Blood Enchanted (Blood Enchanted, Book 1): A Vampire Hunter Paranormal Romance Series by Nicola Claire

had trapped Luc for, I was certain, nefarious reasons.
    But a part of me knew the truth even if my consciousness refused to acknowledge it yet.
    Hakan Bahar was meant to come into my life, and I think it was meant to be now. Right when I matured. Right before I joined. Why?
    I shook my head, offered a fist for Gavin to punch, and then turned and flashed across the courtyard to where Alain had been waiting, leaning nonchalantly against a crumbling brick wall. Legs crossed at the ankles, arms folded casually over his broad chest. Deep blue studying my every move and unlikely to look anywhere else for some time to come.
    "Spreading rumours, Bébé," he murmured, as he straightened and fell into step beside me.
    "Laying a trap, Patron ," I threw back with a wicked grin.
    He didn't say anything until we slipped into the waiting limousine; blacked out windows, human driver, a license plate that depicted it as one of my father's: PLAZA1 . He didn't go for cutesy titles, my father was a perfunctory man.
    The door shut and Alain visibly relaxed, safe from the sun at last. As the car pulled away from the wharves he turned toward me, sitting sideways on the rear seat.
    "Now," he said, voice all business. "Are you going to tell me what the fuck is going on with Lucien? Or do I really have to take you before your father?"
    Bastard. He'd done it again. He'd tricked me and I'd fallen right for the trap. Before I could open my mouth to snarl back at him he moved. Pulling me flush against his body as his hands wrapped around my frame; one splayed flat on my back at the base of my spine, the other tipping my head over sideways with fingers fisted in my hair. His face nuzzled into my neck, his fangs scraping the skin and drawing blood.
    He'd managed the move in less time it took for me to suck in a breath. So fast. So uncomprehendingly quick. I hadn't stood a chance.
    He'd let me land those blows in the courtyard. He'd let me believe I held my own. But Alain Dupont had been hiding his strength and powers for some time I'd guess. From me. From everyone.
    I just wondered if he'd been hiding them from my father as well. And if he had, then he was more dangerous than I had ever considered before. That new ability deep inside my centre stirred. Stretched its head and gazed around, alert. Waiting.
    For what, I did not know.
    But it was about time I started to figure it out, because something told me I needed all of my talents and skills to solve this puzzle.
    First Hakan Bahar. Now Alain Dupont. Could my life get any more complicated?

5
    Hello, Nosferatin
    " D o you think I don't know you," Alain whispered, hot breath against the healing skin on my neck, " Nosferatin ."
    My fingers curled on his shoulders as my Sigillum , still hidden beneath the sleeve of my jacket, burned. It had only ever burned once before; when Alain used his Sanguis Vitam to test our kindred compatibility. If a Nosferatu knows how, they can use their power when saying the name of our kind. The reaction we give is indicative of the strength of kindred joining to be expected.
    I didn't need to know what colours my Sigillum would be spinning right now. The burn told me my reaction to Alain had not changed in five years. The colours would be vibrant... and telling. Rich mauves, deep crimsons, lush greens, vibrant yellows, and chilling blues. Every emotional response I could have displayed in a dizzying array of swiftly turning colours. The only other time my Sigillum displays such an awesome show is when I channel my Light.
    Power.
    My joining to Alain would be powerful. My father had beamed at the time, elated with the prospect of his daughter finding a compatible kindred he not only trusted, but believed would provide for me in a way a Nosferatu understood best.
    Power.
    My mother, in contrast, had looked sad. Whether she argued the betrothal or not, I don't know. If she did, it was behind their closed doors and my father won.
    I knew why she was sad, because I felt it too. I