Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 128087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“You were sent, my lord, just not by who you were told.”
Lazaar hated the unwanted feeling building in his chest, stabbing pains of despair that shattered his once gentle heart.
“Then who?” he snapped.
Oleksandr ducked as branches flew over his head, and the tree trunks cracked deep enough for them to topple.
With his arms outstretched toward him, his guardian appeared scared. “I will explain everything if you—”
“I said who! Answer me!”
His rage made the ground shake harder and the mountain groan as if it were being hurt.
“I did.”
Lazaar had been so consumed with getting an answer that made sense that he hadn’t heard the man behind him until he spoke.
He could do nothing but stand there gaping. In his world, everyone looked alike. There was no variety.
Lazaar had never seen anything more intriguing. His body felt drawn to this person. So much so his gums burned and a ravenous hunger overcame him, shooting unimaginable agony into his stomach.
The man placed a firm hand on Lazaar’s shoulder, and the ache receded.
“I sent you with Oleksandr, the silent sentinel to the haven, Chessuven, for your own well-being, for your safety, Lazaar, or may I call you by the given name of your fathers, Lazaaras Nyateagor.”
“That’s not my name,” Lazaar muttered.
“I made up your world and the reason you were sent…not born there.” The pale-faced man stood rigid in his impeccable black pants and jacket. “Your real fathers, the Lords of the Dark Realms, honored you with many names.”
Lazaar felt a fresh wave of tears and fury because he could see the truth in the man’s dark eyes.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Chadwick Bentley, Vampire King. Because of your regal stature, I’ll allow you to call me Wick.”
Lazaar blinked. Regal?
“Behind me, lurking in the woods, is my true mate. Forgive us, but he’s chosen to meet you in his wolf form.” Wick was silent for a moment before a huge white-and-gray wolf with eyes bluer than the sky eased beside the king and sat back on its haunches. “Lazaaras, Prince of the Dark Worlds, you stand before the Alpha Zenith, Justice Volkov.”
The half man, half wolf. Another one of Lazaar’s favorite stories.
This was almost too much for him to fathom.
“He is in his wolf form for protection.” Wick wove one hand into the thick scruff of fur on top of the alpha’s head. “You possess a power that is not of this world, Prince, and my mate may be defenseless against them as a human.”
“I won’t attack anyone,” Lazaar hurried to say. “And my powers are for giving, serving, not hurting.”
“Your fathers risked everything to leave their Darks Worlds to contact the Mother and me.” Wick smiled with gleaming white teeth, giving Lazaar a glimpse of two sharp fangs. “All to protect you from certain death. I’m relieved the haven I built accomplished what your fathers wanted.”
Lazaar had dozens of questions, if not hundreds. But nothing was more pressing than him needing to know… “Who was the woman in red?”
The Vampire King didn’t hesitate. “Lavinia Drach, your mother. The most powerful mage-vampire to ever come from the Coven of Ember Flames. Where the most evil and deadly witches reside.”
Evil…a witch.
Lazaar doubled over and dropped to his knees, the sting of betrayal causing outrage to consume him.
Lazaar
Lazaar glared so hard at Oleksandr that he shrunk away.
“Do not take your ire out on your guardian. He is the silent sentinel sent to us from the ancient angels of protection. He couldn’t have told you your truth until I allowed it.”
A comforting, melodic voice made Lazaar jerk his head up.
“Rise off your knees, Lazaaras Nyateagor. You are a prince.”
He didn’t know how long he’d been on the ground with silent tears streaming down his hot cheeks, but he had no desire to face this new existence.
He wasn’t born of goodness like he’d been told. Instead, he was a so-called royalty, with fathers who were dark lords and an evil mage-vampire as a mother who’d sent demons to kill him and destroy all he knew and loved.
“She wasn’t trying to kill you, Prince Lazaaras. She needs you alive to take your powers.”
Lazaar felt he should stay on his knees with his head bowed before this angel. From the descriptions in the tales he’d heard, it was the only thing she could be.
“Do not fear to gaze upon me, Prince. I mean you no harm. I am a peaceful being and the Mother of the Earth Realm.”
Her face was almost obscured by an ethereal glow that didn’t allow him to make out her features. Silken white garments blew on the breeze around her bare feet as she went to Justice and touched her head to his.
“Hello, my dearest.”
There appeared to be a telepathic conversation between her and the wolf before she turned back to Lazaar.
“I know, Justice. He cannot be allowed to remain in the Earth Realm. But I knew this day would come, and I’ve established a remedy to keep not only your packs and covens safe but to protect him from his evil lineage.”