Read Online The Last Keeper by Michelle Birbeck - Free Book Online

that because the vampires will try to use me against you?”  
    “No. Ray, what I have to tell you isn’t easy, and I need you to know that I will protect you for as long as I live. No matter what happens.” My words were slow and measured in an effort to make myself clear. I searched his eyes as I spoke, staring into them as though I could see his very being.  
    “Serenity,” his tone was almost chastising, “nothing you can say will make me leave.”
    “Even so, you’ll always have that choice.” I paused, wondering if there was any point in choosing my words carefully now. “Our weakness is our partner. The only way we can be killed is through their death. There’s an unbreakable link between your life and mine. When your life is over, by whatever means, so is mine.” Taking his hand, I placed it over my heart so he could feel my heart beating, as I could hear his. “We used to have a saying: As your heart beats, so does mine. When your heart sleeps, so will mine.”  
    “That sounds fair enough,” he answered, leaving his hand where it was when I moved mine.
    “I just told you that the only way to kill me, a three thousand year old immortal being, is to kill you and you say that sounds fair enough? ” He was smiling, running his fingers over my collarbone. I frowned, wondering if he was sane.  
    “Yes. It makes sense. I assume you only feel this contact once. I also assume that each race has a weakness. Therefore, it’s understandable that this connection is yours. From what you’ve said, and what I’ve seen, there’s little that can harm you. I’m a firm believer that everyone has his or her time.”  
    “I’m dumbfounded. I never thought it would be this easy.” I was still in shock over what had been said.
    “Of course, those beliefs were before I realised there were immortal beings walking the earth,” he said, smiling.  
    He was fascinated when I explained our defences to him. How we couldn’t be turned into a vampire because we were immune to their blood. How the witches’ spells couldn’t harm us. How each variation of Were was unable to shift forms when they were near us. And our biggest asset: the fact that even though vampires could read the minds of any race, they couldn’t read ours—not unless we wanted them to. It was the same with their powers, those who had them weren’t able to use them against us.  
    There was a kind of switch in our minds, something only we could see and use. One flip and a vampire could read our thoughts. Another and they couldn’t. So simple, and so effective. It was there in our un-matured descendants, too, but the switch was permanently at work.  
    There was nothing but understanding, and occasionally confusion on his face as I spoke.  
    “Ray, I don’t think you quite understand the gravity of how life with me will affect you.”  
    “Then tell me. Serenity, I understand life won’t be easy, but I want to be with you.” His eyes were alive with the conviction of his words.  
    “There are only two of us left, as you know. But, I never told you why there are so few. The vampires know of our weakness, Ray. They have hunted us until there were no more to hunt. The only reason I’m still alive is because I hadn’t met you. My last brother William is only alive because he moves so often and tells no one except me where he’ll be. If they find you they . . .” As much as I wanted to tell him, I didn’t want to scare him off.  
    “They’ll stop at nothing to kill me.”  
    “Yes. For some reason, when the attacks started, our descendants stopped maturing. Generations came and went, and nothing. Not a single one. William was the last to reach maturity. After him there have been no more, and we don’t know why. The vampires show no mercy. They’re cruel and have no regard for life.” I searched his face as I spoke, looking for any sign of fear.  
    I found none.  
    “What do they want?”  
    “Dominance. Over everyone.”