Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
My eyes go wide, and I pull my fingers from his hand. He wants me to immerse myself in water? I saw two members of the pack fall through the ice into water once. They struggled and fought and finally went under, never to be seen again.
“No,” I say, shaking my head.
I will not allow him to drown me. I will not be put down. I have done nothing wrong. I plant my feet to stop from coming one step closer to that small pool.
“Yes,” the First sighs. “Look, this isn’t going to work if I can’t convince you to stay clean. Vampires are fastidious creatures. Heightened senses and all. Let’s get you cleaned up and then we can talk. I have plans, you see, and you, darling, figure into them.”
I will not be able to talk. I will drown. I pull back and try to change. A growl of frustration starts low in my throat. My limbs will not change. I am weak in this form. Why, oh why, can I not change? I try to pull away from the First’s hold. I want so badly to run. I will run and never come back. I will find a place with a forest. I will live alone forever.
“Stop fighting me,” the First says, sounding tired. He wraps his hand around my arm and tries to haul me to the pool.
“Tell her, Dante.” That comes from the dark-haired man with the sword.
The First refuses to give up his hold on me. We are at an impasse. I struggle against him. “I just did that, Beck.”
“No, you didn’t. You were polite. That’s not what she needs. She didn’t respond to you until you forced her to submit, and then she followed you like a sweet girl. Dogs are like that. They fight and bite until you show them you’re their master.”
“She is not an animal.” The First sounds irritated.
“Neither is Meggie, but trust me, our lives got easier once I took control,” Beck offers.
The red-haired girl snorts. “As if.”
The one called Beck stands too close now. He stares at the First. “Tell her what to do. If she doesn’t do it, make her do it. She needs it. She’s scared. We have no idea where she came from or what she’s been through. She calmed down once she realized you were stronger than she was. It makes her feel safe. She needs dominance first and then kindness. Take control or I will.”
I fight harder. I don’t like the look of that one. He is larger than the First and probably cruel. What is this kindness he speaks of? The word does not translate. Why would the First let me close and then kill me? Tears form in my eyes. I hate them. Helga used to slap me every time I cried. It is weakness. I growl low in the back of my throat to cover them up.
“No.” The First growls right back. “You will do as I say. Don’t make me hurt you. I don’t want to do that, but I will if it means keeping you alive. If you get away, Beck will hunt you. Do you understand?”
His words are too fast, and I am not truly listening. The man—Beck—has his hand on his sword again. Meg is pulled behind the soft one. I kick out, trying to hit the First in the groin again. I am surrounded and I cannot change, but I will not go down without a fight.
The First roars at me, and I am on the ground once more. I feel the hard dirt against my skin and his hand on my neck.
“You belong to me,” the First snarls at me, his breath hot against the back of my neck. “You will do as I say. If you don’t, we’re going to have a problem. I might not have played at BDSM, darling, but I assure you I can spank that sweet ass of yours if I have to.”
I go limp. The tears begin, and they won’t stop this time. Perhaps it would have been better if they left me to die after my father’s betrayal. I was a newborn babe. I wouldn’t have cared. I would have given in to the snow sleep and never woken up.
“Damn it.” The First pulls me up. His arms wrap around me. I am filled with his scent once more. I do not struggle. He is warm and smells so good to me. I cannot stop my futile tears as I let him settle me on his lap. “Why are you fighting me, sweetheart?”
“I do not wish to die,” I say quietly. I do not know why. Valhalla has to be better, but I worry I will be given to Hel.
The First’s face is wide open. “What? I’m not trying to kill you. I’m trying to get you clean.”