Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 52247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Declan answers before the first ring.
“What happened?’ he shouts.
“Five guys, vampires. They tried to take me to Xavier.”
“Tried?”
“Yeah. Well, vampire blood has its benefits,” I say before I can think.
But Declan knows all about vampire blood because he sucks in a breath, then mutters in a chastising tone, “Girl…”
My stomach flips as I start up the car. I’m feeling better. Not 100 percent, but good enough to take out anyone trying to stop me. Including a vampire or five.
“Where are you? “Declan asks.
A road sign flashes by and I read it to him. “It’s about twenty miles from Lucius’ home. Why?”
“Because when you hung up, we called Frangelico. Was gonna try to track your car, so we could get in and help you out.”
“So?” I reverse the Escalade. Not as much torque as the Lambo, but pretty spry for such a heavy car.
“So, no one picked up at the house. Not Lucius. Not any of his security team.”
My heart thuds to my feet. “I’m going there. Now.”
“Selene--it’s nae safe--Frangelico would want you to stay away--” Declan sputters.
“He could be in danger.” Xavier wants Lucius bad enough to kill my entire family and pack and wait years until I was honed as his perfect weapon. He’s not going to stop now.
“Who would dare attack the Vampire King?”
“Xavier,” I answer, my heartbeat speeding up with the Escalade. “Not just Xavier. There’s a coup. Lucius’ sired want to overthrow him. What if they’re working with Xavier?” The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. That auction wasn’t Xavier’s doing. Whatever’s going on, all Lucius’ enemies are in it together.
I hit the gas and the wheels squeal.
Lucius
I know the minute the sun retreats before the dark. My lungs fill with air.
The lethargy rolls away. I rise, pushing aside the sarcophagus lid. My morning ritual requires an act of supernatural strength. It should make me feel all powerful. Immortal. Instead I am drained. Weak.
I close my coffin and stretch out on it, hands folded as if in prayer. But who would I pray to? In all my years, I am closest thing to a god anyone will ever meet. Immortal, all powerful.
A monster, forever damned.
Cool air wafts down the hall. I blink, but don’t turn my head.
The house is empty without her. My life is empty without her.
But not my crypt. Someone else is here.
“Lucius,” Xavier’s voice echoes in the gloom.
I left the crypt open. Two thousand years and I never let my guard down. Not until her. And when she came in, she brought light into my world, the likes I thought I’d never see again.
The shadows coalesce as the one-eyed vampire takes a solid form.
It’s time for this to end. I rise to greet my lifelong enemy. “Hello, old friend.”
Selene
My foot hits the floor as the SUV powers up the mountain to Lucius’ palace.
“Hang on, lass,” Declan’s voice crackles on the burner phone. “We’re almost there.”
Gritting my teeth, I take a turn too fast. The Escalade almost tips on two wheels, straightening with a jarring bump. I’m coming, Lucius. I don’t know if he’s in trouble, but the fact that he’s not answering his phone, that Xavier’s minions found me doesn’t bode well.
“It’s gotta be Xavier and all of Lucius’ sired.” I tell Declan to let him know what we’re walking into. As crazy as it sounds, I believe they’re working together. “There’s one thing I don’t understand. Xavier was Lucius’ enemy. Why would Lucius’ sired align with him?” I wonder aloud.
“Selene, there’s something else you should know,” Declan says. “I didn’t send you the full recording, just the specific part where the witness named the attacker.”
I rip around another turn. “So?”
“Not all your pack died in the massacre. The alpha did some digging some of your pack were taken to a private compound. This facility contained a lab and there’s evidence that the they didn’t die right away.” he stops as if what he’s about to say is too horrible to blurt out.
“Torture?” I ask.
“Not quite. The vampires had a purpose for stealing the youngest and strongest of your pack. We think the vampires were trying to turn them.”
“Shifters can’t be turned,” I say on autopilot, even as Lucius’ words echo in my memory. They got the idea that they could turn shifters, he said. Form an army to overthrow my rule.
“Xavier was searching for a way. Had a theory that if a shifter could become a vampire, they’d be more powerful than any other creature on earth. Able to overthrow anyone.”
“Like the Vampire King.”
“Exactly.”
“Did it work? Did any of the experiments work?
“Apparently not. All the test subjects he stole eventually died. I’m sorry, lass.”
“It’s all right.” I thought they were dead long ago. This doesn’t change anything.
“Did he ever try to change you?”
“No.” I look like Lucius’ first love. I was too precious to waste on an a risky experiment. Unlike the rest of my pack.