Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“You see my point?” Beck asks, not unkindly. “Look, Cian talked to me about what Uncle Don is doing to you. You might not like to hear this, but I think he’s right. You do need to find a consort. It’s far past time, but Kaja isn’t the right one. I’ve discussed the situation with Reeve, and if your family will pay her fee and put a hefty down payment on the next suitable consort to come through, Reeve will give you the first look. He’ll make it a private sale contingent on your father’s acceptance of the female. I’m sure your father will agree to it. It isn’t a deal Reeve would make with another vampire family. I’ll take Kaja and find a place where she’ll be happy. You’ll get your consort, and Kaja will be free.”
My claws pop out as the words from my cousin’s mouth sink in. My hands twitch with the need to wrap them around Beck’s throat. A righteous sense of possessiveness sweeps across me. It’s primal and like nothing I ever felt before. “I bought Kaja. I paid her full price. I used my own fucking money to do it. I signed the paperwork not ten minutes ago. Is Reeve threatening to revoke her sale?”
Beck takes a step back, his eyes widening as he glances down at my hands. “Not at all. Look, cos, no one is telling you that you can’t have a consort. One comes through every couple of weeks. Be patient.”
My cousin pats me sympathetically on the shoulder, and without a thought, I bat his hand away. Beck holds his fisted hand by his side, but I can see the impulse to fight in him. Part of me hopes the big Fae gives in to it. I’m sick of being treated like an idiot. “Stay out of my marriage. If you won’t accept Kaja, then get your ass back to your kingdom. I’ll take care of my consort.”
I turn and note Meg’s white face. She watches the confrontation with a worried air. Kaja’s eyes have come open, but she doesn’t look worried. She’s watching Beck with narrow eyes, as though prepared to attack should he take a step toward me.
“It’s all right, sweetheart.” I take a deep breath and calm a bit. I don’t need more drama tonight. She needs to see that I’m calm and in charge. The gnomes are coming in with the second tub. The water she cleaned herself in is grimy. She needs a bath from her bath. “Beck isn’t going to hurt me. He’s leaving.”
“We’re leaving?” Cian asks, walking in with a bucket of hot water.
“No,” Beck replies with a frown. “Dante is being unreasonable.”
Meg gets up and fetches a towel as the wee ones make the clean tub ready. Kaja stands.
“Hey.” I grab a towel, covering her. I didn’t think much about her nudity before. She was covered in filth. Now that her pale skin is clean and glowing like a pearl, I have problems with it. “We have guests.”
She nods. “Yes, I can see them. Meg, Cian, and Beck.”
She smiles as she points to each and seems pleased to remember their names.
“Yes, and the men have no need to see what belongs to me,” I mutter. “They should leave.”
“You see what I mean?” Beck asks, looking at his brother. “Unreasonable. He won’t listen to me, Ci. Talk to him. She’s wild. She needs to roam. She needs a home with lots of land and places to run. I was thinking of the woods outside the village. As long as she promises not to attack our villagers, it would be perfect. There is plenty of game in the forest. Would you like that, Kaja? Would you like to be alone in the woods?”
I feel her small hand slip into mine. She clutches the towel around her. Her smile has disappeared. “The First does not want me?”
“First?” Beck asks.
She inclines her head toward me. “Yes. I thought the First wished to mate with me. He allowed me intimacies. Do I not understand? Does he already have a mate? Our First is allowed to mate with any of the women. I am clean now. I will stay clean if that is what you require.”
Her big eyes are killing me. What is it about this petite woman that kicks me in the gut? And the cock. Damn, she’s beautiful. She’s utterly different from any woman I’ve met before.
I put my hands under her arms and lift her out of the water. The gnomes immediately haul the filthy tub away. The new tub is ready. They’ve been thorough, giving me everything I asked for, including my Scotch. There’s a glass of water for Kaja. “I do have a mate, though we use the word consort where I come from. You are my consort, Kaja. I signed the papers a few moments ago. You legally belong to me. Do you understand?”