Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 119942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Harper snorted. “You just don’t want to part with your money.” Beck was one of the stingiest people she’d ever met. Turning to Tanner, she said, “You can take the case up to my room. I’ll need the two store bags; I’m getting ready in Jolene’s suite.” She held out her hand, but he didn’t hand them to her.
Knox is expecting you, Tanner reminded her as they stepped into the elevator.
Yes, she knew Knox intended for them to share the same suite. And I’ll see him soon enough. But I want to spend some time with my family. I don’t see them often.
Tanner’s mouth curved. It’s nice being around someone who doesn’t bow to his every whim.
Only because you like watching his face turn purple.
When they reached her family’s designated suite, it was to find Keenan waiting outside the door, wearing a boyish grin. “Hey, sphinx.”
“Keenan’s going to take over while I go change,” Tanner told Harper, handing her the two store bags, as Keenan introduced himself to her family. “I’ll be waiting out here within the hour. Be ready.”
Harper saluted him before closing the door. As she’d expected, the three-bedroom suite was just as lavish and grand as the rest of the hotel.
“It’s more like an apartment than a hotel room,” Martina said excitedly. She was right.
“I very much doubt we’d have been given such a suite if we weren’t your family, Harper,” said Jolene.
Beck read over the pamphlet they had been given by the receptionist. “The itinerary says that there’s a reception dinner taking place in an hour.”
“Knox said he wanted everybody to be as relaxed as possible before hearing out the first candidate,” explained Harper.
Jolene smiled. “Then let’s get ready.”
Approximately fifty minutes later, Harper entered the living area of the suite to find the others congregated there.
Beck was fidgeting with the top buttons of his shirt. “Don’t you laugh,” he grumbled. For some reason, he never looked right in a suit, but Harper held her hands up in a gesture of peace.
“Sweetheart, you look beautiful,” Martina said to Harper as she fingered her silk dress – it was a gentle blend of cobalt and jade.
“Thanks. Raini picked it out. You look great.” Her aunt was dressed like a sixties pin-up girl with her red and white polka dot dress and matching head scarf.
“Are we ready to go?” asked Jolene, looking as elegant as always in a violet evening suit.
“If Tanner’s here, yeah.” As promised, the hellhound was waiting outside the suite in a dark gray suit. She smiled. “Well, don’t you look dashing.”
He cast her a mock glare before leading them down the elevator and straight to the restaurant, where the reception dinner was taking place. Halting at the entrance, she consulted the seating plan and saw that she would be at the same table as her family, Knox, Raul and his anchor.
“Some of the Primes witnessed the little exchange between you and Isla in Manhattan, so they might try to talk to you and ask questions,” warned Tanner. “Just keep moving. Okay?”
She nodded, keeping stride with Tanner as he led them through the restaurant. Some demons were polite and respectful as they greeted her while others were either distant or snarling in outright jealousy – the latter was mostly the females. A few Primes did attempt to begin a conversation with her, but she kept moving just as Tanner had instructed.
Their table was in front of a dais. Like the other tables, it was set up beautifully and elegantly. Raul and his anchor were already there, and they stood with a smile.
“We haven’t officially met,” said the Prime. “I’m Raul. You’re Knox’s anchor.”
She nodded. “I’m Harper.” He then went on to introduce himself to her family, so Harper offered a nod of greeting to the dark-skinned she-demon at his side, who was astonishingly beautiful.
“I’m Tanya,” she told Harper and her family as she lifted her chin; a princess peering down at a bunch of peasants. It wasn’t bitchiness, it was more like Tanya just believed herself to be superior to pretty much everyone.
After helping Harper into her seat, Tanner melted into the shadows near the wall, on guard. A waiter quickly appeared and served them champagne, to Martina’s delight. Glancing around, Harper noticed that Larkin and Keenan were on either side of the room, their perceptive gazes missing nothing. Levi was no doubt with Knox, who currently was nowhere to be seen.
At the rear of the restaurant, a camera was set up directly opposite the dais. It would record the discussions live and allow the demon public to watch them on the TVs scattered around the Underground. One was actually in the dome while others were in the bars, casinos, and restaurants. The footage would also be shown in each and every hotel room.
Feeling eyes on her, Harper turned to find a particular she-demon staring at her with contempt. Isla. She looked amazingly beautiful yet so very, very cold.