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)
In the light of the cabin, I can see him more clearly now and, though older, his features are still bright and sharp with youth. His green eyes radiate, and I know instantly that he’s the one responsible for our current pain.
“Stop!” Rook demands from behind me, his bark almost as fucking intimidating as his bite.
Lucian’s smile only deepens.
“Don’t, Rook!” I croak, holding the weight in my chest with all the strength I have. It feels like it could smother me—and I don’t even need fucking air.
Yep. We’re fucked.
Eventually, though, Lucian sighs. “But perhaps, more appropriate for this occasion…” He pauses and looks around the room at the vampires who are prepared to finish us off. “Gentlemen, please. If you’d leave us for a moment?”
They all retreat quickly, obviously at Lucian’s discretion for orders. I don’t know if they’re gofers or protection detail, but I can tell from the way my chest fucking cracks, this fucker doesn’t need either to get his point across.
As the last of the guys leaves the room, a vampire the size of a bear knocks a picture frame of the three of us as kids off the wall. It shatters when it hits the hardwood floor.
Lucian sighs again, and before I know it, the man is across the room with his throat in Lucian’s hand. “What did I say about unnecessary childishness, Lexor?”
“I’m sorry, Lucian,” the big fucker rushes to apologize. “I’m sorry!”
But sorry isn’t good enough, and in a matter of half a second, he’s no more than a pile of bones on the floor.
Both Blair and Kylie gasp behind me.
“Sorry, ladies,” Lucian says, dusting off his hands and stepping over what used to be Lexor, and then he waves a lazy hand toward Kane and me.
Instantly, the pain releases its choke hold on my body.
Both Kane and I struggle to get to our feet, and Blair rushes over to him before he can stop her. He wraps his arm around her shoulder protectively, and I don’t hesitate to meet the vice president of the Elite Council with every bit of aggression he deserves.
“All right, Lucian Wrath. We get it. You’re more powerful than we can even imagine. You’ve had your fun showing off, so let’s get down to business. What’s going to happen to us?”
He nods, a shine of pride radiating from his eyes. “Oh, Calloway. I knew you’d be tough. Your mother was strong too.”
“You knew our mother?” Kane asks, his voice sounding far more boyish than it ever has.
Lucian nods. “Of course. I’m your uncle.”
What the fuck? My body sways at the news.
Lucian Wrath, an elite vampire, is the uncle to three blue-collar ones. It doesn’t make sense. That’s not how any of this works. Blue-collars and elites don’t stem from the same bloodlines.
“No…” I shake my head. “You can’t be.”
“Yes, yes.” He smiles at me. “You have good reason to think that. But I assure you, I am. My brothers…discarded you, but you are of their flesh and blood. You are elites. All three of you.”
“Fuck that,” Rook declares, Kylie tucked tightly behind him now. “We don’t want it. We’re fine just as we are.”
And neither Kane nor I go against him.
Maybe other blue-collar vampires would want a piece of the elite pie, but not us. We want nothing to do with these disgusting fucks—no matter if they just-so-happen to be family or not. Frankly, the fact that we are related to such a perverse group of vampires only leaves a bitter fucking taste on my tongue.
Lucian nods, his expression a picture of performative understanding. “I sympathize with your rejection, Rook. Truly. After the life you’ve lived, this news can feel like nothing more than spit in the face.” He wags a finger and tilts his jaw. “However, given the recent…activities…you and your brothers have partaken in, and the nature of their punishment, I’m afraid the reality of your bloodline is of utmost importance. It’s why I’ve come myself. To help you.”
Fucking bullshit. To track us down and come here, to our secret, off-the-grid cabin in Connecticut, claiming to be our family, and purporting himself as some kind of savior in this scenario is the height of irony.
It’s men like him who’ve brought us here—who’ve forced Rook, Kane, and me into taking things into our hands and going against their vicious practices of selling women to the highest bidder. Of going against their hoarding of bloodlines in the name of power and longevity and greed.
He’s not a hero. He’s a fucking sadist.
My body prepares to strike—consequences be damned.
“Now, now, Calloway, put away your fangs, my boy,” Lucian comments with a disappointed smirk. “This isn’t the time for that.”
“I’m not your boy, uncle,” I seethe, prompting a growl from Rook behind me.
Instantly, two black-cloaked vampires bang on the back door, sensing the escalation of tension, but Lucian holds up a hand and the noise stops.