Read Online The Fangs of Bloodhaven by Cheree Alsop - Free Book Online Page B

motioned for Everett to follow her. “This is one of the reasons Kai has a hard time flirting with Chirit. He can’t stand the heat or else he dehydrates severely. The last time he tried to cross from his floor through this one in his attempt to reach her, we had to hook him up to IVs for nearly two days. He said it was totally worth it because Chirit let him kiss her on the cheek.” She lowered her voice. “Chirit said his lips are slimy.”
    “Don’t be whispering about things I’d like to know.”
    Everett couldn’t help but smile when he stepped on the sandy floor and saw who was talking. “You’re a sphinx.”
    She smiled back at him. “And you’re a vampire.” She gave Adrielle a meaningful look.
    Adrielle let out an exasperated breath. “Everett, what did I tell you about smiling? Do you want to get yourself killed?”
    The creature with the head of a woman and the body of a lion swished her tail, creating a little furrow in the sand she lay on. “I’m not the one with the grudge,” she said.
    She stretched out further on the sand. “It feels so nice on the belly. You sure you don’t want to come relax, Adrielle? You’re always so busy. You really should take it easy once in a while.”
    “I’m showing Everett the Asylum,” Adrielle replied. “Sorry, Jehlani. I’ll have to catch you next time.”
    “I’ll believe it when I see it,” the sphinx replied. She dug into the sand with one paw, leaving deep gouges from her claws. “I’ll be turning the sun back up when you leave.” She winked at Everett. “Better run fast, vamp. I’ve heard your kind doesn’t fare well in the sunlight.”
    “Thank you,” Everett said. He hurried after Adrielle across the hot sand. The source of the light was a giant globe in one corner surrounded by mirrors to multiply its force. He couldn’t imagine how much it would burn if she turned it back on when he was still in the room. He didn’t know how she controlled it, but was thankful that they made it up the stairs before she flipped the switch.
    “How far up does this place go?” Everett asked. She opened the next door and cold flooded through, shocking his senses.
    “A lot further,” Adrielle said.
    Everett glanced at her, curious about the vagueness of her answer. “Why do I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me?”
    She lifted her shoulders with a touch of guilt in her eyes. “I’m not sure.” She looked past him into the snowy room. “Hi, Chirit. Kai sends his love.”
    Everett turned, expecting to see a huge, hulking form. Instead, he saw a slender girl with skin even paler than his own sitting on top of a snow hill. Despite wearing only short shorts and a tank top, she didn’t seem to feel the chill at all.
    “He’s such a tease,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “He still thinks a relationship could work.”
    “The rainforest level isn’t that bad,” Adrielle coaxed.
    A visible shudder ran through Chirit’s skin. “Come on. I’d simply die in that heat. And the frogs? Maybe they’d go away if the sirens would stop singing, but ugh, and I mean ugh.”
    “Yeah, ugh,” a deep voice answered.
    Chirit jumped down and the hill she had been sitting on rolled over to reveal the biggest person Everett had even seen. He made Xander look tiny.
    “Frogs,” the snow mound person said. He gave a shake and the snow fell free, revealing a thick, furry body with beady eyes that peered at Everett. “Hey, dude.”
    “Uh, hi,” Everett replied.
    “That’s Chowder, Chirit’s brother,” Adrielle said.
    Chirit skipped through the snow on tiny bare feet as though she was as light as a snowflake. She stopped inches from Everett and looked him up and down.
    He glanced at Adrielle, uncomfortable by her close proximity. So far, his ability to hide his vampirism had been completely abominable. The thought almost made him laugh given the circumstances.
    “Oh, he’s cute,” Chirit said. “Where’d you find him,