Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Have you seen him?” she asks.
“Yes, as soon as I arrived, after Bronik showed up.”
“That asshole. I swear, if I could, I would let my wolves eat him.”
“Your wolves?” That’s a new development.
“Yes. I’m the mate to the alpha, so they are mine as well.” She rubs her belly. “And we are creating more life.”
“It really is beautiful.” I reach for her stomach and hold my hand there. “What did you name her?” I ask Tatiana.
“Tamika. I wanted to keep the Ts alive.” She smiles. “John suggested your name, but that is your name, and I knew one day you would find your way back to me.” She reaches for me again and pulls me to her. I hug her harder this time and hold on.
“Tamika’s powerful. Not like you, but she is strong as well,” she says. “She hasn’t shown any signs of being able to shift yet, but John said to give it time. He first shifted when he was two, and she’s coming up to two, so we will see.”
I pull back and see something of a blur heading straight for me. Arms wrap around my neck and grip on for dear life. Tanya smiles as she pulls back, not letting me go.
“I didn’t believe it when they said it. You are here.” I look behind her to see Melvon.
“Melvon, say hello,” Tanya encourages him closer. “Melvon and I got married,” she says, clapping her hands. Tatiana rolls her eyes. “I love him.” Melvon steps up and touches Tanya’s hip and pulls her back to him. She falls effortlessly to his side.
Before I can say another word, I’m picked up and moved. Max now stands in front of me, blocking me from seeing my sister.
“Vampire,” he hisses.
Tanya pushes Melvon behind her, but he steps back out and bares his teeth.
“Max… Melvon is good.” I tap his shoulder.
“You said they served the queen and are awful.”
Did I say that?
“Melvon is different,” I tell him and swing back to my sister. “Married?” I ask, shocked. My sister slides her hand into Melvon’s and leans against him.
“Yes, it took a bit of convening, but here we are.” Tatiana turns to Max. “Why are you so fast?”
“Why are you a witch?” he replies. “It is not what I know… it’s who I am,” he answers simply.
“You were a king in your world. You realize in this one you are not?” Tatiana pushes.
“I am still my people’s king, and I will do anything to protect them.”
“What if it meant protecting them against her?” She nods to me.
What did she just say? My mouth gapes, eyes wide.
“Are you saying Talia is dangerous?”
Tatiana smirks.
“You know what she is.”
Max simply nods, and Tanya stares at the three of us in confusion.
“I do. I knew as soon as I met her.”
“Are you the same?” she asks.
“No, I am different,” Max answers, leaving it at that. “Walk with me?” he asks, offering me his arm before addressing my sisters. “I only ask for a moment of privacy, and I will return her to you.”
My sisters nod and smile.
I place my arm under his, and we take a left, away from everyone, until we reach a tree. I remember this place. It’s where Patrick was once waiting for me to cross the border all that time ago.
I miss him.
So much.
“Why do you look sad?” Max asks, reaching for my face. When he makes contact with my skin, I feel it everywhere. “Someone like you shouldn’t be so sad.”
“Someone like me?”
“Yes… beautiful.” I take his words in and want to hold them close. He gives me things that Grim does not. But I still feel something for Grim that’s beyond my control.
I want to kiss him.
I want him to want me again.
“I lost someone, and this spot reminds me of them,” I tell him. “Why did you want a moment with me?”
“So I can do this.”
He leans down and doesn’t give me a moment to think of anything else as his lips descend upon mine. They don’t slam into me in unbridled passion. Instead, they are gentle and giving. He tastes me before I feel his tongue slide between my lips, tangling with mine in a languid exploration. I fist my hands in his shirt and pull myself to him, feeling his strength as he wraps an arm around my waist. When our bodies are flush, one of his hands skirts up my back, holding me to him at my nape. We dance with kisses as fire dances with water—it’s exciting and new, and if you get too close, you may feel a burn, but what an intoxicating burn it would be.
When he pulls back, I feel his reluctance to let me go.
“I wanted to be able to kiss you without the high,” he says, kissing my cheek before he walks off, leaving me standing alone under a tree.