Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
“So…they each run a territory down here?” she asks.
I nod.
“Yeah—they seem to run things like crime families—there’s all kinds of alliances, rivalries, and power plays. You think of a plot point from a Mafia romance and they’ve got it.”
Her mouth opens…closes…and opens again.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I wish.” I sigh. “But you haven’t even heard the weirdest part yet.”
“What…weirder than being abducted into a Mafia Vampire romance?” she demands.
“Uh-huh.” I nod. “The strangest thing about this place is that women like you and me—curvy girls—are highly prized.”
Hanna frowns.
“Prized how?”
“They call us ‘Curvy Queens,’” I say. “Apparently, having more body—more flesh—means more magic. More power. Or something like that. I had someone tell me why each separate Syndicate would want me—or any curvy girl—but I can’t remember all of it. Only that over here, curvy girls are like trophy wives.”
Hanna stares at me.
“You’re telling me that over here my big hips and wide behind are a hot commodity?”
“Welcome to the Shadow Realm,” I say, shrugging. “But it gets worse—we’re so prized over here that the Magistrate actually outlawed us.”
“They who?” Hanna asks, looking confused.
“He’s this big, scary guy who polices the whole realm,” I explain. “Apparently, there have been wars fought over Curvy Queens in the past. He’s trying to keep the peace by keeping anyone who isn’t a skinny-minny out because otherwise, all the men would fight over us.”
Hanna goes pale.
“Is…is that why that skull-faced guy was so interested in me?”
“Probably.” I nod. “They all want us. I tried to escape and ended up in the Carnal Bazaar with the Demon Don—Kael—yesterday. “He was determined to keep me—Lucian had to pay a price to get me back.”
Her eyes flick to the door. “And Lucian is…?”
“The Vampire Don,” I say. “He’s the ruler here in The Bleeding Court—the Vampire part of the Shadow Realm. Apparently he saw me through some kind of magic mirror and decided I was the one for him. So he sent Whistler in disguise to take some of my blood—”
“Wait—so he’s the one who had you drug tested?” Hanna interrupts. I had been bitching about the “drug test” to everyone at Book Club, so of course she knew.
“Uh-huh.” I nod. “Apparently because I’m a certain kind of ‘Curvy Queen’ my blood has this special ingredient. Sanguis Vita or something like that. Lucian wants it to help cure some kind of family curse, but he also really loves my curves. Like really loves them,” I confide in her, feeling my cheeks get hot as I remember how his big hands roved over my body last night, making me come again and again.
“That’s just…all of this is so crazy,” Hanna bursts out.
“Tell me about it,” I say. “It’s bizarre, but I’m trapped here. I feel like I fell into the pages of the book I was reading and got stuck.”
She exhales shakily.
“I always thought Book Club might get wild,” she murmurs. “But this feels like a lot.”
I huff a tired laugh.
“Tell me about it. I still can’t believe it myself. I’m still pinching myself to be sure I’m not dreaming because—”
But before I can finish my thought, the bedroom door opens.
Lucian enters first, tall and commanding, followed by Don Malthus, his shadowy robes whispering as he glides inside.
Hanna stiffens at once and goes to stand beside my chair, her eyes wide.
Lucian inclines his head.
“My apologies for interrupting your reunion, ladies but Don Malthus wished to say goodbye.”
The Necro Don approaches Hanna once more. I would say his eyes are intent as he stares at her—if I could see any eyes in those hollow sockets.
“I will not forget you, my lovely one,” he murmurs. “The next time I come to collect a soul, I will be looking for you.”
Hanna shivers and goes pale. I’m afraid for a minute she might actually faint…but she lifts her chin and I see defiance spark in her eyes.
“You can look all you want—I’m not interested,” she says firmly.
Malthus studies her with something like regret.
“You are beautiful with your full curves and your hair like fire—a woman like you could warm even the coldest bones. Would you like to visit the Ossuary Circle before you leave the Shadow Realm?”
“No,” she says sharply. “Absolutely not.”
I wonder if her sharp retort will offend the Necro Don. Most men get upset when you turn them down so bluntly. But he only sighs.
“Too bad…I would have treasured my own Curvy Queen.” He extends one long-fingered, skeletal hand. “I can offer pleasures no mortal can, you know—feasts that taste of the finest memories…wine that makes the heart weep with joy… and sexual release that brings you to the peak again and again.”
Hanna puts a hand on her hips.
“Excuse me?”
His skull tilts and I can almost see a sly grin on the skull mask.
“You heard me, lovely one. The French call orgasm la petite mort—the little death. Does that not give you an idea of what I offer?”