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)
“That doesn’t make it the only way, though,” I find myself challenging. The compulsion to bring her back to center is too strong. “Not even close.” My uncle smirks, and Nathanial huffs. “But it’s tradition.” The word rolls off my tongue in its bitterest form.
A tradition that’s destroyed the entire equilibrium of the vampire race, mind you. One that’s born only male vampires into this world for the last few centuries—and caused the presence of female vampires to disappear almost entirely.
One that’s made an entire human bloodline go extinct.
One that’s brought pain and suffering and abuse and death to too many human women to count.
But yeah, tradition.
My uncle’s smile is smarmy as he inserts his own opinion. “Romy, darling, I think you’ll find the selection to be the scariest part of the process, my dear. All these vampires and so little autonomy. I understand it must be unsettling for some. But I assure you this is the very worst of it. From here forward, you’ll find a height of purpose so tall you’ll lose track of the ground. Adoration, gratitude, and absolute servitude from your mate. This isn’t about blood in the end. But about an unbreakable bond and mutual benefit.” He smiles. “Come. I’ll introduce you to a few gentlemen personally. Show you it’s not so bad after all.”
Romy’s eyes jump to me, a tell I can’t blame her for at all, as Lucian puts a hand at the small of her back and guides her away.
And Lucian meets my eyes with a twist of his waist, a smirk turning up the corners of his lips. It’s all the indication I need that he knows my interest in Romy exists—I only wonder if he knows to what extent.
Does he think I’m just smitten? Or does he sense the universal bond growing between us?
“Such a fucking Neanderthal.” Nathanial pokes at me, fiddling with the cuff links at the ends of his sleeves. “I still can’t fucking believe Lucian brought you here instead of killing you.” He laughs before downing his drink. “At least he killed mine.”
As he turns away on the brutally casual remark, Rook checks in. My mind has been open to his and Kane’s interpretation tonight, as discussed, and right now, I’m glad to have the extra ears.
Did he just imply I’m dead? Rook asks inside my mind.
That’s what it sounded like to me, I agree.
“Well, that’s real fucking interesting,” Kane remarks.
I agree. Interesting, indeed.
Does that mean Lucian is the only one who knows we’re all here? Rook asks, mirroring my own thoughts so exactly it’s as though he’s in tune with my mind. And if he is, why did he keep it a secret?
Neither of us answers. Because neither of us knows.
Focusing on Romy without making it obvious, I move to the bar and order another bourbon. I don’t intend to drink much of it, but the act of procuring it gives me something to do other than talking to other women or killing my uncle with my bare hands.
“Where are you from, Romy?” a vampire I know only by the name Julian asks, his tone both friendly and interested.
Too fucking interested.
“Um, Massachusetts,” she answers. “But the west side.”
“Ah, I see. Have you ever been to the Cape? Or Martha’s Vineyard?”
“Many times,” she says hesitantly, her voice shaking. “We vacationed there in the summer. My father loves to sail.”
“Incredible,” Lucian remarks, inserting himself like some kind of fucking matchmaker. “Julian owns homes in both places. I imagine you’d find a pairing with him quite comforting.”
“Oh Lucian, come on now.” Julian lets out a hardy-har-har chuckle like some rich prick. “A woman as beautiful as Romy here is bound to be the subject of many, many bids. I can only hope to be so lucky as to be the winning one.”
And his reply is enough to set me in motion toward them, consequences be damned. My uncle already knows Romy is a weakness. What the hell’s the difference?
“Easy, Tiger,” Kane warns in my ear. “Lucian is hoping you’ll approach—it’s practically hemorrhaging out of him—and Julian is harmless. Interested, yes, but I sense no real evil will. He’s here because he doesn’t know any better, but his intention is gentle.”
I pull to a stop and spin in place, meeting the eyes of a woman across the room. She startles at the contact. Just to the side of her, Nathanial and Cassian, my deadbeat father, watch me closely. With no other option, I call her toward me with just a nudge of my mind.
It’s the wildest shit I’ve ever done and feels wrong on every level.
For Romy’s benefit, I reach out with a statement of comfort for her ears only. “My uncle wants nothing more than for me to come running to you. I’m going to talk to someone else, just to look busy, okay?”