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)
“Do you want to meet your niece? She reminds me of you,” Tatiana says before she rubs her belly. “John thinks he will get a boy next, but I’m saying a girl.” She smiles softly. “I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you as well.”
“Who are these people?” John asks, eyeing Max.
I spin around to see everyone standing back, waiting.
“These are King Maxilliam’s people from the other world. We managed to escape through a portal to get here.”
“How? We tried everything to open a portal, and we couldn’t make one. Not even Valefar could without a steep price.”
“Talia made one,” Max says.
“How?” John asks in an almost bark. “That’s impossible.”
“Talia is very gifted and strong.”
“I know,” Tatiana says, but I can see it’s still not making sense to them.
Max nods. “I loaned her my power,” he explains, making Tatiana’s mouth hang open at his words.
Her eyes fall on me. “You know what that does to you.” She shakes her head. “I’m glad it worked, even if it was risky.”
“Is Tanya here?” I ask. “And do you have somewhere everyone can sleep?” I ask, looking at John. “We aren’t sure what we are going to do yet, or where we will go—”
“We?” Tatiana interrupts. “You plan to leave and go where they go?” She points her finger behind me to Max’s people.
“I know the wolves won’t be comfortable having everyone here, but for now, I am asking that they stay, have some food, and regroup.” I glance over at John, who simply nods and turns back to his wolves.
“We will make room.”
“We?” Tatiana asks again.
“They don’t know this land. I do. Not all of it, but they need to rebuild. This is all new to them.”
“Viper will not be happy. You have to speak to the king first before you take over more land,” Tatiana says.
“Viper is still king? How? Why?”
“He’s made it better, Talia. I know he’s an absolute dick for what he did to you, but he’s contained the vampires, and the humans feel safer now.”
“What price is he demanding for that?” I question, knowing there’s a catch for everything he does.
“Does it matter? It’s better than what it used to be.”
“Is it?” I shake my head. “You still stay in your areas as if we aren’t all put on this earth to share. He believes separation is best. Max had his own world, and everyone stayed together and they got along. That was a better world than what we have. The witches have barriers up, which we only got through because we landed there. If we had tried to walk into town, I’m not sure we could have.”
“The witches have put up spells to keep Viper out so he can’t access them. And in return, they get no food,” my sister says in a low voice.
“That’s our home, Tatiana. You know that’s not fair.”
She throws up her hands. “I know. John sneaks them what he can. But if Viper found out, he would execute us.”
“If I don’t execute him first myself.”
“You tried going against him last time and look where it got you. If he put you through another portal, could you survive?”
“You said he doesn’t have access to portals.”
“He says he doesn’t, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t lying.”
“What price do you pay to live here?” I demand.
She glances at her stomach and rubs it in circles. “A lot has changed, Talia. We didn’t have you any longer.”
“The witches are finally making a stand.” I remind her, locking eyes on her hand which is touching her stomach.
“That’s because one of their own isn’t on the throne. You know we are the most powerful. It’s why Veronica held it for as long as she did.”
“It sounds like excuses,” I say as John steps forward.
“Let’s get you all some food and a place to sleep.”
Max nods and thanks him, then turns back to his people and motions for them to follow John. My sister and I stay where we are. Max is still lingering when the last villager falls in behind John.
“I can stay,” he says, low enough for only me to hear.
“It’s fine,” I tell him, so he nods and leaves.
My sister has a sour look plastered on her face when I turn back to her. “What? Does he think I would hurt my own sister?” Tatiana says, crossing her arms over her chest.
“He’s new here, Tatiana.”
“You like him,” she states. “You don’t need to confirm the fact, I can see you do.” She watches as the group makes their way toward the houses. Max looks back at us as I step up next to my sister. “He likes you, too. I can tell.”
“I know,” I reply. I’m surprised she noticed.
She glances at me. “I don’t know him, but I’m sure he would be a better option than Death,” she whispers.
“Grim and I—”