A Shade of Novak by Bella Forrest, now you can read online.
Prologue: Kiev
The beautiful Italian vampire stood by the port, gazing out at the ocean. The sight of her took my breath away. Even after centuries, she still had the same effect on me.
I approached quietly and placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped back, extending her claws and lashing out as soon as she recognized me. I retreated a few steps, stunned by the hatred burning in her eyes.
“Stay away from me, you monster,” she snarled.
Gone was the fear I had grown accustomed to seeing in her whenever I was in her presence. In its place was sheer malice.
Her words stinging my ears, I stared at her lips. Those soft red lips… Those lips that had once kissed me with passion. That had so often woken me from sleep. That had uttered words of undying love.
Those lips that had never used to require force or threats to press against mine.
But now, those lips cut me deep.
It was hard for me to reconcile how such venom could have emerged from such softness. Even though I knew I deserved every word.
Her insult penetrated my skin, seeped into my very bones and set my mind on fire. As I stared down at her, I caught the reflection of my own red eyes in hers. And I knew then that those lips would never kiss me willingly again, for what I had become could not evoke affection from anyone.
So I forced a kiss on her, as had become a habit of mine whenever I wanted to remind myself of her taste.
When she fought me, I gripped her neck and kissed her harder. I sank my fangs into her lower lip, drawing blood. Then I bit into her neck. Her gasping and struggling only added fuel to my frenzy. Aware of the crowd now gathering around us, I lifted my mouth from her skin and slammed her back against a tree. As I withdrew a dagger from my belt, she screamed. I clasped a hand over her mouth. Tears streamed down her cheeks as I ran the cold blade against her collarbone.
“Natalie Borgia,” I whispered into her ear. “The vampires’ ultimate diplomat. How will we manage without you?”
Her eyes widened as I cut a gash in her skin, her hands clawing against my shirt.
“Please! No… Kiev!”
“I think somehow we’ll survive.” The words escaped my mouth in a hiss, revealing what I had become: a snake.
“T-try to remember! Please. You don’t want to do this.”
I brought the dagger down and pierced her kneecap. My hand wasn’t enough to stifle her shriek. I withdrew my hand as she gasped for breath, her eyes drowning in agony.
“That hurts, doesn’t it? Good.”
I slid the dagger out of her knee and waited a few moments. Then I brought it slamming down again, relishing the sound of bone splintering. Her hands reached for my neck. Returning the dagger to my belt, I wrestled her to the ground and straddled her hips.
Her lips had ripped out my heart.
Now I’ll rip out hers.
Extending my claws, I dug deep into her chest. As my hand closed around her heart, I watched as she released her last breath. Then I placed my arms beneath her and lifted her onto my lap. I sat cradling her limp body against mine, as one would a child.
And I fell apart.
My body shook violently as tears streamed down my cheeks, mixing with the blood on my hands.
Chapter 1: Kiev
A searing pain brought me to consciousness. I reached for my stomach. Warm blood soaked my fingers. I looked up through the darkness of my cell to see a tall figure looming over me.
“We’ve come to a decision.” The coarse voice of my captor echoed off the walls. “The execution will take place in three days.”
“What?” I choked.
“We can’t afford to keep you alive longer than that.”