Read A Hunger Like No Other for Free Online Page A

chronologically, she would be older. Most vampires had come into existence centuries ago.
    And why in the hell would the leeches be in Louisiana? Had they taken over more than just Europe? And if so, what had happened to his clan?
    The thought of his clan made him glance up at the vampire, sleeping still as a corpse. If she was supposed to be his mate, she would be his queen and would rule over Lachlain’s kind. Impossible. The clan would rip her to shreds at the first opportunity. The Lykae and vampires were natural-born enemies—had been since the first nebulous chaos of the Lore.
    Blood adversaries. That’s why he was impatiently returning his attention to her things—to study an enemy. Not because he was itching with curiosity about the female.
    He opened a thin blue passport book and found another likeness with another smile that looked coaxed, then a
    “medic alert” card listing her medical condition as “sun allergy and extreme photosensitivity.”
    As he pondered whether the card was a jest, he pulled out a “credit card.” He’d seen advertisements for those on the television—he’d probably learned as much from the advertisements as he did from the grim person who sat and divulged news—and he knew they purchased everything.
    Lachlain needed everything. He was starting his life over, but his most pressing needs were clothing and transportation away from here. As weak as he was, he didn’t want to remain in a place where the vampires knew she stayed. And until he could sort through everything, he would be forced to take the creature with him. He supposed he needed to figure out a way to keep it alive during their travels.
    All those years spent devising ways to kill them, and now he had to figure out how to protect one?
    Knowing she would most likely sleep until sunset—and couldn’t escape during the day in any case—he left her to make his way downstairs.
    The questioning glances he was sure to receive would be met with an arrogant glare. If he showed his ignorance of the times, he would cover it with a gaze so direct that most people would think they’d misunderstood him. Humans always cowered under that look.
    Audacity made kings. And it was time to reclaim his crown.
    Though he continually found his thoughts returning to his new prize, Lachlain was able to garner much information during his foray. The first lesson he learned was that whatever kind of card she owned—this black
    “American Express”—denoted extreme wealth. Not surprising, since the vampires had always been rich.
    The second? A concierge in a lavish hotel like this could make your life very easy—if he thought you were a rich, but occasionally confused, eccentric. Who’d had his luggage stolen. Though initially, there had been some hesitation on the man’s part. He’d asked if “Mr. Troy” could provide any identification whatsoever.
    Lachlain had inched forward in his seat, staring him down for long moments, his expression balanced between anger at the question and embarrassment for the man for asking. “ No.’ ’ The answer was casually threatening, succinct, subject-ending.
    The man had jumped at the word as he might at an unexpected gun report. Then he’d swallowed and hesitated no more, even at the most bizarre demands. He hadn’t even raised an eyebrow when Lachlain wanted sunset and sunrise charts—or when he wanted to study them as he devoured a twenty-ounce steak.
    Within hours, the man had arranged for fine clothing to fit Lachlain’s large frame, transportation, cash, and maps, and had secured reservations for lodging in the coming nights. He supplied every basic essential Lachlain might have needed.
    Lachlain had been pleased by what the man considered “essential.” One hundred and fifty years ago, humans, with their aversion to bathing, had been an embarrassment to the Lore, who were almost to a species fastidious. Even the ghouls dumped themselves in water more often than nineteenth-century