Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“It smells exactly how Zeke described it,” Charlie said to me as Ambrose led us to a path through the trees.
“Like wet trees?” Ambrose asked, shooting him a smile. “Yeah.”
“Jesus,” I mumbled, looking up through the branches. The trees were so tall that you couldn’t even see the tops of them. They must’ve been hundreds of years old.
“You should’ve seen it when we first got here,” Ambrose said as we walked along the pine needle-covered path. “It was the wildest place I’d ever seen. It took days to reach the closest neighbor.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, glancing at Charlie. His shoulders were so tense, they were up by his ears. “You’re old. We get it.”
“Each of us has our own little apartment in the house,” Ambrose explained, ignoring me. “You can stay in Zeke’s, Charlie.”
Charlie nodded.
The house came into view, and my mouth dropped open. It was massive. Larger than the apartment complex Charlie and I had grown up in. It was a frigging mansion. I’d known the Bouchers were rich—they had their own plane—but for some reason I hadn’t anticipated the sheer size of it.
“Here we go,” I said as we reached the driveway. The gravel crunched under our feet as I let go of Ambrose and moved closer to my brother. His hand found mine when we reached the front porch steps. It was clammy with sweat.
I wanted to tell him that they would love him. That he was the best person I’d ever met, and if they couldn’t see that, then they were swamp creatures that didn’t deserve to live. I wanted to remind him that these people were Zeke’s parents, and if they’d raised the Vampire he’d so quickly fallen head over heels for, they had to have some good qualities.
Remembering that everyone would hear anything I said, I just gave his hand a squeeze instead.
Ambrose led us into the house and almost directly into a large living room. It was less fancy than I’d been anticipating, but it still screamed money from the plush carpets beneath our feet to the wool throws artfully draped over the sofas. I barely paid attention to the décor, though, because standing in the room was a group of people, and I instantly knew who Zeke and Ambrose’s parents were.
She was petite and blonde with wide brown eyes. Her mouth was trembling, but it was clear that she was trying to keep her shit together. She was wearing a pale pink sweater set, a long flowing skirt, and no shoes.
He was tall and dark-haired, with the same piercing blue eyes as his sons, whom I’d spent so much time with. Tattoos peeked out of his sleeves and the neck of his shirt. His hair was long and pulled back in a low knot.
A southern belle and a frigging biker. That’s what they looked like.
“This is Charles and Lucille Franklin,” Ambrose announced, putting his hand on the small of my back.
Charlie was shaking.
“These are my parents, Matilda and Erik Boucher. The couple by the window are Sven and Alice Christensen, basically our aunt and uncle.”
“Charles,” Matilda said gently, taking a few steps forward. “We’re so happy to meet you.”
My brother didn’t say anything. When I looked at him, he seemed frozen in place.
“Charlie, actually,” I said, for him. “He prefers Charlie.”
Matilda’s gaze met mine, and she gave a small nod of thanks. “Charlie,” she said softly. “Hello.”
“Zeke asked me to tell you,” Charlie said, the words raspy, almost robotic. “Um…” He paused, like he was trying to remember. “I love you. I’ll love you long after I’m gone.” His voice broke, and he paused. “You once told me that family is worth everything. That the bonds we’re born with and the ones we build are worth any sacrifice.” He let out a shuddery breath. “Every sacrifice. Turns out you were right.”
I clenched my teeth together as I watched Charlie. He clearly wasn’t done, but he was struggling to finish. The room was silent around us.
“This is my mate, Charlie.” His cheeks reddened. “I love him.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Take care of him for me.”
I didn’t realize that tears were rolling down my cheeks until Ambrose wrapped his hand around the back of my neck.
Charlie wasn’t done. He sniffled and raised his chin a little. “And this is his sister, Lucy. She’s a pain in the ass, but she means well. Protect her too, I guess.”
I let out a bark of shocked laughter.
Charlie looked at me. “He made me memorize it,” he said quietly. “Just in case.”
“Sounds like Zeke,” Chance said from across the room.
“Yes, it does,” Zeke’s dad agreed. He stepped forward and reached out to shake Charlie’s hand.
“Mr. Boucher,” Charlie greeted.
“Erik,” the man corrected with a sad smile.
As soon as he’d let go of Charlie’s hand, Erik nodded at me in greeting. “Lucy.”