Free The Kingdom of the Nine; The Vampire Legacy IV by Dawn Gray Page A

Julian replied and looked
out the window. “Maybe, we should tell her about him?”
    “Don't bother.” I spoke up, as I stepped into
the room, catching the attention of the two men who were just
discussing me. I walked over and stood between them, looking from
one to the other. “He and I met last night.”
    “He's here?” Julian asked.
    “Yes, as a matter of fact, I'm right here.” His voice spoke up and I watched as this caught the
attention of the two men sitting down. Michael and David rose and
joined our little circle, but it was the reaction of Quinn and
Julian that caught my eyes. They seemed shocked and not amused at
the same time to see the dark haired man. He looked directly at
Julian, giving him an evil look. “I thought you had more common
sense, Cousin.”
    “What are you starting on, now, Nick?” Julian
sighed, obviously used to his cousin's criticism, and used to
ignoring it.
    “I thought you'd be smarter than to let a
defenseless, young, woman walk away from your room, alone, in the
middle of the night. Especially here, in this house, where you
never know who you’re going to meet.” He smiled, looking over at
me. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, as I looked away.
    “I was perfectly safe, thank you, and I'm far
from defenseless.” I repeated, and then glanced at Julian, who was
looking at me for an explanation as to where I could have met him.
“I remembered the rest of my dream, except it wasn't a dream, it
was a memory of the night that Nick and I met, but we weren't
alone.”
    “What are you doing here, anyway?” Quinn
asked.
    “It's my ancestral home, Quinn, how long do
you think I can stay away from it?” Nick laughed.
    I closed my eyes, thinking that I was feeling
the fact that I hadn't eaten yet, as a wave of nausea came over me,
then, when I opened my eyes, I found both Julian and Nick looking
at me as Nick went on with his speech, but the amusement was
gone.
    “I was called home.” He replied, standing
there with his arms crossed, a questioning look on his face. “Two
nights ago, I felt this sudden urge to return here, and couldn't
get the image of the house out of my mind. Are you all right,
O'Neal? You look terribly pale.”
    “I'm fine.” I replied, glancing at him, but
in truth, I was feeling very strange.
    It was then that I felt the danger I had in
my dream and the same warnings were sent throughout my body. Julian
walked over and stood in front of me, but I couldn't look up at
him, instead I made my way to the center of the circle, where the
dangerous feelings seemed to lessen, for I was protected at every
corner by these five men. I looked at each of them, focusing in on
Nick and Julian as they stood, side by side, their differences
having been put aside for the sake of making sure I was safe.
    “Do you see something, Caitlyn?” Julian
asked. I shook my head, as I crossed my arms over my chest, hugging
myself, trying to stop the chills that went through me. “Cait, what
is it that you're not telling us?”
    “I...I can't explain it.” I whispered as I
was caught in his eyes. “It's like a presence that I've felt
before, but I can't place it.” I closed my eyes and concentrated on
it, then looked up at him quickly. “Wait, I know what it is now,
something is coming. Something dangerous.”
    “What?” Quinn asked, as I turned and looked
passed him to the doorway, stepping back further into the
circle.
    “Creolas.” I shook as the rest turned and
looked at the man with the fiery red eyes that stood, smiling back
at us, from the doorway.
    “Ah, it's good to be home.” He said, smiling,
focusing those bright red eyes on me

6
    All I could do was staring at him as our eyes
locked together. I could see my own reflection in them and I was
sure he could see his in mine. I felt my lips begin to quiver as my
mind began to recall the night that he and I formally met.
    I was walking down around the pagoda, located
towards the back of the oval garden, kicking at the