Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 65167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“Agreed, princess.” His deep voice soothes the unease that coils within me. “But we must tread carefully. Convincing the vampires and werewolves to set aside their differences won’t be easy.”
My mind races with thoughts of our unborn child, fragile and innocent, threatened by the dark forces that stalk our world. Anger simmers beneath the surface, fueling my resolve. “We have to make them see the bigger picture, Rogan. If we don’t come together, we’ll all suffer the consequences.”
“I need to speak to your father,” he says. “As a high alpha, it’s on me to approach the vampire king.”
“Vampires and werewolves have been at each other’s throats for centuries.” I tighten my fingers around his. “This is necessary, but it seems insurmountable. How do we do it?”
He sighs, though it’s more like a growl. “I wish I knew. We’re going against centuries of hatred and mistrust.”
“And your side is fighting with the demons,” I remind him.
“That will end. The demons are rising against their king.”
“And your covenant was with Richard?”
He nods. “It was the only way at the time. Besides, I employ a lot of demons at The London. They’re model employees.”
I roll my eyes. “So you’ve told me. The demons seem to think I’m the one who must end Richard’s life. Honestly, there’s nothing I’d enjoy more, but I have my mother to think about.”
“I know, princess. I know.”
“I almost did it,” I admit.
“Again…I know.”
I let out a sharp breath. “We have to make this a safer world for our child, Rogan. We have to.”
“Nothing is impossible when we stand together.” He squeezes my hand.
I want to believe him, but his true mate is out there somewhere—a woman who carved out two vampire hearts.
And when he finds her, I fear his loyalty will no longer be to me.
Or our child.
29
“I need you to change,” I say to Rogan. “You’ve always been in wolf form when we’ve come here. Maybe you’ll know how to get us out of here if you morph.”
“The change is hard on my body, princess, and you took a lot of my blood.”
“For our child,” I grit out.
“I understand, and I want to feed our child. But I’m not sure—” He snarls, clenching his hands into fists.
His bones snap and his muscles shorten and lengthen into their lupine counterparts.
But it’s a slow, agonizing process this time.
I see it in his swirling eyes.
Rogan’s in pain. I want to help, but what can I do? We need to get out of here, and I don’t know any other way. Besides, he’d have to change anyway since he has no clothes.
He finally stands, regal and beautiful, in wolf form. He cocks his head slightly at me. I wrap my arms around him and hang on for dear life.
And…nothing.
“Concentrate, Rogan,” I say.
He lets out a low growl.
“Easy…” I caress his soft fur as I inhale his lusty wolf scent.
I’m tempted to sink my teeth into his flesh and take more blood, but he needs his strength to get us the hell out of here and back to the real world, where we can begin our quest to unite our people.
For our child’s sake.
For our son’s sake.
It’s a boy. As I stroke Rogan’s wolf pelt, I feel it again, without a doubt.
I’m carrying a little boy.
The thought empowers me, and—
We’re moving.
Moving through the fog and water until—
We land with a whomp. Rogan’s wolf body breaks my fall, but worry consumes me. He’s been injured so often, and his body is probably still weak. Plus I took his blood, and it was a huge effort for him to change.
When the blur of our travel clears, I expect to see his penthouse in The London.
Instead, we’re in the ether. In the midst of what should be the raging war.
Instead, there’s scorched earth, shattered windows, and the stench of decay. My heart aches as we witness the ruin left in the wake of battle, and the lives lost to its insatiable hunger for destruction.
This is what the feud between our people has done.
Instead of salivating at the aroma of blood, I’m nauseated at the sheer loss.
When I look back at Rogan, he’s a man again, naked and vulnerable. He stands and brushes off his arms and legs.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Better than I expected,” he says. “You were right. When I’m in animal form, my instincts kick in. I can get here.”
“Why here?” I asked. “Why not home?”
“This is where my intuition brought us.”
“I don’t understand. Is it over?”
“I don’t know,” he murmurs, gesturing. “But this is the result of war, Hannah. Look at it. Sear it into your memory so you never forget.”
I swallow hard, the weight of grief and anger settling in my chest like a boulder. “We have to end this, Rogan. I can’t let our child live in this world. I won’t let him grow up and be forced to choose between his two families.”