"Janrae Frank - Dark Brothers of the Light 04 - Blood Wraiths" - читать интересную книгу автора (Frank Janrae)

torpor.

He dreamed of Amalthea. He had loved her. His wife. And he had murdered her. He and Timon, his
oldest son, had murdered her. He considered himself an honorable man, for although he had raped and
murdered her, he had not tasted the smallest drop of her blood.

Murder: the word swirled through his mind, repeating and repeating. She had helped Waejonan, Hoon's
youngest brother, murder Hoon's children, Timon's brothers and sisters, in a rite of unholy magic.

He climbed the side of the stone mansion, his nails finding every tiny crevice and irregularity,
clinging to it like a lizard. When he paused to glance to his right he could see at a distance
Torment Lake where his brother liked to hold his rites and his public executions. The golden sands
of foam-drenched, loamy soil would never be clean of all the blood that had been spilled there. A
circle of trees framed the lake and his view. Then he turned his gaze again to the half-circle above
him that was his wife's balcony. He could smell her perfume, her musk, the sweet life in her veins
even at this far remove. Timon had chosen a different path to this place. He wondered how his
son managed.

Then he began to climb again.

The sound of softly padding bare feet on the smooth stone of the balcony made him pause. Hoon
listened until he was certain there was only one person there. Then he peered over the edge
between the wrought iron balusters.

There she was. For a moment all that he could think of was how beautiful she was, her long
black hair blowing in the morning breeze, her burnished copper skin, her delicate cheekbones, and
full lips. He heaved himself over balustrade onto the balcony and stood before her. ?Amalthea,?
Hoon murmured.

As a Lemyari vampire, the sunlight held no dangers for him, and its touch warmed his chill flesh
like the kiss of life: it glinted on his black hair, grazed the points of his ears and gilded his olive
skin with golden highlights. A dangerous sensuality lay in the depths of his large eyes, exposed
itself on the chiseled planes of his cheekbones with their hollows, and settled on his full lips.

She started at his voice and retreated half a step. ?Brandrahoon, you should not be here."

"An odd greeting from a wife to the husband she has not seen in years.? Hoon responded, his lips
curling back with a trace of skepticism.

"You are exiled, that is all.? She came forward then and touched his face. ?Kiss me, husband."

He took her into his arms and kissed her. Her sweet body moved against his invitingly and he felt
his fangs start to emerge. One small taste just one small taste But no, from the day he had known
what he had become, Hoon had vowed not to drink from this woman. He pulled away from her.
?How are the children?"

"The children?? She faltered and then took his hand. ?They are well. Come inside where you will
not be seen. Let me give you a wife's proper welcome to her husband. Then I will bring you to
them."