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)
Whatever challenges we face in the future, I will meet them head on. Whatever evil finds us next, I will best.
Whatever should threaten this—my most cherished bond—I will destroy.
I may be considered noble now. A leader of this group of vampires and an official member of the new Council.
But for Romy Spencer, I will always and forever be her Demolition Man.
PART ONE
Calloway
One year later
Stone walls tower over us in the back courtyard of Lucian’s Westchester estate as fellow vampires Julian, Norwood, Gregory, Benjamin, Malik, and Wallace take seats on the benches in front of us.
Rook stands his ground in the back, his mind largely preoccupied with Kylie’s impending delivery of their first child and his general skepticism of everything otherwise ever-present.
The first year as the new head of the Council for this region has been tumultuous to say the least. Pushback, upset, and questions from the previously classed elite, along with support, excitement, and understanding from everyone else, have kept us much busier than we’d like.
For Rook, that’s meant an even grumpier mood at times.
Kane, on the other hand, loves all the fucking drama and attention and being at the helm of socializing.
“Gentlemen,” I greet, crossing my arms over my chest and getting down to the business of why I’ve called the men who fought alongside us in this very mansion last year here in the first place. “I appreciate you coming, and more than that, we appreciate the support you’ve provided us over the last twelve months of transition. We know there’s a long way to go in restoring universal order to the vampires as a whole, but I’m happy to say that the health and vitality of our group is thriving.”
All three of our mates are pregnant, the number of fated mate pairings is at an all-time high, and as far as we can tell, there haven’t been any ill effects from nature running its own course with the bloodlines.
Holland and some of the other gofers involved in the underground trafficking of women are the biggest thorns in our sides in this region, but while I’d rather they were dead, they’re suffering more in their new stature—serving as blue-collar workers in the day-to-day, and for Holland specifically, working as a garbage man. We keep a close eye on them too, just in case.
“We’re happy with things this way, Cal,” Julian says. “It took a lot of balls to stand up for what was right, but I’m glad you did. As soon as I returned home, I met my mate. It took some courting, but as of six months ago, we’re officially bonded.” He confirms our success firsthand. “I owe you gratitude, and as such, this meeting felt like the least I could do.”
“Same,” Malik agrees. “My mate is expecting. We just found out.”
“That’s great, Mal,” Kane congratulates. “Give Whitney my best wishes.”
Kane has done a particularly good job in his new role with vampire relations—which isn’t much of a surprise, and I’ve been more inclined to stick to the mechanics and logistics side of things. Rook has handled any disgruntled complaints. However, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a nice meeting like this where he held their hand.
Daily life, however is much the same, just moved to the outskirts of a different city. I’m still working at my newly rebuilt shop, Kane’s still repossessing, and Rook still does his route every week. Though, we don’t necessarily need the money and tend to put in half the hours we used to.
Our living situation had to change a bit—given how the fucking gofers burned all our shit down—but it’s for the best. We rebuilt on the grounds where our cabin is, a compound-style family place. Each of us has our own house now—mine, Rook’s, and Kane’s. And the actual cabin itself serves as more of a guesthouse for people like Kylie’s Gammy and old roommate Alyssa, Blair’s sister Bonnie, and Romy’s best friend Hillary to come visit.
“Well, if you hadn’t guessed already, I brought you here with a larger purpose than just to give my repeated thanks,” I continue. “We’ve invited you here because we need manpower. There’s too much to manage for just the three of us, and with all the threats we receive from other groups on the daily, we need to be organized and capable. We’d like the six of you to join us as members of the Council.”
“We need the help, and you were the best we could find,” Kane adds teasingly, making the group laugh.
“You can take time to think on it,” I say. “You don’t have to agree now if you’re not ready, but—”
“I’m in,” Julian cuts me off to agree. “I’d do anything to keep things the way they are now. To keep the sanctity of what you’ve created here. So, yeah. I’m in.”
“Me too,” Benjamin agrees.