Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“C-caros?”
He nodded. “That’s what they’re called. They drink blood to survive, but they’re not vampires. When we learned that Rocco, a rogue Lyccan, was involved, we figured that whoever was holding you captive was also using Rocco to detect our presence. If I had come here accompanied by other Lyccans, it wouldn’t matter if they hid themselves. Rocco would have known what and where they were by their scent. So we took a calculated risk—-”
Kassia’s eyes darkened when she remembered just how much of a risk that was. “You almost died,” she half accused.
The professor’s face softened. “I’m sorry for making you think that. But Domenico was nearby and I knew if I needed help, I only had to call him. The only reason he wasn’t with the Caros was because his Lyccan scent would have alerted Rocco.”
“But Rocco can’t smell Caros?” she asked, confused.
“That was the risk we took. We’ve gathered as much information as we could about him, and we gambled on the fact that since none of his records showed any encounter with a Caro, it meant he wouldn’t have any idea what a Caro’s scent was.”
“And that’s why they were able to come undetected,” Kassia realized.
“I would never have been able to rescue you if not for them,” Alessandro said quietly.
Kassia couldn’t stop herself from reaching for the professor’s hand, saying shakily, “I’ll forever be grateful to them for saving us.”
“I feel the same, and I am determined to return the favor.” He paused. “They’re good people although...” His smile turned wry. “They can be a little too precise.” Whereas a Lyccan would simply promise to beat the hell out of his enemy, a Caro would instead provide an estimated amount of time necessary for neutralizing a threat.
Coming to his feet, he helped Kassia up and together they came face to face with Kimberley, who was about to be taken away by Lyccan guards.
Kimberley spat at Kassia.
Enraged, Alessandro raised his hand to slap the woman, but Kassia’s cry of protest stopped him.
“Don’t.” Kassia wiped the spit off her face. “It’s enough that she’s been caught.”
Kimberley started cursing her, and she didn’t stop even as the guards dragged her away.
“I never thought it was possible for a person not to love until her,” Kassia whispered.
Alessandro pulled her into his arms. “It’s not your fault she can’t love.” He pressed a kiss to her hair. “You know that, don’t you?”
She nodded against his chest.
Tipping her chin up, he saw the troubled look still hadn’t left Kassia’s face, prompting him to ask teasingly, “Now that we’re finished with Caro history, can we do something about the Lyccan Council?” He only wanted to take Kassia’s mind off her mother, but instead she ended up blushing. “Kassia?” he asked, bemused.
“Are there any members of the Lyccan Council here?”
He nodded towards Domenico. “The ones he’s speaking to are guards from the Council.”
Kassia took a deep breath at the professor’s answer. “Could you call them?”
After giving her a speculative look, the professor did as asked.
Courage, she told herself. She had to do this. It was her turn to save him now.
“Your Highness?” one of the three guards asked when they reached Alessandro and Kassia.
The professor raised a brow at her.
She threw her arms around him and kissed the professor in the mouth.
Alessandro froze, and his body stiffened even more when a moment later her tongue slid boldly into his mouth. “Kassia, what the hell—-” It was hard to think with Kassia kissing him so passionately, but when his erection started throbbing and rubbing itself against her sex, Alessandro finally found the strength to pull away. If he had allowed things to continue for another second, he would end up making love to her in the nearest private corner.
In front of him, Kassia stammered nervously, “Was that enough proof?”
Alessandro was even more perplexed. “Proof?”
She turned to the guards, her cheeks on fire as she asked, “How much more do you need to see to know that we’re mating and you don’t need to execute him? I love him, completely, and—-” She turned to the professor in confusion. “Why are you laughing?”
“Kassia, my love.” Her heart tripped all over itself at the endearment, but then she heard his next words—-
“This isn’t how mating works.”
Kassia paled. “It’s...not?”
The guards’ faces were stoic. “May we leave now, Your Highness?”
Alessandro nodded. “Please let the Council know that she will be bonded by blood oath tonight.”
“Understood, Your Highness.” They bowed to Alessandro and left, all the while scrupulously preventing their gazes from crossing the still red-faced Kassia.
“Professor?” Kassia only found the courage to speak when she and Alessandro were walking to his car, which had been driven by one of his men. Behind them, Domenico walked the opposite way, where his own car waited.
“Mm?”
“Will I always make a fool of myself around you?” she asked very seriously.