precise moment, the third vampire made the foolish decision to defy Marcos. While Marcos had been engaged with Bale, the other vampire had been inching his way to the side. Now he shot into the air and came down on Laurel.
    When she hit the ground, the air was knocked from her lungs. The only thing her terror-ridden mind could capture, were the fangs going for her throat.
    But it was over before she could even scream.
    The vampire’s face was suddenly frozen with pain and surprise. At the same time, his blood poured over her bosom.
    He was dead.
    Then the corpse was gone and she was staring into Marcos’s dark eyes.

Chapter Nine
     
    She had no idea why, if it was sheer relief or something else, but she wanted nothing more than to feel his arms around her.
    “Marcos!” she gasped, flinging her arms around his neck.
    Gently placing his hands on her hips, he helped her to her feet.
    Leaning down, he put his lips next to her ear. “Don’t worry my angel witch, they are gone now.”
    With the immediate danger gone, a dozen questions stormed her mind. “I thought you said they would be demons. I didn’t even know there