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)
The right thing. Internally, I scoff. His right thing can kiss my ass.
Because I will never, ever come to heel.
Romy
Makeup bag in hand, cover-up job complete on my wrist and neck, heels dangling from my fingertips, and the lingerie I’m to wear on parade draped over my arm, I make my way down the stairs of this giant, moody mansion for the final time.
As instructed, my bags are packed and waiting in my room, ready for transport to the destination of my vampire’s choosing when the bonding is complete, and everything I might need for the next twelve hours is in hand.
My lips tremble slightly, and my legs shake even in the ballet flats I somehow snuck past my mother and into my bag, but inside, I’m feeling remarkably calm.
Because my whole being feels complete in ways I can’t describe, and because of the bond or love or…I don’t know, something else that’s far more intense and undefinable with words…I trust Cal with my entire being.
My life. My future. My safety. It’s all in his hands, and surprisingly, that’s reassuring.
When he says he’s going to get us out of this before I’m in the back of a dark van on my way to Blood Island with some dude named Vlad, I believe him.
For my sanity, at least, I have to.
“Hey, Romy,” Hillary says, catching up to me on a jog halfway down the stairs. She looks beautiful, of course, and because of the change in schedule that kept us locked away in our rooms all morning, I haven’t had a chance to talk to her since last night.
“Hey, Hillary,” I greet. “You excited?”
Her chin jerks back into her chest, and her eyes widen just slightly as she considers me in between watching her step. “You seem…weird.”
“What do you mean?”
She laughs, but it’s not the funny kind. “Are you kidding? With all your humdrum stuff for the past two days, I thought you’d be freaking out.”
I shrug. “I thought I would be too. But I don’t know. Maybe it’s just that I’m out of time or something, so I might as well go with it.”
When she guffaws, I turn to look at her. She does look more nervous than usual, her cheeks flushed rosy-red like she’s been hanging out in a sauna for a little while.
“Why?” I ask her, my voice soft. “Are you freaking out now?”
“Uh, yeah,” she hisses. “This getup I’m supposed to wear seems five times smaller than when I picked it out, and I’m supposed to be sold to a vampire tonight. Then they locked us in our rooms all morning and afternoon, and I haven’t seen the sun in two days. Of course, I’m freaking out!”
Rearranging all the shit I’m carrying to my right side, I put my left arm around her and pull her toward me in a half hug. Her body quivers against mine.
I know it’s messed up, but it’s the best thing I’ve felt in a while. Hillary being scared is normal. Hillary being scared means it’s going to be a hell of a lot easier to convince her to run whenever Cal gives me the sign. Her being scared means she’s probably not the only one, and the more of these women who catch wind of reality before shit hits the fan, the better.
My parents never let me do team sports, but tonight, I see myself acting as a captain of sorts.
“You just stick with me, okay?” I squeeze her shoulder once more. “We’ll take care of each other. We still have a few hours to hang out and get ready, and we’ll do some relaxation techniques.”
She scrunches up her nose. “You know relaxation techniques?”
“Oh yeah,” I lie. “Tons of them.”
“Okay.” She lets out a deep breath. “Relaxation sounds like a good plan.”
“You bet. We’ll even rope some of the other girls in if they’re not too preoccupied with all the beauty stuff,” I say, offering a reassuring smile.
She smiles back, but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes. “Sounds like a plan, Romy.”
“By the way…the guy I was telling you about two nights ago?” I ask, hoping a little bit of gossip will bring her some comfort too. Still, there are ears everywhere, so I’m cautious not to say his name aloud or to give any other details about knowing him.
Hillary glances to both sides with just her eyes. “Yeah?”
“Well, I think you talked to him last night. Just picture the nicest guy you spoke with…brown hair, blue eyes.”
“Oh my God! Him?”
I nod. I can see the appreciation dancing through her eyes, but I don’t blame her. I can’t blame her. I had the whole thing last night—the real Calloway Slater deal—and he deserves every ounce of fantasy he gets.
The reality is that much better.
“Yes!” I agree excitedly. “He’s always been dreamy. Quiet. Kind. Steady. Even when we were kids.”