Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 48827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
“You’ve certainly adjusted well,” I say, dragging my eyes down the length of her body. “That dress is exquisite on you. The slit certainly isn’t something I would’ve seen on you before.”
The slit travels high in the fabric, stopping just below her hip, showing off a delicious, tempting peek of her bare thigh. It’s all I can do to keep my fangs from punching out, my instincts roaring to bite, claim, fuck.
She's not yours to do that to anymore.
She never was.
“Cassandra loaned it to me,” she responds as we walk across the street and up the steps to the museum. “The slit will definitely make it easier to fight compared to those awful constricting gowns I used to wear. Of course, if I had to choose, I’d prefer my leathers.”
“You will not be fighting here,” I say beneath my breath as we are welcomed into the museum, the massive space of the main floor converted into a proper display for countless rare items that are now up for silent auction. “We have to be discreet. We don't want to draw attention and miss our chance at securing Conrad.”
“You think I don't know how important this is?” she asks. “You've been on this mission for two nights, but I've been on it for six months.”
“And have you ever been this close before?”
“I have, actually,” she snaps. “More than you know.” She glares up at me, dropping her arm from mine as she circles a small display case with a ridiculously elaborate ruby necklace inside of it. “But I didn't have the demon king on my contact list either.” She hisses at me like an angry kitten.
I smile, unable to prevent it. She’s always been fiery, but this modern timeline has unleashed it, freed it in a way it never would’ve been allowed before. My blood heats beneath my skin, instincts screaming at me that we need to fight this out.
Fight and reconcile and fuck, complete the bond I know still connects us, even if it’s faded.
“We can certainly remedy that,” Xavier’s voice is drenched in seduction as the demon king slides next to Talia on her other side, his eyes barely grazing her before focusing on the necklace in the case. “I’m always on the hunt for new friends.”
I immediately step between them, self-preservation be damned. “She doesn't need you as her friend,” I say, just barely holding my fangs back.
Xavier smiles at me, nothing but intrigue on his face. “Ooh, those old mating instincts chafing a bit?”
“This is so not what we're here for,” Talia says, not showing even a hint of intimidation despite the presence of the demon king. “And I have no interest in territorial displays,” she says, and I know the words are just for me because Xavier has barely given her a second glance, his comments and taunts specifically for me.
She moves on to the next display case, leaving both of us behind without a second glance.
Xavier laughs. “Are you two going to be able to focus on this mission at all? Or should I do you both a favor and just hand-deliver the one you seek?”
“This is our mission,” I say. “Our call. And we all know your favors come with an extreme cost.”
“Everything in life comes with a cost, it doesn't make me a monster.” Xavier looks down at me with equal parts boredom and disappointment. “He's here, by the way. Good luck.”
He saunters the other direction, drawing the eyes of half the human women in the room, most of which blush or giggle as he walks by.
I return my attention to Talia, who is looking at a display case, a man approaching her left side.
“This statue is over two centuries old,” the man says, and I hang back, watching the exchange. “Did you know that?”
Talia smiles up at the man, who looks like any other mortal—tall, brown hair and eyes—still, she’s giving him attention in a way that makes my eyes switch thermal. I close them for a moment to try and get a fucking grip.
“I did,” she answers.
“You do look like a clever woman,” he says, not bothering to hide the fact that he’s checking her out.
Power ignites in my blood as I pluck one gift out of a thousand, mentally gripping the one that controls metal. I could bring the chandelier above him down atop his head, subduing him in seconds.
“I try,” Talia says, her calm tone drawing me out of my murderous thoughts.
“I’d love to see more of that cleverness,” he continues. “Why don’t you join me for a drink after the silent auction?”
The fucking balls on this guy. Hitting on my mate—
Not your mate.
Fucking hell. I hold myself absolutely still, not at all confident that if I move toward them I won’t send him flying across the room on principle.