Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
“Where the hell would I go?” I ask to no one in particular.
I’m alone in a world that is so foreign it’s legendary on my home plane. I’m a city girl who doesn’t know how to make dinner that doesn’t come neatly wrapped in plastic. I am, once again, in love with a man who can’t love me back.
I sink down, put my head between my hands, and cry.
Cian wordlessly drops down behind me. I’m not sure when he came out, but he’s probably heard everything. I don’t fight him when he gathers me into his arms and rocks me while I sob.
An hour later, I dry my tears and get dressed for the day. Cian sits at the kitchen table watching me as I try to figure out how to cook the eggs I found when I ventured into the chicken coop. That was an adventure. It seemed to me that all the chickens were looking at me like they knew I ate their sister last night. There was judgment in those little black chicken eyes. If I hadn’t been so hungry, I would have run out because their beaks look dangerous. But my stomach warred with the fear of being pecked and hunger won.
I had gathered five eggs when I heard a low sound. I looked across the yard and saw Cian milking a cow. He still has to be told my name every few minutes, but he seems happy enough to follow me around and do the odd chore. He hasn’t tried to get back into bed. I feared I would spend the day coaxing him out. Instead, he is shadowing me.
Now he sits patiently, watching and drinking milk from a mug. I tried it, and despite my fear that warm milk would be gross, I found it slightly sweet but definitely drinkable.
There’s a strange little oven that Beck used last night, but there’s no stove top. There’s a grill in the hearth, though. After poking around all the cabinets, I came up with an iron skillet. I might never have been camping, but I’ve read enough books to know how to cook.
At least in theory.
“Are you hungry?” I smile at Cian as I crack the eggs into the skillet. I use a fork to whisk them. There are only four forks, two knives, and three spoons. None of them match.
“I am.” Cian studies me for a moment, his eyes moving across my face. “Did my brother send you to take care of me?”
“Yes.” I give him a sad nod. It’s the truth. Beck bought me to save his brother. I have a job to do and it’s past time to take it seriously.
“You’re very pretty,” Cian says, almost shyly.
I wonder how old he thinks he is. Sometimes he comes off as almost childlike. Other times he looks at me with barely controlled lust in his eyes. He hasn’t acted on it. I feel perfectly safe with him, but it can be difficult to keep up with the changes. After we eat, I intend to get this bonding thing done, so I can have another fully functional, non-crazy teammate. Hopefully one who will listen to reason.
After I broke down, I made a few decisions. I can lie down and cry. I can bemoan my fate and become bitter, or I can get off my ass and make do. I can be dependent on the people around me, or I can learn really damn fast. I don’t intend to act as Beck’s wife again, so I better be a fast learner.
I need to earn my keep, and I’m not going to do it on my back. When Beck comes home, we will sit down and work out a contract. Not the kind I hoped for with him. No, this will be an employment contract.
I’m going to need one because according to that vampire computer, I’m not going home. Ever.
While I was in the barn, I came across a small room. It has a cot where Beck slept the night before and a tiny stove to keep it warm. It’s not much, but I can stay there and be fairly comfortable. From what I read on the computer Dante left behind, I understand that the brothers need me to remain physically close to at least one of them. Somehow, my brain forms connections with theirs and allows them to function. There was a bunch of mind-numbing chemistry and science that I skimmed over.
There is nothing in the vampire information that claims sex is required at all, so it’s best I sleep apart from them. I doubt Beck will have a problem with it. Once I make it clear to him he doesn’t have to worry about my sexual advances anymore, he’ll probably get on board with my plans.
A room of my own will help. It would be far too hard to sleep beside them every night and not be able to touch them. Once Cian is rational again, I have no doubt he will be slightly horrified to find out he’s married to someone his brother has such distaste for.