Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
“Well, I hope these future engagements will pose a better outcome than the past ones. After your dear father's death,” she said, feigning tears that I had a hard time not gawking at. “We could absolutely use a strong alignment. A prestigious marriage and a quick conception would do just that.”
My blood ran cold, icy rivulets that chased away every ounce of desire that Talon had created in the last ninety seconds. The idea of bearing some noble vampire’s offspring had been my nightmare since I understood the process. It's all my parents ever wanted me for, and I had yet to deliver. And even though vampire time moved slower than humans, my mother was getting agitated about it.
“Surely Edward's endeavors have helped us along in terms of alliances,” I said as casually as possible. Talon lifted his panther head into the hand he’d just been licking, leaning against it in what I could only assume was a reassuring motion.
Mother took another drink from her glass, draining the contents before pouring herself another. “Edward is filling in where your father left off as the eldest male heir,” she said. “He was always my brightest offspring,” she said without any hesitation. “But we mustn't be lazy, right, Cassandra dear? Surely you want to do your part? Even your brother Warrick, with his rebellious phases, is likely out there with Edward right now helping him in his endeavors.”
She really had no idea where her second son was, and that was a win in itself.
“Of course I want to do my part, mother,” I said in the most sugary voice I possessed. “I need to ensure that the suitor I choose to seduce will be the most advantageous for our family. I won’t settle. I wouldn’t do that to us.” I regurgitate the words that have been drilled into me since I could remember, doing my best not to throw up in my mouth. “And with the flood of new aristocratic vampires coming to the king's residence, there is no rush. I would hate to make a hasty decision and then have a better prospect come along. Besides,” I continued. “With Edward picking up where Father left off, I have time.”
“Yes,” she said. “You have some time, but when your brother is successful we’ll all need to move quickly. You’ll have to make your decision. You should be thanking me that I'm allowing you to make your choice now. I could just as easily pick a name out of a book of bloodlines and demand it.”
In that split second between breathing and sipping the blood from my glass, I imagined killing her.
I'd imagined killing my mother a million different ways over the past century, but the urge had never been as so potent as it was now.
If she demanded I marry and procreate with a vampire, I would kill her or die trying.
I dipped my head because I couldn’t possibly open my mouth to respond to that. She took it as submission, smiling sourly at me before continuing to drink.
The rest of the evening was spent devouring the decanter full of blood. By the time Talon and I made our way back to my room, I felt a little drunk on it.
No sooner had the door locked behind us than Talon shifted, his back to me, his nakedness revealing every muscular line of his perfect body as he moved across the room, quickly slipping on a pair of black sweats before turning to face me.
“I'm sorry I couldn't get you more blood,” I said at the same time he said, “What a bitch.”
My eyebrows raised at his jab at my mother, and a laugh ripped out of me.
“Truer words never spoken,” I said, a little wobbly on my feet. God, had my mother spiked the human's blood with something? She was known to dabble in dangerous herbs that sometimes gave us the full effects of what alcohol would do to a human.
“Thank you,” he said, his movements lightning quick as I almost tripped in my attempt to take one of my high heels off. He caught me against him, not unlike our training sessions, and I gasped at the contact. “For the blood,” he explained.
I pushed out of his embrace, needing the space. The heat pulsing beneath my skin whispered in my ear, begging me to do terrible things with this hunter.
I kicked off my other high heel and it flew across the room as I reached for the zipper on my dress, undoing it and letting the thing fall to the floor, leaving me in nothing but the black lace slip I wore under it.
It was absolutely stifling hot in my room tonight, or maybe that was the blood, but I didn't care as I made it to my bed and laid against the crisp silk sheets.