Read Online One Soul To Share by Lori Devoti - Free Book Online Page B

do you any
good. Why not accept your fate and give love a chance?” She swept
her hair over one shoulder, revealing one perfectly formed breast.
“I assure you, I have every charm the mermaid offered.” Looking
like some twisted version of Lady Godiva, she leaned forward. “Love
me, and I will set you free.”
    A luminous globe appeared in her hand. She
tossed it toward his cage. He tried to move, but the bubble burst,
coating him in some invisible liquid.
    “Speak now,” she ordered, impatient.
    Realizing her voice sounded clearer now, he
did. Water didn’t rush into his mouth, and his words came out with
ease. “You can’t order love delivered like milk to your door.”
Disgust and disbelief warred for control of Nolan’s emotions.
    Her eyes narrowed. “Perhaps not, but I can
and did order a man, and I can order more. Would you like to see
your predecessors?” She waved her hand, and the water around Nolan
lightened, as if illuminated from below. Twenty cages stood
anchored to the sea floor. Kelpies wearing harnesses waited beside
them.
    “They’re empty,” he replied, unimpressed.
    Melusine smiled. “Look again.” She motioned
to two of the harnessed kelpies. The creatures walked toward him
pulling one of the cages with them.
    Bones littered the bottom of the cage—human
bones.
    Nolan’s stomach clenched, but he held his
gaze steady. “That won’t happen to me. I’m a vampire.”
    Again, Melusine smiled. “All the better. You
have eternity to realize our love. In the meanwhile, I have more
suitors to gather.” She flicked her tail against the kelpie’s side,
but then, as the creature started to move, pulled back on its mane.
“If you have a breakthrough, simply tell your guard. He will be
happy to find me so you can declare your love.”
    The dragon swam toward them, knocking against
the empty cages and jostling the bones inside. The kelpies parted
and pulled back; then, after a signal from the sea hag, bolted as
one upward and out of sight.
    The dragon curled around Nolan’s cage. Its
head propped onto its body, it watched him through one slitted
green eye.
    Finding the dragon’s regard unnerving, Nolan
closed his eyes and allowed his body to drift upward to the top of
the cage. Once there, he floated, feigning sleep and wishing for
the millionth time he wasn’t a vampire. Wishing he could die.

Chapter Nine
    Nolan floated at the top of the cage like a
dead fish for days. The sea hag returned regularly to tempt him
with promises of sex, riches, and everything her twisted mind could
imagine that a human turned vampire might desire.
    The first day into what Nolan calculated was
his second week trapped underwater, she arrived on the back of a
kelpie, a dagger in her hand.
    “What about blood, vampire? Would you love me
for blood?” She held out one smooth, green-tinged arm.
    The need for blood had been growing in Nolan
for days. He closed his eyes but could feel his body shake.
    “Ah… you do need blood.” The sea hag reined
her kelpie closer. She hovered above his cage, looking down at
him.
    “What kind of blood do you crave, vampire?
Mermaid? Kelpie? Dragon? Tell me you love me, and it will be
yours.”
    The herd of kelpies that always accompanied
Melusine on her visits blew air bubbles softly out of their noses,
and the dragon stirred.
    Eyes still closed, Nolan replied, “Will a lie
break your curse, hag?”
    Melusine slapped her tail against her
kelpie’s side, causing the animal to shriek. “Don’t call me
that.”
    “What?” Nolan opened one eye. Melusine had
never shown emotion before. “Hag? The world calls you hag. Didn’t
you know that?”
    “No!” Melusine lowered her tail and whacked
it against Nolan’s cage, sending it, and the dragon still curled
around it, flying. The chain anchoring the cage in place tightened,
and the cage jerked to a stop. Nolan slammed into the bars,
releasing a grunt as he did.
    Holding on to the bars, he forced his body
into a vertical