Free Immortal Heat (The Guardians of Dacia Book 1) by Loni Lynne Page A

But this is painful."
    "Did you eat at Nonni's?"
    "Yes. I had corn meal mush and bread with honey."
    He gave her a puzzled frown and nodded. "Well, we're almost there. I can see if Ballue has something to eat before we continue."
    Nodding, Marilyn felt foolish for having to beg food from a stranger, but if it would help, sure.
    They arrived at a large, old European façade fronted home nestled among modern day buildings and small apartment complexes. The glass in the doors and windows were old stained glass, making it church-like. The heavy oak and glass doors were decorated with antique knockers. Marilyn watched and waited for them to turn into Marley from Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, as Draylon lifted the heavy ring and let it fall. Just as she thought they might morph, the door creaked open and a man dressed in jeans and a black sweater ushered them in, closing the door behind them.
    "Ballue." Draylon gestured to Marilyn. "This is Marilyn Reddlin."
    The tall blond-haired Adonis, who looked like he would be more comfortable in a magazine shoot, leaned against the dark wall. His eyes had a strange silver gleam to them.
    "Marilyn. I've heard a lot about you."
    His accent was difficult to place, but it was his smile that instantly had her on guard.
    "He's a moroii! Is he one of Vamier's?"
    "At one time, perhaps…I managed to find my own way thankfully." Ballue straightened and led them into the darkened hall. "Come. You are safe here for now."
    The hall opened up to a grand room of dark mahogany and shelves upon shelves of books lining the walls. A grand fireplace, complete with roaring fire, pulled Marilyn into its warmth. Even with all her layers the bitter cold had soaked into her bones.
    "Let me make you something to drink," Ballue said.
    "She would prefer something to eat…if you have food."
    "I keep a freezer full of meat in case I need it. I took a couple of steaks out last night, thinking I might need them, but my groceries came in on time." He looked at Draylon before turning back to her. "Would a steak suffice?"
    The sound of the word 'meat' made her saliva glands activate. She could drool all over the polished hardwood floor. No, but she might faint. The dizziness indicated low sugar levels or running on empty. But that was impossible.
    "Let's go into the kitchen while I prepare it for you."
    Marilyn trailed behind the two men down a short hallway into a large modern kitchen with old style charm. Nothing was pre-pressed plywood or plastic. Like Nonni's, this place exuded masculine warmth and ruggedness. The wooden beams across the ceiling looked original, the stucco plaster walls with their black iron sconces and simple candles had her thinking more along the lines of medieval castles. Only the sterling silver appliances made for a restaurant gave it away.
    "Sit. I'll pour some wine and wait for the grill to heat."
    Watching as Ballue took the raw steak out of the refrigerator, her eyes narrowed on his every move. He laid the plate of meat on the counter in front of the bar where she sat. The two guys weren't paying any attention to her, they were catching up on some local news. Marilyn's taste buds went crazy. The hunger deep in her stomach exploded.
    Before she knew what she'd done she tore into the slab of raw meat. Juices coated her hands, running like bloody gashes from her fingers. A hand reached out to try to take the meat. Snarling her lip, she growled in warning not to come any closer.
    Within moments the meat was gone, devoured, her hunger satiated for the time being. She licked the bloody juices from her fingers, making sounds of pleasure. When she finished, she looked up to see the two men gawking at her.
    What were they staring at? She glanced from them to her plate and back. Bloody traces of what had once been a large piece of raw meat smeared the fine china. She felt sick. She'd never eaten raw meat.
    The minute her brain digested the truth, her stomach decided it didn't want to digest