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)
The seriousness in my tone seems to catch up with her, and she straightens, giving me an apologetic look. “I didn't know the Talon story,” she says, her voice cracking. “Or the rest. If you'd only said that before, I wouldn't keep teasing you about it.”
I soften my gaze and my tone. “That’s because we need to talk more. I'll tell you anything you want to know,” I say. “I didn't have time to before. I know there’s a lot we need to discuss, but I'm trying to do this on your terms, Talia. The last thing I want to do is push you where you're not ready to go. And stories from my past, or my recent past…”
“Your recent past could trigger me,” she says, assessing. “Because you know how angry I am that you didn't find me.” She nods, understanding.
“I did try to find you,” I say. “When I heard you were dead...it broke me, but that's no excuse. I should have made absolutely sure those I asked weren’t mistaken. I should have fought harder to find you. I'll never make that mistake again.”
“I played a role in that,” she says. “I spread the rumor. I shouldn’t hold it against you.”
“You have every right to be angry with me.”
She holds my gaze, something like agony shifting there before she glances at her target and clears her throat.
“If I make this, you do that thing with your tongue again,” she says, completely shifting the subject away from anything serious.
Not that I didn't take devouring her seriously, but it was lighter, nonetheless.
I shift the axe in my hand, looking at my own target. “And if I make this, you will do that thing with your tongue,” I say, and I'm met with a soft laughter from her.
We both let our axes loose at the same time, each of the blades sinking deep into the center of our targets. We look at each other, laughing at the identical throws.
“Okay,” Talia says. “Looks like it's all tongues out later,” she teases.
We both grab another axe, pointing to a different circle on the wooden targets. I go first this time. “If I make this, you sleep in my bed tonight.”
Her lips part in shock at the high-stakes wager. She's refused to let me take her in a bed, and my soul tells me it’s because it would be too real for her. It's easy enough to act fast and frenzied in public spaces, but in a bed? In my chambers? That would be opening a door. And I wanted to see if she was ready to walk through it.
“If I make this,” she counters. “You have to let me tie you to your bed.”
Goddamn. This female would be the absolute end of me. Just the idea of my hands restrained and her having her way with me has me in all sorts of knots. There were few who I would trust as a hunter with the powers I possessed, but there is no one I would let restrain me, save for her. My mate.
“Deal,” I say, and we both let our axes fly at the same time, each one driving home into the target we'd pointed at. I turn to her, smiling. “I guess we're both winners,” I say.
“You could say that,” she says, heading over to the little bar, sitting down to sip her drink.
I join her, following her lead in any way she wants to point.
“How do you feel about Alek asking you for your support?” I ask.
“You heard about that, did you?”
“The king's inner circle, which you and I have been graciously included in, rarely has secrets. Not that this would be something worth hiding. It's natural for the king to want you to take your seat in his court, since you would offer a fresh perspective that I know he's desperate for. You could bring the wavering noble vampires in line.”
Talia blows out a breath, stirring her drink with a small straw that's sticking out of it. “I thought that was Cassandra’s job.”
“It used to be. Though she's still suffering the crimes of her family, unfortunately. Despite her and Talon’s mating, and her reconciling with the king and Lyric long ago, some of the aristocrats won't recognize her leadership because of her Zorin name.”
Talia rolls her eyes. “That type of horseshit is exactly why I don't want anything to do with the court. It's why I left that life behind me in the first place.” She tilts her head, taking another drink. “Well, mostly why I left.”
I hate the hurt I hear in her voice, and I shift closer to her, as if pulled by an unbreakable bond that’s tugging us together. “Talia, I am so sorry.”
She visibly swallows but finds the strength to meet my eyes. “I know you are, Zachariah. I honestly, truly know you regret what you did. But I can't help but wonder if you’d make the same choice again if the situation called for it?”