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)
I falter only a step before continuing on the trail, doing my best not to look at Zachariah lest all my emotions be out in the open for him to read.
“How's that going for you?” I finally manage to ask, my tone indifferent. “Because it looks like he's fine.”
“Nothing is working out for me,” he answers. “Except for the fact that you're alive and within an arm’s reach of me.” He sighs. “Samuel betrayed us in unimaginable ways, as you well know. I'm not saying Saint is perfect, but he's not the one we should’ve been worried about. Either way, I had to make a decision quickly. And with your life at stake, along with so many others, it was my burden to bear.”
Anger rips through me like a tidal wave of fire. “You should’ve talked to me about it,” I say. “You should’ve explained it then, not in some letter. I would have—”
Zachariah takes me to the ground, and it's a full two seconds before I realize a newborn vampire has attacked us from behind.
The first bloodmad reveals itself, and five more following dart out from the cover of the trees.
I shove Zachariah off, moving us both as one of the bloodmad newborns lunges for us again.
We're on our feet in seconds, and I grip my power, stopping a blade before it reaches Zachariah’s chest, spinning it around and sending it soaring into the chest of the newborn that had thrown it.
“Thanks,” Zachariah says before sending a bolt of lightning at a newborn heading straight for Ajax.
The thing goes down right in front of Ajax, who finishes the job.
I have my daggers at the ready, but with the amount of hunters in our little crew, the nest is dispatched within seconds.
I blow out of breath, shaking my head. “So much for easy and consenting transitions,” I say, guilt gnawing at me. “If I would’ve captured Conrad earlier, none of this would have happened.”
“Don't take this blame,” Zachariah says, pointing to the bodies that his brothers are gathering to put in a pile to burn. “Keep it on the person who created them.”
“Newborns don't have to turn out like this,” I say. “If transitioned properly, and given blood right away…if they’re taught how to feed...” I swallow hard, hating that tears are sneaking up on me way more than usual lately.
“I know,” Zachariah says. “What they're doing is senseless and cruel.”
I glance up at him, feeling connected to him in the way I used to, in the times where we agreed on almost everything, and constantly danced on the same page.
“Thank you,” he says again. “For saving my life.”
I laugh softly. “You would’ve stopped that blade.”
“But you did it for me,” he says. “Maybe you don't want me dead after all.”
The smile drops from my face just as the flames on the bodies ignite.
“That was never the problem,” I say. “Was it? The real issue was that I wanted you to live, for me. But you didn't.”
Zachariah flinches, and I feel that pain resonate inside my chest. I shove it down as I stomp over to where Ajax is trying to pretend like he didn't hear what I just said.
“Will you wend me back to the residence?” I ask the giant, who gives me the respect of not looking to Zachariah for permission. Instead, he simply gives me a supportive smile and grabs my arm, wending me back to the residence without question.
And as I hurry into my quarters like I can outrun the pain in my heart, I think about the zero hesitation among the hunters. Think about the way they take care of each other and their mates.
And I hate that I mourn the family we could have been. The family we could be, if only Zachariah had included me in his plans instead of shoving me out under the guise of it being for my own good.
CHAPTER 7
Zachariah
Itoss and turn on the bed, sleep evading me despite it being midday.
My mind is restless, my thoughts snapping from Talia’s cutting words to her sexy-as-hell kiss.
The blood runs hot in my veins just thinking about her lips pressed against mine, the way her soft curves had felt underneath my hands. The way she'd gone pliant in some areas, and tense in others.
The way I couldn't stop thinking about having her under me, sinking my cock and fangs into her at the same time like I’d dreamed about for centuries.
Fuck me, I was half hard just thinking about it.
I felt her in that kiss.
Felt the Talia I knew all those years ago—the one with the brilliant mind and the wicked tongue and the sweet-as-sin smile. The Talia I spent countless nights walking along a moonlight beach with, the conversation between us free-flowing and never-ending, never reaching a lull or a wall. The Talia who I could barely separate myself from even when dawn approached and the sun forced us apart. The Talia I planned to marry and complete the mating bond with after we said traditional vows.