Blood Bond, Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles Book 9

Blood Bond

July 12, 2013 by admin

Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles, Book 9

Anna’s relationship with shapeshifter Daniel Frey has given her hope for a future with him and his son. Especially when Frey proposes. But before she can celebrate, Anna must fly to France to be at the side of her dying mother. There she learns that not every vampire accepts her Chosen One status. And one such vamp is about to go rogue—by leading his followers in a fight to usurp humanity.

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An Excerpt From: BLOOD BOND from Penguin US / ACE.
Copyright @ Jeanne C. Stein, 2013
All Rights Reserved, Penguin US / ACE.

I let my eyes drift to the world outside our car. We are traveling the main road out of Lourges—to the west instead of the route traveled last night. Up into the gentle hills that surround the village. In the lingering twilight, we pass several side roads that end in huge houses perched like jewels on manicured lots.

Suddenly, an icy finger touches the back of my neck and I shiver.

Frey feels it. His eyes snap to mine. “What’s wrong?”
But I brush his concern away with a hand wave. “Nothing. Really.”

I turn my face away. Glad once again that he can’t read my thoughts; carefully locking those thoughts away from Chael’s prying mind.

Because it is something. This night reminds me of another night, almost two years ago. A ride up another hill in another part of the world that ended in a fight for the death against an old soul vampire.

Avery.

Instinctively, my hand touches the hem of my dress. I was wearing Avery’s gift that night. Just as I’m wearing Steffan’s now.
I was driven to the house then just as I’m being driven now.

My throat is dry. I have the terrible feeling I shouldn’t have accepted Steffan’s invitation. Worse, I shouldn’t have brought Frey along. I may have read too much into Chael’s show of good will, his compassion for my mother. Was it all just a trick to win my confidence?

Blood pounds through my veins, heat rising as the vampire seizes control.

Frey can feel it. My skin hot against his. He turns a puzzled frown my way. “Anna?”

Chael senses a change, too. He can’t see me in the mirror, but he is acutely aware of the transformation taking place in the seat right behind him. It makes him nervous enough to pull the car over.

Once the car is stopped, I’m out of it, at the driver’s door in a heartbeat. I fling the door open, grab Chael by the neck and pull him out, moving too fast to give him a chance to fight back. His vampire nature flashes, then retreats. He acts like a dog showing his stomach to an alpha, submissively waiting for whatever I choose to do.

I choose to shake him until his teeth rattle. What game are you playing?

None. I am doing as you asked. Taking you to King Steffan.

His mind is open, his thoughts as passive as his body.

I shake him again. There must be more. All this talk of making history and of King Steffan’s unseating. Do you expect me to fight him?

At this, a smile, thin, unnerving. No. Not you.

Then who? I shove him away, stand ready to defend myself if he unleashes his beast.

He tugs at the hem of his jacket, straightens his tie, smoothes his hair back with both hands. You are still too impulsive, Anna Strong, he says through gritted teeth and tight jaw. Has it ever occurred to you to ask first before you resort to violence?

Not when it comes to you. Now answer the question. Who do you think is going to attack King Steffan tonight?

Chael shoves his hands into the pockets of his jacket, locks his eyes with mine. Ever heard of a vampire named Vlad?