Read Online Inferno (Book 4 The Kindred Series) by Erica Stevens - Free Book Online Page A

at them as she rushed past.
    “Cassie!” Julian shouted his eyes wide
with horror as he realized her intent. “Cassie no!”
    He tried to intercept her, but she was
able to dart past him. She thrust herself in between Devon and
Liam, barely squeezing between them. Liam’s feet kicked against the
back of her calves. She could smell the tangy scent of his blood in
the room. The store pulsated with rage and need; it shook with the
fury of the battle being waged. “You don’t want him Devon,” she
whispered. “It’s my blood you want, take it instead.”
    Tossing her hair back, she took the
knife and made a small slit at the base of her throat. For a moment
nothing happened, Devon didn’t even look at her. And then, the
scent of her blood seemed to penetrate the thick fog of his fury.
He turned slowly toward her, his red eyes fastened upon the blood
dripping down her neck.
    Cassie straightened her shoulders,
trusting in the strength of Devon’s love to get them both through
this. He would take her blood, she knew that, and she would not
deny him. She only hoped that he did not kill her in the process.
“It’s ok,” she whispered. “Devon take it, take my
blood.”
    He shoved Liam back, thrusting him away
as Devon released him. Liam stumbled, falling to his knees as he
pressed a hand to his wounded throat. Annabelle knelt beside him,
wrapping her arm around his back as they both scurried to get out
of the way. Julian came toward her, his face tight with worry, his
eyes gleaming at the sight of her blood. Cassie shook her head at
him, knowing that if Julian tried to interfere it would only result
in a blood bath.
    Devon came at her, his lips pulled back
to reveal his fully extended fangs. Cassie’s heartbeat picked up,
but it was not fear that sent her blood pumping. It was excitement
and desire. It had been so long since he had taken her blood, so
long since they had bonded in such a way. And she found that she
needed, and wanted him desperately to do it. She needed this
reconnection, needed to feel him inside of her again, enjoying her,
and loving her.
    His hand wrapped around her neck,
entangling in her hair as he pulled her forward, tilting her head
roughly to the side. For a moment his eyes flashed their brilliant
emerald green, and she knew that the man was present once again.
Not present enough to stop him from taking her blood. It was too
late for that, he would not be stopped, but he was there enough so
that she could see the person she loved so dearly once more. Tears
bloomed in her eyes at the sight of that beautiful, much loved
color. He would not kill her, she knew that. He pulled her forward,
much more gently than she had expected. His other arm locked around
her waist, dragging her forcefully against his body.
    She remained immobile in his arms, her
eyes closing as anticipation thrummed through her body. “It’s ok,”
she whispered again, not wanting him to hate himself for what he
was about to do. “It’s ok love.”
    He struck suddenly and with the speed
of a rattlesnake. Cassie’s body jerked slightly as his teeth sank
deep. Though the piercing pain was intense and sharp, it was also
brief and fleeting and swiftly replaced by the euphoria that this
experience always arose in her. She wrapped her arms around his
back, clinging tighter to him as he bit deeper, and drank deeper
than he ever had before.
    His fear, confusion, rage, and undying
love engulfed her. She could feel his mind mingling with hers, feel
it touching upon hers as they blended together, slowly becoming
one. Just as her mind was touching upon his. Just as he could now
see so many things she had wanted to keep from him. For a frantic
moment, Cassie wanted to pull away, wanted to get free of him. She
didn’t want him to see what they had done to her in there. She
didn’t want him to see her weakness, her fear, or her pain, and
there had been so much of it in there, far too much of
it.
    She didn’t want him to see