Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 661(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 661(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
I stare at my new cousin, unable to keep the smile off my face. Snacks? Dante, it seems, keeps his bride on a short leash. “I don’t think I can go back. Do you understand that they want to take me to their plane and pretend like nothing is happening here in my home? What would you do if the place of your birth was being destroyed?”
“I would warm myself by the fire and pray it took several of the wolves of my pack, but if my new family was being harmed, then nothing could keep me away.” She studies me for a moment. “And I can understand where a good princess would see her people as her family. You could try talking to Lachlan and Shim.”
“I don’t think they want to talk,” I point out.
“I have found that my husband will agree to many things when his man parts are in my mouth. You see, Meg is right because many times Dante should not have agreed to such things, but he did agree so I would continue.”
I stare at my cousin. “I don’t think I wanted to know that about Dante.”
Kaja sighs. “Megan also told me I must use a thing called tact. I struggle with tact. So we’re going to this Sir Giles’s home?”
It probably isn’t a good idea to take my new cousin along. “You don’t have to come with me.”
Kaja gets off the bed and shakes out her hair. “I do. I cannot break the sacred code of chicks before dicks. Dante will understand. Or he will not and he will spank me. The good news is we are no longer on his plane, and it was so sad that someone forgot to pack the torture device that makes my poor asshole burn.”
I gasp. “Goddess, Kaja!”
Kaja’s brown hair shakes. “Yes, see. Tact. I do not have it. But I was smart enough to leave that thing behind.”
I’m about to explain the meaning of the word discretion to Kaja when I hear an odd cracking sound. I go to the window and see a huge, dark cloud approaching the village. It moves swiftly and with great purpose.
“What is that? A storm?” Kaja stands beside me, her eyes on the cloud as it stops over what I would bet my life is the town square.
“It’s not a storm.” A sick feeling hits my gut as the cloud hovers and begins to rain down. But it isn’t raindrops cascading to the ground. It’s soldiers. “It’s an eddy wind. Fae who are skilled at magic can ride them and take others along. It’s a way to get large groups of people somewhere very quickly. We need to get to the village.”
I turn, satisfied when Kaja changes from woman to wolf in an easy shift that happens so fast I barely notice it. One moment Kaja is a woman and then next a graceful wolf following behind me. The wolf looks up at me with questioning eyes.
“No, Kaja, we’re not leaving our family behind.” I can’t leave them now.
Because Torin found me and I can’t run anymore.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lachlan
My hand is on my sword as I stride out the door. The light hits me, and I realize I forgot my protective glasses. The light on this plane is too damned bright. It’s fine when we travel at night, but the full glare of afternoon reminds me how strong vampire DNA can be.
“And where are you planning on going?” Roan asks.
“Bronwyn is gone.”
Roan curses and pulls out the communication device he uses to call his men in from their duties. “I don’t suppose you know where she’s gotten off to?”
Shim stalks through the door. He stops on his heels as the sunlight hits him. He slaps a hand over his eyes and steps back into the shade of the house. “Damn me. What is that?”
Roan stands in the sunlight looking infinitely superior in his full military gear. His body is covered with lightweight clothes that protect his skin from the sun’s rays. As with many vampires, he has implants that protect his eyes. They flow around his face when in the presence of ultraviolet rays and disappear when there is no longer a need for them.
I didn’t need them before, but the sunlight in Tír na nÓg is taking a toll. I can stand outside, but my eyes ache. Shim, it seems, can’t even stand to be in the sunlight at all.
“I should have known. Stay inside, Shim. You’ve had first blood, haven’t you? It’s why you’re stronger. I saw it the minute you walked downstairs. You feel it, don’t you?” Roan asks.
Shim puts a hand over his eyes, staring out at the vampire. “I’ve never felt so damn healthy. Well, not since I was a child.”
“Consort blood. I’ve heard there’s nothing like it, but almost every royal taking consort blood knows that the ultraviolet effects get worse. Shim, you’ve had blood, but Lach hasn’t yet, has he?”