Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
“You don’t. Kane can sense intention. You can read minds when you’re invited in. But maybe, with my help, you don’t need to be invited.”
“What do you mean?” Blair asks.
Kane’s voice is unbelievably soft as he explains it to her. “Cal means he can be a vessel. We don’t have the access, but he does. If he opens us up to his conversations, to his interactions…we can read the people as though we’re there ourselves.”
I nod. “You’re already stronger because of your bonds. I think there’s a lot of stuff you could do if we tested your limits. You just haven’t had the space or time to practice yet.”
“Good. Then it’ll be your job to converse with as many people as you can,” Rook agrees. “Vampires, women. Everyone. Stay open to us, and we’ll focus on analysis. Surely there are some ghosts hanging out in these closets that we can use.”
“Though, there is one other option,” I add. “And I think you should consider it.”
“What?” Rook asks.
“The four of you should leave. The door’s unlocked now. Escape, and leave me to handle the rest.”
Kane scoffs. “Not a chance in hell, brother. We’re in this together. Kidnappings, murders, auctions, and all.”
I nod. I wish I could say I wouldn’t do the same, but I would. For my brothers, I’d do anything.
And I can’t deny it’ll be a nice change of fucking pace to feel like I’m consorting with these deviant fuckers for an actual purpose.
“All right. I’ll focus on Lucian too,” I say. “I think there’s more there, and I think we’re at a real disadvantage if we don’t understand it. I asked him some questions about Mom this morning, and I think there’s even more to the story than we realize. More he’s not saying. Maybe even more he will if I ask the right questions.”
Kane glances to Rook before tiptoeing into the next subject precariously. “And the fated mate thing? How’s that going?”
My chest seizes. I can’t tell them the risk I took last night. They’d lose their fucking minds if they knew the extent of how much time I spent in her room—that I kissed her knowing I had no choice but to leave her behind. But I know I’ve got to give them something.
“I…well…we…” I pause on a sigh. “I guess we… We know her.”
“We know her?” Kane’s brows pull together. “What do you mean, we know her?”
“Romy Spencer. From Boston Prep?” I offer.
“Romy Spencer is your mate?” Rook asks incredulously.
I shrug. “Evidently, yes.”
“Who’s Romy Spencer?” Blair whispers to Kylie, who, trying to listen to the rest of our conversation, puts a finger to her lips.
“And how’s it going?” Kane asks, his gaze searching mine intensely.
I shrug.
Rook frowns. “You did something stupid last night, didn’t you?”
“Stupid, maybe. Worth it, definitely,” I say, sugarcoating the full truth. “We got a chance to talk. I think she trusts me.”
“Talk, huh?” Kane challenges with a smirk. “Is that all you did?”
“Shut up, Kane,” I retort with a punch to his shoulder.
He guffaws. “Oh my God. I was joking. What else did you do? And more than that, how did you do it? Don’t they have the women secluded somewhere?”
Fuck it. Our best defense is a strong offense. I have to be honest about what happened.
“She’s in the room at the end of the ladies’ wing. I snuck in through the window.”
“Well, I’ll be fucked. I didn’t know you had it in you, stud.” Kane winks at Blair. “It’s always the quiet ones, babe. Always.”
I smile, taking the jab good-naturedly. “Personality traits aren’t singular. It’s the being quiet that requires a certain…boldness.”
Kylie laughs. “And what does Rook’s grumpiness require?”
“A pretty girl like you,” Kane replies, making us all laugh out loud. It’s almost as if we aren’t here. As if our lives are like they were before, only better.
I shake my head lightly, wishing like hell that were the truth. Rook, evidently, notices. “Ky, would you and Blair mind giving us three a minute. Maybe finish the breakfast you started?”
She nods, and Blair stands without a fight. It’s not that they don’t deserve to be included in every damn conversation—they’re involved in the stakes. But there are demons to deal with, for myself and my brothers, and I can’t in good conscience ask them to do it with an audience.
As Kylie and Blair disappear into the kitchen, I lower my voice to a murmur and lean in. “I…met our fathers.”
“Fathers?” Kane asks, his voice serious.
I nod. “Unfortunately, our features have very deep biological roots. I couldn’t deny their paternity if I tried.”
“And there are three of them,” Rook confirms. It should be a question, but it’s not. It’s the dot on an I and the cross of a T we wrote out a long time ago.
“Yes. Rook’s father, Nathanial, is the one who selected our mother. And then he shared her with two of his brothers, Ronan, Kane’s father, and Cassian…mine. And then they sold her away to be used until she died.”