Davy Harwood (The Immortal Prophecy 1)

“Are you an animal?” I whispered my challenge and waited for his response. It was like something inside of me had uttered those words, something that wasn’t from me—and he knew it.

He blocked me. I shielded him. And yet—there was something else, some entity, that felt the other between us. Suddenly, it was too much and I gutted out, “Get away from me!” The connection was destroyed and I felt it reel inside of me.

“Gladly.” Acid dripped from him and he was gone in the next second.

The door slammed behind him and I was left to gasp for breath at his abrupt exit. It was too much. His presence had been too much. Too many things swirled around inside of me, but I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing. I remained there until I felt my feet beneath me, until I was able to stand and breathe at the same moment.

Then I remembered my question. He’d known about Kates, but I didn’t know how. I needed to know for her safety.

CHAPTER FOUR

I went back inside, but the moment I approached their booth Roane jerked his head towards the door. The other vampires stood and followed him. Kates frowned at the abrupt exit, but Emily gushed with a glazed look over her face.

She smiled at me with s

tars in her eyes. “Did you see him, Davy?”

I had more than seen him, but I wasn’t about to share that with her. I asked Kates, “What happened to her? She looks drunk.” There were no empty glasses in front of Emily.

“What do you think?”

Kates was still annoyed with me, but my stomach rumbled and I pressed a hand over it. I had worse things on my mind. With a closer look at Emily, I saw the glazed eyes, flushed lips, pink cheeks, and then I saw her neck. There was a small red mark over her artery. “What did they do?”

“What do you think?” Kates asked flatly, bored. Hell, she probably watched the whole time.

Vampires weren’t supposed to feed off humans, but I knew a few of them used lovebites to sneak a taste. It was frowned upon by the Elders, but not strictly prohibited—especially when it happened in a bar. It was considered the same as making out to them.

“I’m bored,” Kates announced.

Emily smiled, drunkenly. “Did you see him, Daveeena? He was here and then he was… out there and now… he’s… he went that way.” She swung her hand towards the door and smiled sleepily.

“Maybe we should go.”

Emily protested, “But… he’s…”

“Not coming back, wino.” Kates snorted and stood. She stretched and pretended to heave a big yawn—her boobs arched in the air.

I rolled my eyes. “Come on, Emily. I’ll get you home.”

Kates dropped her arms abruptly. “You had four shots. You can’t drive anywhere.”

“I’m fine. Really.” I could’ve told her about the nausea, but she was mad. I wasn’t feeling all friendly and soul-confessing.

“Well…” Kates raked us up and down and then glanced over her shoulder. “I think I might stay. I’ll give you a call.”

Emily stumbled, but I caught her. Then I frowned even more when I saw her cheeks pale abruptly. Lovebites are just that—they’re little nips. They don’t take too much blood, but she was reacting as if they drank her empty.

“Did you drink?” It would explain a little…

“She had some beer. She’ll be fine. Take her home, get her in bed. She’ll be the same tomorrow.”

I didn’t bother to ask Kates how she’d get back. I knew she’d be fine or sleep somewhere else. She was still branded and a lot of vampires held a grudge. “Just… be safe.”

“Yeah. Whatever.”

“Seriously, Kates. Safe, not stupid, remember?”

“Yeah. I know,” she grumbled and shoved through the crowd. I watched as she disappeared into the bathroom until Emily stumbled in the opposite direction. Someone caught her and pushed her ahead. I tried to grab her, but someone else bumped her further ahead. Pretty soon, I watched helplessly as Emily managed to fall out the front door backwards.