Read NocC 026 - Lauren Hawkeye - The Darkling's Desire - Harlequin 2012-11 for Free Online Page B

and noble, as is our treaty. And if we
decide we no longer wish to uphold the terms of our treaty, the noble thing to
do is to request its dissipation to the Karpaty Council. Not to use me as a tool
for war. I don’t know how you think that you are going to make more…more
Halflings, but I will not be a part of this. I believe in the way of our
people.”
    Anastasia saw the sneer curl on Petra’s lips, knew that the
woman was going to tell her exactly how she planned to replicate Anastasia and
overthrow the Karpaty Council. Though she wanted to know, she wanted to live
more. She and Jasper moved at the same time, but Petra was faster.
    She laughed as she resumed pacing in front of them, having
stooped down to scoop Anastasia’s knife from the ground. She waved it through
the air theatrically, her eyes glinting madly, before stopping right in front of
Jasper and extending her palm.
    With the wicked tip of the silver blade, she drew an
ancient-looking rune into her palm. The blood welled up from the shallow cut,
and Anastasia saw the flicker pass over Jasper’s face. He had underestimated
Petra once again, had been cocky, overly secure in the strength and speed of his
race.
    And here was a new problem.
    Jasper hadn’t fed for hours, and unless she was very much
mistaken, the joining that they had just experienced had stirred his appetite.
The scent of Petra’s blood was ripe in the air—even Anastasia could smell it. If
she focused and tried to sense beyond the coppery tang that was apparent to her
human side, she could detect exotic spices and perfume, a tantalizing odor.
    What must it smell like to Jasper? Even if it was no longer
exactly to his taste, a starving man would not refuse a meal because it wasn’t
exactly to his liking.
    She watched, tension bracketing every muscle in her body as
Jasper growled before running his tongue over the length of his fangs.
    “You are playing a dangerous game.” Jasper looked away from her
slowly, stiffly, as if the movement cost him. “If I am pushed, who says it will
not be you that I drink from?”
    “Ooh, I’d love a good bite.” Petra grinned at him, and
Anastasia felt her stomach roil with revulsion. “But I am not what you crave,
and animals will always go for the easier kill. You will drink from her, you
will bite her, and her latent powers will be awakened. Then I will take her
blood, with its new genetic code, back to the Ukraine.” Petra smiled again as
Anastasia furrowed her brow, trying to follow the stream of consciousness. What
would Petra do with the blood back home? She was a warrior, not a scientist.
    “I am not the only one who has been hurt so deeply by the
Darklings. There are others who support this cause.” The curve of Petra’s ruby
lips sent shivers down Anastasia’s spine. “You cannot resist it, Jasper. Natalia
saw what the depth of your feelings for each other would be.”
    Petra again looked at Jasper, and the look was tender and cruel
at the same time, full of past intimacies. Anastasia understood then that her
lover had also once been with her mentor.
    Instead of making her sad, she was enraged.
    Petra would not lure him in again.
    “You can bite her now, while you still have control, or I can
push you some more. The outcome may not be as you like then.” Petra drove the
blade more deeply into her palm, causing more rich redness to stream over her
skin, to drip to the ground. She gasped with a nearly sexual pleasure at the
sensation. Anastasia heard Jasper swallow thickly, saw his pupils dilate as the
scent hit his nose.
    She knew that he had lived a long time, that he must have
gained some semblance of control. But he hadn’t fed all day, not that she had
seen, and his hungers were aroused from their loving.
    She saw the bloodlust close in, watched him bear down, pushing
through the hunger. It looked as if he was trying to sprint underwater, working
so very hard so very little result.
    He wouldn’t give in. Anastasia knew that he