taming_his_beast_Marie Medina.pdf

Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-77130-095-7

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Karyn White

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this

copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or

reproduced electronically or in print without written permission,

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are

fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or

persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To Howard, who said Ðyes, pleaseÑ when I sent him the

outline for this story.

TAMING HIS BEAST

THE BEAST WITHIN, 1

Marie Medina

Chapter One

ÐI think you should go over there and talk to him,Ñ John said,

giving TristanÓs knee a quick tap under the bar.

Tristan turned on his barstool just enough to eye the dark-

haired guy in the corner again. ÐAnd say what? Hi, we kissed at a

party, but I donÓt remember your name. You gave me your number,

but you left one digit off. Was that on purpose, or were you just really

drunk? I just canÓt see that going very well. He might not even

remember me because he really was pretty drunk.Ñ

John sighed, twirling his beer bottle between his hands. ÐYou

think about him all the time. I can feel itÏhell, I can even hear it

when you drink from me.Ñ

Tristan had been peering back at the corner, but then he

snapped his head around. ÐDo you mind? Keep your voice down.Ñ

John stared at him for a long moment, his expression blank.

ÐEvery supe in here knows IÓm your familiar.Ñ

ÐAnd everyone else has no idea what that means, okay?Ñ

Tristan drained his beer and nodded at the bartender for another.

ÐSure. I got it.Ñ John got off his stool. ÐIÓll be more careful.Ñ

He walked to the back of the bar toward the bathrooms.

Tristan knew heÓd hurt JohnÓs feelings, but John had always

had issues with discretion. He murmured his thanks when his new

beer arrived, but then his eyes strayed to the corner again. The dark-

haired man was making his way to the back as well. A few moments

after he passed through the door that led to the bathrooms, Tristan felt

an odd tingle at the back of his mind. John must have recognized the

guy, but why would his emotions have heightened that much? Would

John say something? John had been right when heÓd pointed out that

Tristan couldnÓt get the guy out of his head, but that didnÓt mean

Tristan should act on the feelings. He wondered again if John would

say something. Surely he wouldnÓt do something like that to Tristan.

Or would he? The tingling sensation got worse, and then it changed.

John was in trouble. In pain.

Shooting off his stool, Tristan raced back to the bathroom.

When he entered, he saw John pressed against the wall wrestling with

a filthy leather-clad man who had his teethÏno, his fangsÏlocked

onto JohnÓs neck. The dark-haired man had the leather-clad guy by

the shoulders, trying to get him off of John but having no luck.

Tristan intervened. He grabbed the leather-clad man by his

hair and yanked his fangs away from JohnÓs flesh. Then he snapped

the manÓs neck.

Nothing but ash fell between John and the dark-haired man,

who looked thoroughly shocked. Tristan started to say something, but

then he shut his mouth. What could Tristan say that wouldnÓt shock

him further?

ÐTristan?Ñ John whispered.

Tristan caught John in his arms right before he hit the dirty

floor. Bending to smell the wound, he cursed. He licked JohnÓs neck

to stop the bleeding and heal the wound. When JohnÓs breathing

steadied, Tristan looked up at the dark-haired man.

ÐAre you okay?Ñ Tristan asked.

The man blinked. ÐIÓm È not sure.Ñ He looked down at his

hand. ÐHe bit me, too.Ñ He blinked again. ÐWhen I first tried to pull

him away.Ñ

Tristan looked and saw the bite marks. Blood dripped steadily

from the manÓs hand onto the floor. Anger surged inside Tristan, but

he held his emotions back. He needed to be calm right now.

ÐIÓm going to need you to trust me, okay?Ñ Tristan said as he

reached toward the man.

ÐYouÓre going toÏÑ The man shook his head, cutting himself

off as he put his hand behind his back. ÐI donÓt know about that.Ñ

ÐI just saved both of you, didnÓt I?Ñ Tristan gestured to John.

ÐHe looks better, doesnÓt he?Ñ

The man glanced at John, focusing on his neck.

John tried to lift his head. ÐTrust him. YouÓre going to need

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: