Read Online Sweeter Than Wine by Bianca D'Arc - Free Book Online

heartbeat, and he fought back from the edge to save them both. He needed her blood to be strong enough to heal them both, but she’d already lost almost too much. The only way to save them both was to feed, then give her his blood. To turn her. A dangerous gamble, but one that worked out best in the end. She was his One, his life’s mate. She completed him.” Sebastian’s arm tightened around her.
    “They were married soon after, as you know, and Kelly went to work for them at the vineyard. That’s where she met Marc LaTour and when he was poisoned by silver—yet another way for us to die a very painful death—she saved him. They knew they were true mates by that point, but Marc was waiting for her to decide if she wanted to be turned.
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    Unfortunately that decision was taken out of their hands by the turn of events. Then Carly met Dmitri—”
    “Jeez, Carly too?” she interrupted, surprised. “But she lives way out in Wyoming now.”
    “Yes, and oddly enough, her new home was right above Master Dmitri’s hidden lair.
    It brought her to his attention and shortly thereafter, he learned she was the One for him.
    Then she got into a terrible accident, and was forced to choose between never seeing the sun again or death. Luckily for Dmitri, she chose to be turned.” Sebastian sighed and she felt his warm breath ruffle her hair. “With you, there was no choice. You were too near death to ask, but I couldn’t let you die, Christina. I hope you don’t hate me for making the decision without your consent.”
    “I don’t think I could ever hate you, Sebastian.” She felt the truth of the words as they left her lips. “And I’m truly grateful for this second chance. When Jeff turned violent, I didn’t know how to fight back. I just sat there, taking the beating, like a punching bag. I don’t ever want to feel that helpless again.” Sebastian squeezed her shoulder, offering comfort.
    “That’s all over now. You are already far stronger than he, and after tonight, you’ll be more cunning than many ancients. He’ll never be able to hurt you again. Nor will any other man.”
    “Is that what the martial arts lessons are all about?”
    “You’re strong, but you need training in order to master your new skills and abilities.
    Hiro and I can do that for you, if you let us.”
    “He’s an interesting man.”
    “He’s a true friend and a man of deep conviction.”
    “Is that why you turned him?”
    “I knew Hiro as a mortal, before I found him dying on a battlefield, fighting for what he believed in and to protect the innocent. Knowing him as I did, I couldn’t leave him to die. I liked him too much, but more than that, I respected him. He comes from a long line of martial arts masters. His father immigrated to the United States and married an 47
     
     
    American woman. It wasn’t easy for either of them, but it was especially tough on Hiro.
    Even with that, when innocents were attacked, he stepped forward to help defend the people of his country and for that he nearly died.”
    “I can tell how much you love him.” She patted his arm, understanding.
    “He is like a brother to me.” Sebastian smiled crookedly. “Sometimes a pesky younger brother, but still a brother. It’s nice to have family again. After so long alone, it’s good to have family to care for.”
    “Do you have any other progeny around that I should know about?” She chuckled as she gazed over at the trickling water draining through a series of bamboo pipes. The garden was peaceful and made her more relaxed than she could ever remember feeling.
    “No, sweet.” He kissed the top of her head as she leaned back against the seat, his arm around her shoulders. “Only you and Hiro. Generally speaking, we don’t make many offspring that way. When you turn someone, you are responsible for them, and you risk much if you don’t know the measure of the person. If they turn bad—if they kill innocents or act so rashly