"James McCann - Kith2" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCann James)

Keelin found it in herself to scream her voice was lost in the echo of the dead woods.
The stranger threw his cape over one shoulder and crossed his arms, bellowing a laugh
so dire that KeelinтАЩs echoing scream died.
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тАЬWhat would bring such a fair maiden out on a night such as this?тАЭ The stranger made
an odd gesture with his hand, and Thunder closed his eyes. Then he bowed, saying, тАЬI am
called Naztar.тАЭ
Keelin tried to respond, with what she wasnтАЩt sure, but it mattered not for her voice
was lost upon the figure as he rose from his bow. He had fangs, and the material on his
cape opened as if it were wings. Rising from the ground he hovered waiting to feast.
тАЬChild,тАЭ he said, his soft voice comforting like a motherтАЩs caress. тАЬYou need not be
afraid. I am going to release you from your bondage.тАЭ
As Naztar enveloped her, the cold air turned warm and his moist breath calmed her
terror. Keelin looked deep into his icy blue stare and saw forever; an end to the life she so
detested. Her heart pumped rhythmically as if to keep time for the wolves that had begun
to sing. Tipping her head back to expose a pulsing arterial vein, she offered herself to the
demon heart, mind and soul. There was something intoxicating in his stare that stole her
fear of death and of that she was thankful.
But a voice, resounding beside Thunder, woke her from this daze: тАЬNaztar! Find her
hunters to feast upon. Her life belongs to me.тАЭ
Naztar spread his cape to create a barrier between the vampires and this challenger. He
stood tall, bearing a snarl that told he was a man unaccustomed to challenge. KeelinтАЩs heart
pounded and she shivered, but craning her head she saw who had claimed her.
He was a boy her own years, gallant and proud. His complexion reminded her of men
who had died recently, but his long blonde hair, tussled to the side, made him appear quite
handsome. His physique looked as if he were bred for war, but his smile said he never had
to fight. He wore well-tailored grey dress: a velvet tunic, cotton breaches, and tights. He
stood with one foot propped upon a fallen tree and the other rested firmly upon the
ground. He crossed his arms and pivoted his body as if ready to leap to her aid. He glared
at Naztar with the same icy stare and did not flinch when the larger Kith breathed so low
he growled: тАЬRafgard, you have no right to this feast.тАЭ
The challenger laughed gaily as if heтАЩd just recalled a funny joke, and drawing near he
said, тАЬI have not welcomed you to my abode, friend. You will give me this woman, or your
riches will end. Perhaps you feel you can steal enough gold from the overtaxed villagers to
bring you Pleasure?тАЭ Rafgard laughed, each one of his bellows stabbing Naztar like a knife.
тАЬYou will pay for this Dragon Slayer,тАЭ NaztarтАЩs lips curled, and in a soft thump he
disappeared. The wolves and vampires followed, leaving Keelin alone with Rafgard.
He walked around Thunder to stand in front of the beast. The stallion breathed puffs
of smoke the same hue as the fog surrounding them, each one a frightened wish to end his
paralysis. Rafgard reached out and caressed the steed, meeting the animal eye to eye.
тАЬSleep, stallion. Sleep and dream of pleasant pastures.тАЭ
ThunderтАЩs eyes closed, and gently the beast collapsed onto the damp sod, rolling onto
its side. Keelin leapt from her seat to avoid being crushed and nearly ran, but when she
met RafgardтАЩs pleasant smile she felt drawn to him. It was as if he had reached into her
soul and stolen part of it so that she would only feel whole when with him. He reached out
to her like one would to a drowning friend, тАЬInvite me to you, Keelin. Come to me and I
will give you Forever.тАЭ
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