Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 90639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. I hated what I’d put them through these last weeks, but I couldn’t face the truth…
“Alek,” I said, and he drew me into his arms, holding me in a familiar embrace that made me feel like a youngling again, racing to my big brother whenever I needed help.
“She agreed to marry Samuel in exchange for her freedom,” Hawke said.
I ripped out of Alek’s embrace to glare at him.
“Are you kidding me?” I snapped at the same time that Ransom growled, what the fuck?
“No, she didn’t,” Olivia said. I couldn’t tell if she was more shocked or hurt that I hadn’t confided it in her.
Valor and Jocelyn exchanged a worried look while Benedict rolled his shirtsleeves up, noting no new ink decorated his arms.
“The study,” Alek said, his tone every inch the vampire king–no sign of my concerned big brother anywhere. “Now,” he ordered, turning down the hall and around the corner where the residence’s study was.
The rest of my family followed Alek, Hawke and me were the last to follow.
“Asshole,” I muttered low enough so only he could hear.
“I’ll gladly be the asshole, Avianna,” he whispered. “I’ll be whatever I have to be to save you from this.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing this past month?” I hissed.
“Deluding yourself into thinking you made the right decision?”
“Ugh,” I groaned, shaking my head as we walked into the study.
Hawke shut and locked the door behind us, the rest of my family already seated among the lush leather couches that created the lounge area. The walls were lined with shelves that reached the ceiling, all manner of books and tomes tucked neatly inside them. A fire crackled in a stone hearth along the back wall, a cherry-wood desk near it. This study held only a fraction of what the residence’s personal library contained, but Alek liked to have a smaller space to read and work in on occasion.
Instead of sitting, I stalked across the room to lean against the desk Alek settled himself behind. Lyric stood behind him, a gentle hand on his shoulder as she flashed me a sympathetic look.
“I need your help, sister,” he said, his tone leashed from the anger he’d showed earlier. “First, the twins kidnapped you. Then you found a phone and assured me you were staying put to spy on them. That was hard enough. Then you come home to us, unscathed but silent.” He breathed out deeply. “And because I respect and love you, I didn’t enter your mind and glean the information for myself like you know I could’ve.”
“Do you want an award for not rifling through my thoughts?”
He flinched, and I felt it in my soul. My anger had nothing to do with him and everything to do with the male brooding in the corner. That gorgeous, infuriating, wonderful male who I’d dreamed about for years. The one who made me smile even without saying a word. The one who somehow could always find me, even when I was invisible. The one who brought me my meals every day since I’d returned, even when I wouldn’t speak to him. The one who I swore would’ve been happy or relieved or at least intrigued by the mark I bear.
“I’m sorry,” I said on a released breath. “To all of you.” I glanced at everyone in the room. “When I heard Saint and Samuel speaking outside the room they kept me in…”
Another vicious growl rumbled from Hawke, but I ignored it.
“Saint wants to slaughter every one of you. He wants revenge for what our father supposedly stole from his. The throne.”
Alek tilted his head, glancing at Lachlan. “Their claim can’t be legitimate, right?”
Lachlan folded his muscled arms over his chest. “Their family line goes back centuries, Alek,” he said. “We can’t be sure of anything until we research—”
“That’s what I’ve been doing this past month,” I said, the weight of the truth sinking heavy in my stomach. “I’ve dug through ancient records. Bloodlines. Saint isn’t wrong. Their mother was in line to ascend the throne, but our father chose our own mother over theirs as his bride.” The recount was vague, but I had hope in my heart that my father chose my mother for love instead of political gain like Saint’s family wanted. “Saint’s family was still part of the royal court, but after being humiliated for breaking the betrothal, they fled the courts.”
“Fucking hell,” Ransom said, shaking his head where he sat next to Olivia. “This is the worst time for something like this,” he continued, then shrugged. “Not that there is ever a good time for this, but the shit we’re battling now with the Sons of Honor? The attacks we’ve barely survived from the witch covens? It’s all…”
“A fine mess,” I finished for him. “Which is exactly why I agreed when Samuel brought up the compromise to Saint. By marrying me, Samuel has a direct line to the throne, as does Saint. No war or bloodshed needed. It was the only way I could spare any of you—”