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)
We were in her dreams for years, and she never gave a hint of the horrors she faced.
“They were her dreams,” Shim points out. “She was exactly who she wanted to be in those dreams. You should know that.”
In my dreams, I’m whole. Bron never saw the real me until earlier this day. She seemed all right with my lack of beauty, but my scars couldn’t have helped.
Bron was on her own with only Gillian to help her survive. And now she doesn’t even have Gillian with her. How much did she hear of my sister’s speech? “Do you think she heard you, Gilly?”
Tears squeeze from her eyes. “I do. I think she’ll never trust me again, and it’s my own damn fault. If she dies out there, it will be on my head because I’m so bloody arrogant.”
“You’re a princess, Your Highness. You are everything you need to be, including arrogant. If you didn’t believe in yourself and your mission, you and Bronwyn would be dead. You did everything right.” Roan stands to the side, but there is no question he’s an authority figure. “Now let us do our job and get you all to safety. We need to get to Aoibhneas, and then we can have all the fights and recriminations you like. We can all decide what to do from there.”
Gillian stares at him warily. “I thought you’re being paid to get Bron and me back to the Dark Palace?”
“I’m being paid to take care of you and to do what’s in your best interest,” Roan replies. “Your father hired me to find a child. I’m in the presence of a woman with a mind I admire. You and Princess Bronwyn have survived here for a very long time. I’ll listen to any plan the two of you have so long as you allow me to listen from a safe location. I don’t intend to drag either of you kicking and screaming off the plane. You’re smart women. You have a say in your future. That’s something Princess Bronwyn’s husbands should remember when they’re dealing with her.”
“You’re a dangerous man, Roan.” Gillian says the words with a small sniffle, but it’s plain my sister is taking the vampire seriously.
A single brow rises over the vampire’s eyes. “Don’t you forget it for a second, Princess.”
Gillian stares at him for a moment. “Don’t think flattery will work with me.”
A smile tugs that vampire’s lips up, revealing a hint of fangs. “I wouldn’t imagine it. I suspect rope and long days of training will work on you.”
“Roan, you go too far.” I’m not about to let my sister be abused. Though I’m thinking about tanning my mate’s ass red. It makes me a horrible hypocrite, but it feels odd to listen to the vampire talk about Gilly in such a fashion. She’s my sister. She isn’t supposed to do things like get tied up.
Gillian laughs. “I think I can handle one vampire, though he is overly large. Roan will discover soon enough the depth of my training. And the lengths I’ve gone to. I assure you, he’ll find another consort.”
Dellacourt starts walking to the north. “Kaja is this way. I put a locator device under her skin a long time ago. That sweet shanimal isn’t getting away from me. I recommend you all put locators on your women. They walk off all too often. Now, can we stop the whole sexual tension thing between the princess and the mercenary? Either fuck each other or let it drop. I have a cousin and a wife to find.”
Roan’s men gather around, the big lieutenant stopping and staring at Gillian with unabashed interest. Is this the vampire Roan intends to share my sister with?
Am I going to have to kill two vampires? Or should I do exactly what Roan said and assume that Gillian has a brain and can handle herself? Roan won’t force her. He might try to seduce her, but he won’t force her.
I’m about to follow Dellacourt when there’s a popping sound and the sky darkens. I look overhead and clutch my sword. I can’t mistake that cloud. It’s an eddy cloud.
“Is that what I think it is?” Shim tries to walk out, but his eyes close. The light is too much for him.
First blood is supposed to give him strength, and it seems it has. Shim is stronger than he’s been in thirteen years, but it also seems to have enhanced his vampire half. Shim closes his eyes and tries to step out. I shove him back.
“You’re no good if you can’t see.” I can see. It’s irritating, but I can keep my eyes open.
Roan has a sonic charger in his hands. It sends pulses of sound waves that incapacitate or kill its victims if the setting is high enough. “Let’s see who’s come to greet us. They could be friendly.”