Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Of course, many stories were spread online and in the news about Elijah. The one most people believed was that he’d gone to rehab for alcohol and drug addiction. Ultimately, Elijah chose to let people believe what they wanted to, as long as he still got to play in the band—and bring Echo along with him. The guys also bought that Elijah had met Echo and she’d helped him through his family’s loss.
So, for five years, Elijah continued to play music and do what he loved. Echo enjoyed the touring life. She was never bored, she loved their music, and because she was a natural boss, she kind of accidentally took over their management, and the band hit a new level of fame. After that, Adam came around. But Echo still didn’t like the whiny asshole.
And now she wouldn’t have to deal with him ever again.
This past year, the band had started cracking jokes about how Elijah hadn’t aged a day. How Echo hadn’t either. They’d almost been caught a couple of times on tour when Echo drank from her mate to satiate her vampiric hunger.
It was time. All too quickly, it was time to leave the band and disappear until they faded from human memory. Maybe then they could start over as something new.
Of course, the band hadn’t been happy, but Echo found them a new lead singer who was amazing, if not quite as amazing as her mate, and she found them a new manager she thought was a solid, capable guy. The saddest part was having to cut ties with Phil and Jamal and their families. They didn’t know it yet, but they’d never see Echo and Elijah again. It was too risky.
Elijah stepped up beside her after helping Darrell with their luggage.
In her excitement to see Odette and Nancy, Echo had stopped worrying about her mate. But those few minutes were over, and concern washed through her as she studied him.
“I could feel you,” Elijah murmured as their driver left. He stared up at the house and Echo sensed a pang of grief.
He missed his dad.
She reached out and took his hand. “I can feel you too.”
Elijah looked down at her, love and adoration on his face. He never hid his feelings. He was far more open than Echo ever could be. One of the reasons she loved their mating bond was because he could sense her feelings without her ever having to explain them. Something she’d never really been good at, anyway. “Stop worrying about me.”
“I need you to be happy,” she answered huskily.
Not want. Need.
His happiness was Echo’s happiness.
“I’m home. You’re by my side. After we spend a few months here, we’re planning to travel the world so I can actually see all the places I’ve only ever seen from tour bus windows. I’m not sad, Echo. I promise.” He turned to look at the house, his brow wrinkling. “Not about that, anyway.”
It was true that after a summer in North Vancouver, they planned to travel for a year. Elijah would have to use his fae abilities so people wouldn’t recognize him, but that wouldn’t stop them. Echo was excited for the trip. For the unexpected. Their lives these past five years had been dictated by constant touring with the band. By keeping Elijah’s secret a secret. There had been a few rumors about what he was, and they’d squashed them over the years.
It would be nice to enjoy some time together. Now that The Garm was no longer a threat, they could do that.
As Echo had suspected, the remaining members of The Garm were not interested in William’s agenda. They fought among themselves to control his criminal empire and within a year, The Garm imploded from infighting.
It no longer existed.
Good fucking riddance.
“Are you ready?” Echo squeezed Elijah’s hand.
One of the things she thought her mate needed now was to grieve properly. He’d rejoined the band mere months after Bill’s death, and Echo didn’t think he gave himself time to go through that process. She suspected the next year would be just as much about healing as it was about traveling.
Echo saw the front door open and a tall, willowy blond step out. She hopped down the deck steps two at a time and yelled, “Are you just going to stand there or get in here and say hello to your favorite sister!”
Echo grinned as Elijah chuckled. Together they grabbed the luggage and hauled it up the driveway toward Odette. Nancy stepped out of the house after her but waited on the deck.
Odette suddenly flew into action, and Echo dropped her luggage just in time as her sister dove into her arms. She was taller than her now, which was so weird. Echo huffed at the impact.
“Oh, please.” Odette squeezed her hard. “You’re a vampire, you can take it.”