Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
“Cal,” Kane murmurs, urgency and desperation in his voice setting my teeth on edge. It’s not fear, but a willingness to do literally anything to protect his fated mate.
I don’t understand the total capacity of the mating bond yet, at least not fully, and for that, I’m both thankful and annoyed.
Truth be told, Kane shouldn’t have been capable of meeting his mate yet. Biologically, a male vampire isn’t supposed to be able to recognize the bond until we hit the ripe age of twenty-eight. That’s when we come fully into our vampirehood. It’s when we begin to fully recognize any powers we may possess and the aging process becomes nearly five times slower than a human.
But Kane is only twenty-seven. And I’m twenty-six. Rook is the only twenty-eight-year-old vampire out of our trio who should be capable of finding his destined mate.
“Listen, boys,” Lucian says teasingly, using the simple moniker to knock us down a peg. “This doesn’t have to be so tense. I’m here with good news. You’re of noble blood. You’re elites. That means all this…mess…you’ve created is far less consequential than it could be.”
“Nothing about your little visit screams good news,” Rook insists, taking the words right out of my own mouth. “We don’t do well with ultimatums, threats, or intimidation tactics.”
“What threats?” He retorts with an infuriating chuckle. “I’m simply executing a reunion that should have happened a long time ago.” His voice takes on a lilt. “Oh, how I wish we could have done it sooner than this, but it’s better late than never. And quite frankly, very poetic in its timing. I’m inviting you to take a very distinguished place at your rightful station in New York, just in time for the selection process. I know your brothers have mated, but Cal, you will have the first Slater chance at choosing for yourself.”
Selection process? You have got to be kidding me. I’d rather cut off my dick than be involved in their auction—in their fucking vile sex-trafficking rituals.
“That’s an amazing spin on some really sick shit, Lucian,” I retort. “But what about this? What if I say fuck you, I’m not coming?”
Lucian purses his lips. “Unfortunately, Calloway, that’s not an option. It’s just not. And I want to be careful here to explain without emotion, because truly, my boy, I’d absolutely hate it to end this way. But if you don’t come, your death would not be a threat, but a fact. As would your brothers’ deaths. And, quite unfortunately, their mates as well.”
Kane and Rook feel like loaded missiles behind my back. It’s all I can do to keep them at bay with a commanding, wide-palmed hand. They don’t normally take orders from their younger brother, but in this case, they do me the favor.
Fuck me. The tables have certainly turned.
I glance back at my brothers and then at Kylie and Blair. And then, I set my gaze on Lucian.
“The choice is yours,” he says, an infuriating smirk cresting his mouth. “But the consequences are completely in my control.”
At his words, a deep groan escapes Rook’s throat, and when I look over my shoulder, I can tell he’s hanging by a thread as whatever fucking pain-voodoo powers Lucian has start to consume his body. My eldest brother is a big fucking bastard, and his pain tolerance is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, but he’s no match for Lucian.
Rook only stays on his feet for ten seconds before he’s on his knees with a clenched jaw and his beloved Kylie trying to help him with concern.
“Stop!” I demand. “Just fucking stop.”
“And why would I stop?” Lucian questions. “Because you’ve had an epiphany that attending the selection process is not only a wonderful opportunity for you, but something you are happily going to do?”
When I don’t answer right away, I hear Kane fall to his knees from behind me on a strangled groan.
“No, no, no!” Blair screams. “Kane!”
And when I look over my shoulder, the pain in my brothers’ eyes and the terror on their fated mates’ faces is too fucking much.
“Fine!” I shout. “You can stop with the bullshit! I’ll come!”
Lucian lets out a hearty laugh, and with a little twist of his wrist, he stops my brothers’ pain.
“But just me,” I add through a tight jaw. “Kane and Rook and their mates aren’t necessary.”
“Nonsense. This is a family affair,” Lucian declares with a clap. “It’ll be all or none,” he says and purposefully steps closer to Kylie…and then a moment later does the same to Blair. “And I know the three of you are smart enough to understand the implications of each.”
Oh yeah, motherfucker. The implications are downright impossible to miss.
He looks at the women again, and both of my brothers are strung tight as fucking bows. It’s clear Lucian Wrath is willing to do anything to get what he wants, and unfortunately for us, he outmatches us in the worst kind of way.