Free Bonds of Blood by Shauna Hart Page A

remind you of a few things.  First, I’m a few hundred years older than you.  I could snap you like a twig, and we both know it.  Second, I don’t take orders from anyone, least of all you.  And third, if I want to feed on every person in this room, I’ll do it, and there’s not a damned thing you can do to stop me.  Now, are we clear?”
    “Crystal,” she said through gritted teeth.
    He released her arm, his hand coming up to stroke her cheek softly.  “Good.  Now, calm down, Gen.  You are way too beautiful to be this uptight.  Why don’t you enjoy one of the young men…or women?”
    Her gaze bounced around the room.  “Perhaps I will,” she conceded.
    He smiled.  “Good.  I think some recreational activity is exactly what you need to ease your tension.”
    He watched as she began to move around the room to greet the patrons.  There had been a time in his life where he had craved her more than blood.  But in the end, she had consumed him only to toss him aside.  Despite how much he felt for her, she had always seen him as a friend.  The thought still made him want to throttle her.  Watching her give her body away to others had only fueled his resentment over time.
    Still, as much as he wanted to hate her at times, he couldn’t.  Even now, he didn’t want to be rough with her.  But it went against everything that he was to be ordered around by her.  She needed to understand the situation clearly. 
    He knew Gen.  She would be angry now, but she was smart.  She knew better than to fight a losing battle.  It was a quality that had kept her alive for so long.
    Thankfully, it served her well tonight.
    ****
    The moonlight cast an eerie glow down the alleyways of Bourbon Street as Kat followed Mina.  Wide open club doors and music beckoned the people outside to join the party within.  Up ahead, Mina deftly made her way through the throngs of people.  Kat leaned her head back, her gaze lifting toward the sound of catcalls.  Overhead on the balcony, several people called out as they dangled beads over the railings. 
    She lifted her hand to her forehead as her vision clouded and the lights began to dance.  Even though, she only had two glasses of wine, she felt more than a little buzzed. 
    She stumbled and strong arms came around her middle. 
    “Well, hi.”
    Kat looked up to find herself in the arms of a tall man with blonde hair.  He couldn’t have been more than twenty-two.  His striped polo shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and his brown eyes were glass y.  Definitely a frat boy on vacation, she thought.  Somehow he balanced a plastic cup of beer as he steadied her. 
    “Sorry,” she mumbled.
    He leaned in, his breath wafting over her neck.  “No problem, sweetheart.  I told my friends that today was my lucky day but they didn’t believe me.”
    Kat felt his hand travel down her back and she reached up to place her arms on his shoulders.  She knew she should push him away but her head was still swimming.
    “I don’t feel right,” she stammered.
    His hand traveled lower to cup her buttock as he angled his head to whisper in her ear.   “I would say you feel pretty damned good.”
    She could feel his erection pushing insistently against her stomach.  She put her hands on his chest, determined to push him away, but she never got the chance.
    “Sorry, big guy,” Mina said as she eased an arm between the two of them to push them apart.  “But this one’s mine.”
    A wide smile stretched across the blonde’s face.  “Hey, the more the merrier,” he said, reaching for Mina.
    Mina swatted his hand away.   “I don’t share,” she replied firmly her arm circling Kat’s shoulders as she turned.
    “Ah, come on.  Can’t I at least watch?” he pleaded.
    “Peep shows are never free,” she quipped.
    Mina started to walk away, dragging Kat behind her. 
    “I’ll pay,” he offered.
    Mina continued to lead Kat through the people ignoring his calls.  Once they