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)
“We can go on a hunt,” he says. “After we eat, if you'd like. But after that, if you'll allow me, I would love to take you on a proper date.”
A flush dances over my cheeks and I can't hold back my smile. “Seriously? You want to take me on an actual date?”
“Yes,” he says. “As much as I enjoy you tugging me into different rooms throughout the king's residence to devour each other, I'd love to take you somewhere where it's just you and me, having fun like the old days.”
I take another bite of my food, the pumpkin muffin doing little to hide my intrigue.
“How does that sound to you?” he asks, his eyes worried.
Does he really not realize the power he holds over me?
“I’ll allow it.”
CHAPTER 15
Zachariah
Ican't believe it.
Talia actually agreed to a real date with me, after doing our due diligence and going on a quick hunt, of course.
Still, I'm surprised at her acceptance of my offer, especially seeing as how I know she's been using sex between us as a way to keep things strictly physical.
This feels like I've been given a thread of hope I haven't felt in a while, and I’m damn sure not going to waste it.
“Is this what mortals do on dates?” Talia asks as I pull the door open for her to a lycan-run establishment in mortal territory that happens to be open all night in order to cater to its supernatural clientele.
“This is what we do on dates,” I say, nodding at the owner, who stands behind a small mahogany bar serving drinks to a group of werewolves chatting there. I lead Talia through the space to a back room, having already called ahead and paid for our entertainment for the night.
I hold that door open for her as well, ushering her inside and relishing her look of excitement as she sees two massive wooden targets with circles painted on it, and a wide array of axes hanging from a base twenty feet away from them.
“Is this going to feel like training?” she teases as she picks up an axe and heads to the target on the left.
“I don't remember drinking during training,” I say, motioning to the two cocktails I pre-ordered already on a bar at the edge of the room.
“Oh, twist,” she says, setting the axe down and walking over to grab her drink, taking a long sip from it and moaning around the flavor. “That's delicious.”
My chest puffs out a bit at her declaration, especially since I chose without knowing specifically what her drink of choice was.
When we first courted, it’d been champagne, but of course, that was one of the only drinks acceptable for her to have back then. Tonight, I chose a pink grapefruit Paloma, knowing she liked citrusy flavors. The fact that she’s enjoying it, and taking another sip now, only solidified the fact that I do still know her, and that we still work great together beyond the bedroom or the hunt.
She heads back over to where the axes are, picking up the one she had before. “How about we make this super interesting?”
“I'm game,” I say, taking a sip of my drink and then moving to the target on the right, grabbing an axe of my own.
“We each make a wager before we throw the axe, and whoever hits their target wins the wager.”
All she had to do is speak what she wanted and I would find a way to give it to her, but I’m a sucker for games, and she knows that.
“Deal.”
“And I won't even use my powers,” she says, arching a brow at me. “And you won't either.”
“I would never think you’d cheat. And I don't have a power in my arsenal that would give me better aim.”
“We can always fix that for you,” she says, not for the first time. “I've always told you that if you wanted to feel what it's like to be able to move things with your mind, all you have to do is ask.”
I look at her with a stern gaze. “And I've always told you that I would never risk your life in that way,” I chide her. “Why must you keep insisting? Do you relish the danger that much?”
She smiles wildly at me, not a hint of hesitance or fear in her eyes. “Maybe it's fascinating to me,” she says. “The way your powers work. The way you absorb that of those you kill or the way you can draw powers from someone willing to give them to you.”
“And with how very little that has happened,” I say. “You should know how dangerous it is. I almost killed Talon one time, when we both needed to share his gift, and I vowed I would never do it again unless it was a life-or-death situation.” I shake my head. “Don’t you ever wonder why I never use too many powers at once? This gift I have of power absorption is as much as a curse as it is a blessing. Using too many at once is chaotic and they’re hard to control, putting everyone around me at risk. I don’t take that lightly. I don’t relish the idea of taking power from someone else, even if it’s freely given.”