Read Online The Vampire Gift 2: Kingdom of Ash by E.M. Knight - Free Book Online Page A

insist. “Without being punished?”
    “Not all of them,” Raul says cryptically. “Some have already paid the price.”
    “What do you mean?”
    But Raul keeps his lips sealed the rest of the way.
    We reach the castle. Just before we walk through the doors, I stop and take Raul’s arm.
    “Do you think…” I begin. “Do you think your Mother will really make James one of The Convicted?”
    Raul sweeps a hand through his fire-red hair. “Truly? I have no way to tell. But I’m going to do all I can to ensure that it doesn’t happen.”
    I hesitate, then make up my mind, and say, “If there’s anything I can do to help, you tell me. No matter what James did—nobody deserves a fate like those forsaken creatures.” I think back on the way the mindless horde chased after us. I remember the desperate way they fought each other for the bloodied heart that was thrown into their midst.
    I remember the look of utter emptiness in their eyes.
    Raul nods. “Thank you. That means a lot. I know what he put you through. Despite that, he’s still my brother.”
    “I understand,” I say softly. Even though it pains me to admit, James has Raul’s loyalty. I wouldn’t ever doubt that.
    It just proves what type of man Raul is.
    Just then a sound interrupts our conversation. One of the side walls in the entrance lobby starts to shift. A hidden door is revealed.
    Raul takes a protective step in front of me. But I put a hand on his shoulder to let him know I’ll be okay.
    I am a vampire, after all.
    A grizzled vampire carrying a lethal-looking sword comes out first. His shoulders are wide. His cheeks are lined with salt-and-pepper scruff.
    “ Smithson ,” Raul says flatly. He shifts to make sure I remain behind him.
    The other vampire smiles and sheathes his sword. “Didn’t expect to run into you this soon,” he replies. “I—“
    But he doesn’t get to finish the rest. At that moment, Phillip emerges from the darkness beyond him.
    “Phillip!” I exclaim. I push by Raul and run to him. Smithson steps aside with a grunt.
    Phillip is carrying someone in his arms. A girl. For some reason I don’t place her right away. Her face is cradled against Phillip’s chest. As I come closer, I see that it’s April.
    I stop short. There are two vicious red marks on her neck. They’re crusted with blood.
    Instantly, my hunger flares. I struggle to push it down. I have to; I can’t very well attack the girl who became my best friend.
    But it’s insanely difficult. The beast inside me thrashes, fights to be let free. My vision wavers, flashing from normal to black and back again.
    It takes all I have to push the need to feed on her down. The struggle is real, and it feels eternal. My hands ball into tight fists. I feel the gemstone on my finger and try to focus on that instead, knowing it will help me retain my humanity just as Raul promised…
    “Easy. Easy now.”
    I come to with a start, and realize Raul has his arms wrapped around me. We’ve moved far away from the entrance, closer to one of those horrible framed paintings. Smithson and Phillip are both staring at us with surprised expressions on their faces.
    “Easy, easy. There you go.” Raul eases his grip. “You okay?”
    I swallow and do a quick check of my body… and nod. “I blacked out, didn’t I?”
    “Yes, but only for a moment. And—” pride fills his voice, “—you didn’t attack.”
    I grumble something about that not being much of an accomplishment.
    “No,” Raul shakes his head firmly. “You’re wrong. It’s a huge measure of your growing self-control.”
    Despite myself, I flush a little at his praise.
    Raul lets me go. But before I can take a step forward, he takes hold of my hand. His fingers intertwine with mine.
    “We’ll approach them together,” he tells me.
    “Okay.”
    Smithson watches us come closer with a wary look in his eye. Raul tenses when we get close. The two have some sort of unspoken history, that much is