Read Ascension for Free Online Page B

her ten years ago. He just couldn’t see it.
    Injured pride had Kyana reaching for where her dagger should’ve been. It still lay at her feet. She picked it up. Fisted it in her hand. Weighed the rush of her anger against her weakened state, then sheathed her weapon. She needed to gather her wits now, feed, and figure out the first step in finding the key to Hell. Kicking Ryker’s ass would have to come later.
    The ferry squeezed through the exiting tunnel that would eventually take them back to shore. Kyana might not have had the strength to take him down right then, but what little strength she’d held on to wouldn’t be wasted.
    She held out her hand. “Truce.”
    Self-satisfied smugness washed over Ryker’s face as he slid his hand into hers. “Good girl.”
    Kyana let herself enjoy the warmth of his fingers for a split second, then jerked him toward her, lifted her leg, and shoved her boot right in his belly. Ryker went overboard with an ear-splitting curse and Kyana waved at the rippling water as the ferry took its time making its escape. The tunnel was too narrow for Ryker to climb back on board. He’d be swimming his way out of here.
    Served him right.
    As his blond head surfaced and bobbed on the water, he treaded in place, sputtering the foul-smelling water as he tried to talk. “What the hell . . . did you do that for?”
    He was a strong swimmer. He nearly made it to the back end of the ferry before it turned the next corner. Ghostly hands were pawing at him, however, hindering his progress.
    “I do what needs to be done too, Ryker. And you were in desperate need of cooling off your overblown ego. Enjoy your swim while I have my dinner.”
    As she watched his bobbing body become smaller and smaller as distance separated them, her feeling of victory was washed away by the rage and self-loathing warring inside her.
    She hated Ryker, but at the moment, she hated herself more. Ryker had always been stoic, quiet, and stuck-up, and yet she’d been drawn to him anyway. Now, she saw him in a new light, and that attraction had become full-blown desire. His one show of violence aimed at her would have saturated her panties if she’d been wearing any. The fact that she was so hot and bothered by the strength and power he’d exuded disgusted her. She needed to cool off as badly as he had, if only to remind herself that she found Ryker obnoxious—not so damned sexy it made her breasts tingle.

Chapter Five
     
    K yana stood outside the butcher shop watching other Vampyre exit with their daily fortification. As the scent of blood filled her nostrils, her mouth watered. Her body craved fresh blood. But tonight, she needed something stronger. A lot stronger, since she knew Ryker would catch up at any moment and very likely want to start round two.
    Turning away from the tantalizing aroma, Kyana made her way down the winding, cobblestone streets to the kafenion where the bartender, Marcus, would have a bottle of raki handy. Unlike eating solid food, which was indigestible, she could drink. Human liquor like Crete’s raki was more than palatable. It was a pity she could no longer get drunk. Especially after a long day like this one. But still, the licorice-tasting drink would help thin her blood and therefore clear her head.
    Fatigue weighed down each step. She took several deep breaths. By definition, her kind didn’t require air, but the oxygen penetrating her bloodstream usually acted as an energy booster. Thankfully, that little trick was still within her power. As if coming alive, her skin tingled and her senses sharpened.
    Grateful for the reprieve, Kyana continue through Below to Spirits. The ancient tavern sat crammed between a Turkish bath and an herb shop, lending it the appeal of rich aromatic herbs on one side and a scent not unlike that of the Above’s chlorinated pool water on the other. A sense of cleanliness entered the kafenion with you, but when you left, you stunk of hookah smoke and overcooked