Free The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1) by Clay & Susan Griffith;Clay Griffith;Susan Griffith by Clay, Susan Griffith;Clay Griffith;Susan Griffith Page A

their home no more than twenty feet in front of
her. In a matter of seconds, a female vampire descended upon them. One
man died instantly from her sharp claws. Another man screamed as the
vampire turned to him.
    Adele ran forward, hoping to do something, anything. The vampire
sensed her approach, raising a bloody hand and licking the red as her
attention turned to her new victim. The princess didn't slow, but rushed
forward, her right arm drawn around in front of her and resting on her
left side. It didn't rest for long. As soon as she was close enough to strike she brought it around in a wide arc. The Fahrenheit dagger ripped
through the vampire's abdomen, slicing through coat and flesh.

    The beast looked down in surprise. Adele was already spinning for
a second sweep. But the vampire blocked it. Adele kicked out and struck
where her blade had cut. The female screamed as she was flung backward, smoke rising from the wound. As Adele came forward, the creature scrambled away. Then more shadows glided over the street and two
vampires lit on the ground beside their whimpering brethren.
    Adele knew she was outmatched. She backpedaled, lifting her weapon
toward the first creature as it rushed her, trying to see the other one too.
The blade cast a green hue to her attackers' faces, making them even more
horrific. Her blade blocked the first, but her stance was too awkward to
avoid the second. The vampire surged toward her legs.
    Then a cloaked shape rushed past her shoulder and slammed the
second vampire to the ground in a cloud of dust.
    "Greyfriar!"
    His tall figure leapt, and he drew his rapier while in the air, the
blade falling as he came down. A bloody head lolled to the side. The
swordsman didn't stop moving but rushed the vampire Adele was barely
holding at bay. The creature withdrew from her and turned to face the
cowled vampire hunter. Clawed hands rose to strike the man across the
face, but Greyfriar ducked and thrust through the chest of his opponent,
twisting the blade to destroy the heart. The body fell to the ground, and
Greyfriar turned to Adele.
    She wanted to run to him and collapse in his arms. Her breath was
ragged with spent adrenaline. Her hand reached out to touch him and
he flinched.
    "I couldn't find you," she whispered.
    "I shouldn't have left," was his pained response. "We must go."
    "Princess."
    Her title was practically whispered from a dark silhouette along the
stone wall. Adele's skin crawled as the word slipped over her.
    "You will be leaving, but with me." It was a female voice.
    Greyfriar shoved Adele behind him as Flay stepped out of the
shadows. The tall figure entered the moonlight, her skin almost white in its reflection. Her black braid was still perfect, not a hair on her head
displaced.

    "No, not this time, Flay," Greyfriar informed her.
    Flay's mouth quirked slightly and she regarded the swordsman.
"You are only one man." She almost spat the last word.
    As if on command, several vampires drifted down on both sides of
her, all of them flecked with gore and streaks of crimson across their
mouths. Some stood, while others crouched like animals, hissing and
licking at the spots of blood on their bodies.
    "There is no one left alive to help you." Flay took another step forward. "As if they could or would."
    Greyfriar said, "You killed an entire town just to get one girl?"
    "They were in my way. As are you."
    Flay did not attack, but her minions did. They rushed Greyfriar like
rabid animals. Adele was actually shoved aside by the vampires scrambling after their single purpose, to kill her companion. He fought back,
blade flashing in the moonlight. Blood sprayed as steel sliced into the
pack of vampires.
    Flay screeched a command at an underling, and the male stepped hesitantly toward the princess. Adele raised her blade to strike, but suddenly
her arms were pinioned from behind amid a horrible hiss of agony. The
vampire in front of her lashed out with