Tempt (Ava Delaney #3) Read Online Free Page A

world. They still hadn’t been accounted for, and I
dreaded the possible consequences. Becca was enough monster for
me.
    “ We haven’t come across any others, and Europe is on watch. It
will be near impossible for that formula to change hands. I’ve been
in touch with other elder vampires around the world. We’re all of
the opinion that this was a foolish mistake by an over-eager power
hunter. Nothing more. The situation’s contained.”
    I didn’t
respond, but as I left the coven’s home, I couldn’t help thinking
that her words meant she wasn’t taking the possible threat
seriously. There could be an army of creatures—beasts—just like
Becca. If the vampires themselves didn’t investigate the effects of
the formula, then we had no chance of preparing ourselves for the
repercussions. The vampires were too busy trying to exchange blame
and wash their hands of Becca. The elder vampires were simply too
arrogant to believe that other vampires might be willing to use
creatures like Becca in an effort to usurp the controlling covens.
Elder vampires like Daimhín dictated how much blood each coven was
allocated; rogue vampires wanting that control back didn’t surprise
me.
    The only
reason Gideon hadn’t been imprisoned or staked was because the
Council needed his help with capturing Becca and providing
information on the formula. The Council members weren’t exactly
forthcoming with new information, and that bothered me a great
deal. I didn’t even know if the captured candidate was dead or
alive. Or the subject of experiments.
    Flashes
of memories came to mind—a supernatural being in the Council’s
underground cells, willing to die a horrible death rather than face
the Council. My instincts hummed, and I felt a spark of life I
hadn’t in a while, not since I’d found out my true heritage. Impure
nephal. Tainted offspring of an angelic being. The rare earthbound
seraphim like my mother could bear warriors whom angels would
command on Earth. The tainted could be used as a weapon by light or
dark, which was exactly what the ancient vampires didn’t want. And
exactly what others wanted desperately.
    Like
others, my mother had been targeted and bitten during her
pregnancy. After her death, my grandmother had somehow managed to
raise me without drawing attention from the vampires who would have
killed or kidnapped me. I had become an unpredictable being
universally perceived to be a threat because I hadn’t yet matured,
therefore, I could still pick a side. Whatever that really
meant.
    All I
had focused on were the lies I’d been told and the mistakes I’d
unwittingly made. The task of hunting down Becca had been pushed on
me before I could deal with the consequences of my trial. I still
hadn’t sorted through my feelings.
    I was so
engrossed in my thoughts that I almost missed Carl leaving my
building. I was still at the other end of the street and assumed
he’d come to visit me, so I rang his mobile and watched as he took
it out of his pocket then ignored the call.
    “ What the hell?” I had no idea what that was about. It was
definitely Carl. He had been my minion for a time, had healed me
with his blood, and even tried to help during my trial. I knew the
man by heart.
    He had
been inside my building. Of that, I was certain. As I let myself
into my flat, I inhaled deeply and was sure his scent lingered in
the air. If he had come to see me, why wouldn’t he answer the
phone?
    I rang
Peter. I wasn’t sure why. Something bugged me. Then again, a lot of
things were unsettling me of late, and I hadn’t been giving
anything my full attention. I had a sick feeling that life had been
passing me by while I was busy feeling sorry for myself. That had
to change.
    “ Is Carl with you?” I asked when he answered, just to see what
he would say.
    “ No, I think he said he was going to see his parents tonight.
Why?”
    I
hesitated and decided not to make anything of it. Peter seemed to
think I had serious