Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Sarika smiled at the terrifying Carpathian. “I had hoped to meet with you and your lifemate. Luiz is my cousin and speaks very highly of you.”
“Luiz didn’t tell me you have many powerful gifts. He focused on your courage and your inability to stay out of harm’s way.”
The tone was the casual arrogance that ordinarily could set her teeth on edge. Absolutely in command. Implying he could and would remedy what might be perceived as failings. Because she had a thread to him through her jaguar, she felt his humor. More, he shared that humor with his lifemate. He hadn’t let go of the woman’s mind for even a small moment. It was as if Marguarita anchored him into the world of civilization.
“Luiz does seem to have a teeny problem with modern-day independent women. He told me you were head of the family. You might want to have a little discussion with him about it and clue him in.”
Dominic burst out laughing. Tomas did as well. Marguarita came out from behind Zacarias and offered her hand.
“Do you prefer to speak telepathically, with notes or sign?” Sarika asked. She was willing to use any of Marguarita’s preferences. Just the fact that she could be lifemate to a man as dark and shadowed as Zacarias elevated her to star status. The moment their hands came together, she knew it was a fact that Marguarita was pregnant and much further along than she appeared. There was no evidence in her feminine form.
Dominic put another chair up to the table. “Sit, Marguarita, before Zacarias loses what little civility he has left.”
That little taunt told Sarika that Dominic and Zacarias were very old friends, and if Zacarias trusted anyone with his lifemate, it was Dominic.
She was beginning to get a feel for those in the room. They might be very powerful individuals, but they were good people, and all of them seemed willing to bring her into the family circle. Even Zacarias, who found it amusing that her cousin was having a difficult time reining her in.
As Marguarita sank into the very comfortable chair Dominic had added to the women’s table, Zacarias, like the other men, seemed to fade into the background. There was the briefest of pauses as a little girl raced into the room.
Her hair was in fiery curls, her eyes a deep velvety gold ringed with reddish-gold lashes. She was dressed like a little dragon rider, but the little black jacket had ruffles down the back, trimmed in rose and gold sparkles. The jodhpurs were cuffed with the same rose and gold sparkles. Under the jacket was a little tank top of rose and gold.
“Auntie Solange! I’m here. I’m here.” She skidded to a halt to look around the room, her gaze taking in Sarika, and then her face lit up when she looked past her. “Luiz! You came. I hoped you’d come. I’m looking for Sandrine and Bianca, but I’ll give you a hug, too.”
The child couldn’t have been more than three, but she was extremely intelligent for her age and spoke very articulately. There wasn’t even a hint of baby talk.
“Maureen.” A male voice came from the doorway to the room. “What have I told you about security?”
“I scanned carefully, Daddy, while I was running,” the child said. She smiled winningly. “And everyone is here. I was late.”
“Perhaps because you threw a fit about your hair ribbons.”
This, then, was the legendary Dax, who shared his soul with a real dragon. Sarika could see evidence of the fire-breathing soulmate in the Carpathian’s eyes. The man had looked beyond his daughter to find Luiz. Sarika could see he was very conflicted. He was a Carpathian male and would want to know his daughter had added protection. But Luiz was now one of the controversial De La Cruz family. And he wasn’t in the least modern.
“Thank you for ridding the world of Mitro,” she said to Dax, once more regaining his attention. She was certain Tomas had shared information with Dax as soon as her memories became known. Dax lived close, and Mitro had been a larger-than-life monster that haunted her.
Dax gave her a short old-world bow. “I regret that I was unable to rid the world of him before he destroyed the people you loved.”
She felt his regret. His guilt. It was the last thing she wanted. She certainly didn’t blame Dax for the terrible things Mitro had done. “At the time, I didn’t think there was anyone in this world who could rid the world of such a monster.”
Maureen went over to her father to take his hand. “Mama says Daddy is a hero, but we’re not supposed to call him that when he’s around.” She stated it proudly to Sarika in an overly loud whisper.
Riley came through the door just in time to hear her daughter’s declaration and receive the burning, piercing glare from her lifemate. She laughed, the sound moving through the room to dispel any doubt that she thought her man was a hero.