Read Online Dominion (Book 1 of The Dominion Series) by S. E. Lund - Free Book Online
Authors: S. E. Lund
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all happened so fast. It was like something took over and I just knew how to defend myself and also how to attack. In the excitement of the moment, my emotions almost got away from me.
I take a taxi back to my neighborhood and get out a block away so I can stop by my coffee shop and get a cup of decaf chai tea latte before returning to my apartment. As I'm standing in line, I feel someone brush against me and I shrink away, trying to be polite. The person persists in standing too close to me. I turn and it's Julien, that smirk on his face.
"Oh, Julien ," I say, covering my throat. "I didn't see you there."
"Don't worry," he says, gesturing to my hand on my neck. "I'm not going to bite you. At least, not unless you want me to."
He lets that statement stand for a moment, and I don't know what to say in response but I don't uncover my neck. His expression becomes serious now.
"One thing you have to learn about people like me and Michel," he says and steps closer to me. "We're stealthy. Even more than the usual security detail. We can sneak up on you when you're not paying attention and if that happens, you're toast if we have bad intent. Keep aware at all times, Eve. I know Michel has a detail on you, but they're just ordinary Adepts and no match for older vampires like me. You still have to be on guard now. I was able to slip past all three and into the café. If I had been here with the intention to harm you, I could just take your hand, take over your ability to respond and have you out of here, out the back door and into a van waiting to take you away. Your security detail would be out of luck. Remember that."
"Why am I so at risk now ?"
"You did well at the SCU," he says, his voice dropping lower as if to stop others from hearing what he says. "You've just moved up from 'interesting but unproven' to 'invaluable and coveted'. Things will never be the same for you again."
"In what way?"
He shakes his head. "It's not for me to tell you this. You're not mine."
"What do you mean by that? I'm no one's."
He smiles briefly. "You better search through your mother's files and find something on what an Adept is. And read up a bit more on how it is between humans and vampires."
"Why don't you tell me?"
Then I have to place my order and I turn away from him. When I turn back, he's staring at me intently, his brow furrowed.
"Well?"
"Come and sit with me for a bit. We can talk."
I nod and move over to wait for my latte. He orders an espresso and comes to stand beside me. Once more, he stands too close to me.
Our drinks are ready and he takes his and walks over to a semicircular booth – the only place open. He gestures to it, all gentlemanly, and waits for me to take a seat. Then, he slides in beside me, once more far too close.
I try to sidle away a bit but he just moves a bit closer, as if he thinks I'm giving him more room.
I frown and turn to my latte, stirring some sugar into it.
"So, you were telling me about why I'm at risk now."
He takes a sip of his espresso and glances at me.
"You sure don't know much."
"No one's told me much. Why don't you tell me?"
He exhales, stretching out his arm on the back of the bench behind me. He turns to face me, his face conspiratorial. He nods to me as if he wants me to move closer.
"Every single one of us would kill to have someone like you. Will kill to get and keep you."
"Why? Am I strategic?"
"Every vampire wants someone like you because you can connect with us. Share emotions, sensations. Thoughts. Come on, Eve. Don't give me that. Haven't you thought about how touch telepathy would be very… enhancing to certain very intimate experiences?"
My cheeks heat at the innuendo. God, he's a cad.
"So you're saying it's purely sexual?"
"Oh, so you have thought about it." He grins, his eyes widen as if in delight.
"You're rude."
He actually laughs at that. "No, I'm not. I'm just honest."
"Well, if you're so honest, tell me why things will never be the same again for
I take a taxi back to my neighborhood and get out a block away so I can stop by my coffee shop and get a cup of decaf chai tea latte before returning to my apartment. As I'm standing in line, I feel someone brush against me and I shrink away, trying to be polite. The person persists in standing too close to me. I turn and it's Julien, that smirk on his face.
"Oh, Julien ," I say, covering my throat. "I didn't see you there."
"Don't worry," he says, gesturing to my hand on my neck. "I'm not going to bite you. At least, not unless you want me to."
He lets that statement stand for a moment, and I don't know what to say in response but I don't uncover my neck. His expression becomes serious now.
"One thing you have to learn about people like me and Michel," he says and steps closer to me. "We're stealthy. Even more than the usual security detail. We can sneak up on you when you're not paying attention and if that happens, you're toast if we have bad intent. Keep aware at all times, Eve. I know Michel has a detail on you, but they're just ordinary Adepts and no match for older vampires like me. You still have to be on guard now. I was able to slip past all three and into the café. If I had been here with the intention to harm you, I could just take your hand, take over your ability to respond and have you out of here, out the back door and into a van waiting to take you away. Your security detail would be out of luck. Remember that."
"Why am I so at risk now ?"
"You did well at the SCU," he says, his voice dropping lower as if to stop others from hearing what he says. "You've just moved up from 'interesting but unproven' to 'invaluable and coveted'. Things will never be the same for you again."
"In what way?"
He shakes his head. "It's not for me to tell you this. You're not mine."
"What do you mean by that? I'm no one's."
He smiles briefly. "You better search through your mother's files and find something on what an Adept is. And read up a bit more on how it is between humans and vampires."
"Why don't you tell me?"
Then I have to place my order and I turn away from him. When I turn back, he's staring at me intently, his brow furrowed.
"Well?"
"Come and sit with me for a bit. We can talk."
I nod and move over to wait for my latte. He orders an espresso and comes to stand beside me. Once more, he stands too close to me.
Our drinks are ready and he takes his and walks over to a semicircular booth – the only place open. He gestures to it, all gentlemanly, and waits for me to take a seat. Then, he slides in beside me, once more far too close.
I try to sidle away a bit but he just moves a bit closer, as if he thinks I'm giving him more room.
I frown and turn to my latte, stirring some sugar into it.
"So, you were telling me about why I'm at risk now."
He takes a sip of his espresso and glances at me.
"You sure don't know much."
"No one's told me much. Why don't you tell me?"
He exhales, stretching out his arm on the back of the bench behind me. He turns to face me, his face conspiratorial. He nods to me as if he wants me to move closer.
"Every single one of us would kill to have someone like you. Will kill to get and keep you."
"Why? Am I strategic?"
"Every vampire wants someone like you because you can connect with us. Share emotions, sensations. Thoughts. Come on, Eve. Don't give me that. Haven't you thought about how touch telepathy would be very… enhancing to certain very intimate experiences?"
My cheeks heat at the innuendo. God, he's a cad.
"So you're saying it's purely sexual?"
"Oh, so you have thought about it." He grins, his eyes widen as if in delight.
"You're rude."
He actually laughs at that. "No, I'm not. I'm just honest."
"Well, if you're so honest, tell me why things will never be the same again for
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