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)
They do their best to set everyone’s nerves at ease, but it’s a losing battle with a hundred hysterical women. I don’t bother with my own anecdote about Cal literally snapping a man’s neck to save me earlier, because with emotions this high, it won’t do any good.
“Yeah, sure, if either of them is still alive,” a woman named Whitney hisses. “Maybe your precious mates lost the fight. Did you ever think of that?”
Unfortunately, I didn’t. In my mind, there was no possibility that Cal could lose. Fate, surely, wouldn’t give me the biggest gift of my life, just to rip it away before we ever got started.
Would it?
As chaos builds, I make my way to the front windshield and grab on to the handle to open the door. As soon as we come to a stop, I pull it and hit the ground running.
My feet are already torn apart—they can’t get any worse. And if Cal is somehow dead without my knowing, I’d rather be dead myself anyway. It doesn’t matter what dangers face me. Not knowing if Cal is alive or not is worse.
I haven’t been able to reach him since we made it to the bus, but I told myself it was just the distance. That our communication somehow lost signal like a walkie-freaking-talkie.
My knees shake and my hips jolt as I take the stairs two at a time despite a raging pain in my feet. As the door opens and Lucian appears at the threshold, I slide to a stop, a cry sticking precariously in my throat.
No. No!
His eyes are keen as ever as he recognizes me, a small, sad smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
“Romy, my dear—”
“Cal!” I yell, daring to cut him off, no matter the risk. “Where’s Cal?”
He nods. “Don’t worry—”
“Romy!” Cal’s yell is guttural as he bursts through the door and pulls me into his arms.
I shake and cry, burying my face in his neck as he gathers me as close as he can. “Shh, it’s okay. Shh.”
“I couldn’t get in touch with you, and then when we got back here, I thought…” My sniffles make it nearly impossible to continue.
Lucian, though not part of our conversation at all, chimes in. “I’m afraid that’s my fault, and I apologize. When I get worked up, my shielding runs a little overactive. I was likely blocking you from each other unintentionally.”
Rook and Kylie and Kane and Blair reunite on the steps just below us, and while I’m on edge, the three Slater brothers seem to be mostly at ease. I don’t fully understand it—how they’re so calm with Lucian right here talking about shielding us from communicating, but they are.
Cal’s face softens in understanding when I jerk my head toward the old, evil vampire in question. “Turns out, he’s on our side.”
My eyes narrow, and he laughs. “I know, we were skeptical too. But Kane confirmed. His intention is pure.”
“But he’s a shield,” I argue. “I read something about shields—”
Lucian interrupts my rant with a laugh. “What a smart, tough woman you’ve been given, Calloway. Cherish her.”
Cal nods. “I will.”
“Ladies,” Lucian calls, addressing the crowd of women who’ve now amassed at the bottom of the grand stairs. “I want to thank you for your unyielding patience and apologize for the atrocities you’ve been subjected to while here. I know this is what some of you were raised to expect, but no woman should have to forfeit her autonomy for the chance at a better life for her family. Period.”
He pauses briefly for a roll of chatter to die down before he goes on. “You have a choice. The first one: you can leave now, with all your belongings and a sworn vow of no further interference in your lives. Your families will still receive the dowry they were promised, and it’ll be your preference whether you find companionship in a vampire of any stature, a human, or no one at all. The second: if you want help finding a mate, whether destined or courted, of vampire descent, you’ll be given it. I will be vacating these grounds and returning to the Cape, but anyone who chooses to stay will be welcome. You’ll be serviced by a fully female staff and assisted with job opportunities in the area if you wish.”
“The point, I suppose, is that the choice is yours,” Lucian continues. “For the first time in two hundred years, you are invited to be the architects of your own lives. Your new Elite Council—who’ve elected to be known only as The Council now—will fight for it. They’ve proven that today.”
He gestures with a wide arm, opening it to Rook and Kane and Cal.
I stare up at Cal with wide eyes, and he looks down at me with a little grin.
“Oh, so, by the way…” he whispers. “Something worth noting—I’m in charge now.”