Free The Vampire's Kiss by Cynthia Eden

getting back on duty.” He glanced back at Savannah. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Daniels. I’m sure that I’ll see you again.”
    As he walked away, Savannah wondered why, despite his friendly smile, the words had sounded almost . . . threatening.
    BY THE TIME Savannah returned to her hotel room, it took all of the meager energy she had to unlock her door.
    The sudden wave of exhaustion had come upon her as she finished her meal. She’d been forced to push her half-eaten sandwich away and hurry from the diner.
    It was another side effect of her medicine. Severe drowsiness. In her case, severe was definitely the word of choice.
    Of course, the fact that she’d had no rest the night before only aggravated her condition.
    She fumbled with the lock, barely fitting the key inside. All of her muscles felt heavy. Her eyelids kept lowering, her chin sliding down. She took a series of deep, quick breaths, trying to force her body to stay awake.
    The key turned in the lock and Savannah stumbled inside her room. She leaned against the cool wood of the door, giving her body a moment to rest. With hands that trembled, she turned the lock on the door handle.
    The bed looked so far away. She was so tired. Tired of the exhaustion that plagued her body. Tired of the pain. When would it all end?
    She took a step forward. Her leg seemed to buckle. She staggered, struggling for balance. One more step. Two more. She could feel the base of the bed against her knees, and she fell on the bed, her body bouncing lightly. The old springs squeaked in protest.
    She stopped fighting the exhaustion and closed her eyes. She would rest, just for an hour or two. The rest would give her enough strength to make it through the rest of the day.
    She just needed to sleep for a little while . . .
    WILLIAM’S BODY twitched.
    Evil. The word screamed through his mind, but not a sound passed from his lips.
    He could feel the presence. Feel its darkness.
    So close.
    SHE WAS AT THE cabin. She could see the sparkling wood. She could smell the crisp scent of a winter fire.
    Everything was just as she remembered. The table that her father had made the summer of her sixteenth birthday sat in the corner. Her mother’s painting hung over the mantel.
    A cheerful fire burned, the flames dancing.
    She walked toward the fire, wanting to feel its warmth. Needing so desperately to banish the cold that was sweeping through her.
    She looked around, surprised to find herself alone. She’d thought for certain that Mark would be there. Or Sharon.
    She felt something wet and sticky touch her bare foot. She glanced down, frowning. Was that water? It seemed to be flowing straight out of the fire.
    How could water come from fire?
    She bent down, touching the liquid with one fingertip. She held up her hand, straining to see in the flickering fire light.
    Her fingertip was red—blood red.
    She gasped and jumped back, trying to escape from the cool touch of the blood. The pool seemed to follow her, moving like a snake on the floor.
    The sound of laughter, light and mocking, froze Savannah.
    “I’ve been waiting for you.” The words were soft, purring, lightly accented.
    Her gaze flew frantically around the room. “Who’s there?” She strained to see in the shadows.
    “Don’t you know?” He whispered. “Don’t you know who I am?”
    Her heart pounded. “No. No, I don’t know you.”
    “Of course you do, my dear.” He laughed again, softly. “You know me very well. Better than any lovers I’ve ever had. After all, you’ve shared a kill with me.”
    “What?” Her feet were becoming soaked in the blood.
    “You were here with me. I could feel you. You were here while I fed.” His voice drifted from the shadows, seeming to surround her.
    What was he talking about?
    Mark. Her memory returned in a blinding rush. Mark had died. He’d died here, in the cabin. She’d seen it. She’d—
    “That’s right,” he purred. “Your dear sweet brother. I’m afraid I had to