Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
“Is that all the vibes you’re getting?” he asked.
I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t know what you mean and I don’t want to.”
He smirked. “Up the stairs, Brighton.”
The use of my real name startled me, even though we were alone. My gaze traveled from him to the staircase as I exhaled slowly. As crazy as it was, instinct told me that I was safe with the Prince. My instinct could be completely off base, but I also knew that if I made a run for it, I wasn’t going to make it.
So I started up the stairs.
He said nothing as he walked behind me. We reached the next floor and entered a dark hallway where I could hear the steady thump of music coming from what sounded like the other side of the staircase. The hall also smelled like… fresh beignets. Part of me wanted to question that, but then the Prince brushed past me, the warmth of his body causing me to bite down on my lip. As he opened a door, I peeked around him. The room was circular, featuring a long, cushioned bench against the wall and a set dining table in the middle. There was a short rack glass on the table. Bright purple liquid filled half the glass. Nightshade.
“What kind of room is this?” I asked, folding my arms across my midsection.
“A private dining or party area. There are five of them on this floor. Nice hair, by the way.” He stalked past me.
“Shut up,” I muttered.
Smirking, he picked up his glass of Nightshade. “Still prefer the blond.”
“I still don’t care.” I watched him walk to the wide cushioned bench against the wall and sit. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing, but I already know.”
I ignored that. “This place is frequented by Winter fae and you’re the Summer Prince. I don’t understand how you can be here, hanging out and drinking with them.”
He eyed me as he sipped from his drink. “I help Everest out here. Make sure none of the fae get out of hand.”
Interesting. “And the Winter fae have no problem with you being here?”
“They usually don’t see me until it’s too late. Tonight is different because someone decided to refuse to leave.”
“Perhaps you should’ve just left me be,” I shot back as I started to pace. “So, what is this place, really? A front for fae to hang out and feed?”
“Everest is a… unique businessman who caters to all.” He lowered the glass to his knee. “And he does so with the utmost discretion while providing a… safe place for both species.”
“Safe place?”
“The fae can come here and see to their needs without harming humans in the process.”
My lips parted. “I’ve seen what goes on up here.”
He tilted his head. “And how, pray tell, did you find yourself on this floor? Didn’t know the… activities up here were your kind of thing.”
“They’re not,” I snapped, flushing. I turned from him, pacing away. “I got up here once, very carefully.”
The Prince didn’t respond to that immediately. “And when you got up that one time, did the humans look like they were here against their will?”
“Oh, so they’re volunteers?” I faced him. “Want me to go grab you one of them?”
“I already had Everest do that for me.”
My eyes narrowed on his faint smile.
“Sometimes, when Everest is expecting a certain… clientele, he will reach out to me to make sure there are additional resources here just in case.”
I mulled that over. “How do the humans here keep this a secret if they aren’t glamoured?”
“Who would believe them?”
“They could obtain evidence.”
“They don’t,” he said, and then he took another drink. “You know, you won’t be allowed back here now.”
I smirked at that as I started pacing in front of him. “I’m not worried. I can get back in here if I want to.”
“He’ll be looking out for you.”
“He won’t recognize me.”
“But I always will.”
I shivered, unnerved by that. “Do you live here? Are you always here?”
The Prince didn’t answer that.
“What do you think will happen if the Order ever discovers this place exists? They’re not going to allow it to continue to operate.”
“Who says those who need to know don’t already?”
I stopped and stared at him. “Are you suggesting that Miles is aware of this place and hasn’t shut it down?”
“I’m not suggesting anything. You filled in the blanks.”
I snapped my mouth shut. My first reaction was not to believe him, but the Order had… It had lied about a lot of things and kept a lot of secrets. I knew that. So certain members knowing about this venue could be true.
“I knew it was you Saturday night, from the moment I saw you in that room.”
“That much I figured,” I said, but my stomach still dropped. “Why didn’t you call me out, if you knew it was me?”