Read Online Last Blood by Kristen Painter - Free Book Online

administrative assistant, Valerie, is going to be difficult to duplicate. I need an othernatural who is organized, knowledgeable of both sides, and capable of getting things done. Plus, they must be compatible with me as we’ll be working very closely together since I’ll be taking that second shift and letting the city council handle matters during daylight hours.” She studied him, wondering what he thought of such ambition. “As you can see, my plate is full.”
    “This is fate indeed.” He smiled broadly. “I was the assistant to a very powerful, very old vampire in my city. For years before I was sired, I ran her vast estate, managed the extensive staff and her schedule. I know how to work with mortals and othernaturals alike.” His face went very serious. “I can do this job. It may very well be the reason I felt compelled to come here. Please, give me a chance.”
    She sat back, taking in everything he’d said and mulling it over. The wheels in her head began to spin. “How old and how powerful?”
    “She was in direct connection with the most ancient of our kind.”
    She tried not to react to his statement, but it was as if he’d known what she wanted to hear. She played it off, fussing with some papers on her desk as if his words meant nothing to her. “If you were so good at what you did, why aren’t you still working for this vampire anymore?”
    Sorrow tarnished his eyes. “The burden of eternity became too much for her to bear. She lost someone dear to her and, in her grief, walked into the dawn.” He swallowed and looked away for a moment. “Forgive me. I still miss her.”
    Lola understood what it meant to lose someone so close to you. She nodded in sympathy. “I’m sorry for your loss. I would be happy to offer you the job. Maybe the work will be good for you. Give you something else to focus on.”
    He smiled gently, his eyes still liquid and yet happy. “Thank you. I will not let you down.”
    Exactly how powerful and connected was the vampireacross from her? She needed to know what he was capable of, because what she really wanted from him wasn’t for him to become her nighttime assistant.
    What she wanted from him was the knowledge of how to access those ancients he spoke of. The ancients she knew were holding her grandchild.
    “Mariela,” Preacher whispered, letting the breeze take her name like a prayer. His military and religious training had taught him enough about lies and confession to know that Creek was telling the truth and the mayor was not, but even without that, he knew in his heart that his daughter was alive. He could feel that the bond between them remained unbroken.
    The wind whistled past, barely registering. He stood high in the church’s belfry, the bells long ago stolen by hoods looking for a few quick bucks off the scrap metal. The view from here made the church impossible to sneak up on. When Mariela was first born, he’d spent every night up here, coming down only to eliminate the bands of fringe who came nosing around, sniffing after the scent of newborn.
    Damn vampires.
    He’d killed as many as he could. Each one an example of what he’d do to anyone who tried to harm his child.
    He laughed softly, bitter and disgusted at himself. He still hadn’t been able to save her. And now, he was forced to sit on his hands or sacrifice his life. Patience was a difficult thing, especially when it came to Mariela’s life.
    But he would wait. At least a little while longer.
    Creek leaned against the kitchen counter while Annika and Octavian stood across from him. He wasn’t crazy about his place being the new meeting spot for KM business. All the coming and going attracted too much attention. He also didn’t like Octavian arriving before Annika. The vampire had been here half an hour before the sector chief, leaving Creek to play host. Not a job he excelled at.
    Annika tipped her head toward him. “How did it go with Preacher?”
    “He’s not happy with the