Free The Blood Bride (Blood Secrets) by Imogene Nix

guards confined within had moved forward, closing the space between them and the glass, and taking a defensive position—the personal bodyguards of the senior members of nests, highly trained, but human. Her stomach rumbled and churned. Fear filled her. What was going on?
    “Come, Miss Hope. You must move to the centre of the room now.” Lisi, her maid and friend, had moved towards her and taken her hand. Lisi shook. A quick glance reinforced the fear as Lisi’s skin turned white, not a trace of the ruddiness that usually filled her cheeks discernible. Her bright blue eyes seem unnatural with the bright red hair, and that told Hope that the danger must be acute.
    “Lisi? What’s happening?” She made her legs move, though they felt wooden and heavy now that the first flush of adrenaline had seeped away.
    “The Brethren, they know we have many of the Council and nest leaders here tonight. The guards got word minutes ago and are taking no chances, because they believe an attack is imminent.” She spoke the words so quietly that Hope had to strain to hear them. “Thank heavens Mistress Cressida and most of the nest Masters and Mistresses brought their own guards. They were planning to attack to kill as many nestlings and…” Lisi must have seen her reaction, as her voice died away when Hope took a look at her mother.
    “Lisi, you may go.” Her mother’s voice was cold and dismissive. For just a moment, Hope wanted to ask her mother to explain what was going on, but the coldness she had heard in her voice was repeated in her eyes. There would be no answers there either. Ask Lisi later . Hope made a mental note, and followed her mother to the centre of the room.
    The people inside were silent, and a pall fell over the crowd as they huddled closer together. The music ceased, and the nestlings jammed in groups throughout. No one spoke a word, and the atmosphere was cold with dread at what could happen.
    A startling thought occurred to Hope. No doubt it was the knowledge all nestlings had, that these types of attacks had happened before and would likely happen again. This wasn’t the first time in their history. Not even the second. But that this was a cyclical event, the war followed by peace followed once more by war. The thought shook Hope to the core.
    A sharp and loud scream filled the air. She jumped. Her mother frowned at her, while a body hit the closed French doors with a thump—the door she had just entered through, leading to the terrace and gardens beyond. She caught sight of a face being towed backwards away, its mouth open wide as if shouting out. She couldn’t tell from the distance if it was agony or anger, but the emotion was strong, making her ache and leaving her head pounding.
    The wait seemed interminable. The occasional call and scream rent the air as the pervasive stench of fear filled the ballroom. She couldn’t see anything near the door again, but her belly continued to roil madly. Her father stood beside a guard, listening through a small earpiece and giving directions, she guessed from watching his animated arm movements and head shakes.
    Finally the sounds quieted and an uneasy stillness filled the air, while the queasiness in the pit of her stomach threatened to heave to the surface of the dance floor. Hope controlled it as best she could, one hand against the flat of her midsection, the other clutched at her throat as her head throbbed.
    Finally, the doors opened and those who had fought, including the Masters and Mistresses of the nests and the guardian vampires, stepped back into the room. Many looked dishevelled, some carrying injuries and torn clothing. Hope watched them return in silence. Many had been wearing evening gowns and suits that would only be fit for destruction, but each sported eyes that glowed a golden red colour indicating a level of satiation. She gulped at the thought.
    As they entered, she watched them scan the area slowly, and there was no missing the hunter in