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)
“Bronik,” Bronik corrects him. “Or would you prefer I call you dog instead of John?” Tatiana lays a hand on John’s shoulder to calm him. Bronik then addresses me. “Do you want to meet with him?”
“Who?” Tatiana asks, coming to stand next to me. “Who is he talking about, Talia?”
“Viper wants a meeting,” I tell her.
“Hell no. That’s what you said, right?” she asks, eyes wide.
“I haven’t said no.”
“It’s best she goes so she can get a feel for him. He knows of her power. Everyone does. She is his competition… therefore, they should speak. Since he holds the castle now.”
“He wants to kill her,” Tatiana barks at Bronik.
“And I would not let that happen.”
“If Viper wanted to, he could control you,” Tatiana says.
“It’s not that easy. He may be able to subdue me, but control… well, let’s say that should not happen again.”
“Unless he makes a deal with a demon,” I utter.
Bronik stares at me intently, and I just shrug.
“Talia can’t go. She is safer here,” Tatiana adds. She’s staying strong, but I can hear the pleading.
“She isn’t safe anywhere, and you are a fool to believe so,” Bronik replies.
“I’d watch who you call a fool,” John warns.
Bronik doesn’t even glance at him.
“He knows you don’t want the crown. He wants to test you.”
“Viper and his testing can go suck a vampire’s dick.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Last time I was tested, I had to kill one of his people. That was not fun.”
“She isn’t going,” my sister reiterates.
“If he has the vampires, the forest, and the castle, you and this little pack of wolves won’t be able to say no to him. He will rule how he wants to rule.”
“I kind of don’t care,” I say, shrugging. “I’m over this world anyway.” I offer him a smile.
“I assumed you wouldn’t let a man get in your way. I see I was mistaken.”
“A man?” Tanya says.
“Sorry, I misspoke. An Angel of Death.”
“You’ve seen him?” Tatiana asks, her gaze snapping to mine.
I look up at Bronik, and he gives me a smirk.
“I have.”
“You said he wouldn’t come when you called,” Tatiana states with her brows drawn together.
“He wouldn’t—”
“Until he did,” Bronik interjects.
“I don’t particularly like you very much,” I say to Bronik, narrowing my eyes.
“That’s okay. I don’t need you to like me for me to do my job.”
“And what is that, exactly?”
“To put you on the throne, of course. Once you are there, the world will start to turn green, witches will thrive once again, wolves can run free into the forest, vampires will have their own nests, and humans will choose, if they wish, to give blood. This is the vision I was granted when I had to stay. I will help and do everything in my power to make it come true,” Bronik announces.
“We won’t be confined here any longer?” one of the women wolves asks. “We can go anywhere?”
My eyes swing back to her. She’s young and one of the wolves who speaks to me without attitude.
“Yes. With Talia on the throne, the world will be a better place. How it’s intended to be, and not how those with hunger see it.”
“Talia.” Tatiana touches my shoulder.
“You are keeping it?” I ask in a hushed voice. She smiles and nods her head as I lay a hand on her shoulder. “I’m happy for you, I am. But this—”
“You don’t have to. We can stay here and protect what we can.” And I believe her words, I do. I know she would die for me, for everyone here. Well, maybe not Bronik. But she would try.
I wrap my hands around her shoulders and pull her in for a hug.
“Good, you’re staying,” she says, rubbing my back. “Let’s cook tonight.”
“I hate cooking.” I giggle, pulling away. Then I step closer to Bronik. “I’ll see you soon, okay?” I smile.
Before Tatiana can say another word, Bronik’s hand lands on my shoulder, and we are gone.
“You can remove your hand now,” I tell Bronik with a huff. He offers me a smirk, lifting his hand from my shoulder and checking around. I turn away from him and stare straight ahead.
Crystal Castle sits in front of us. It appears the same—a Baroque theme with long-taloned gargoyles poised on top. The only thing that is different is it seems to have brought the forest with it. Trees are everywhere, and a lush, awe-inducing landscape surrounds the castle.
“Viper’s doing,” Bronik comments, leaving it at that as I look on. He reaches for my arm again, but I pull away.
“We can go in,” I say, stepping away from him and heading toward the door. The last thing I want is to be forced back into that castle. My memories of that place are not pleasant, and I’m not sure I want to walk through those doors, even of my free own will. When I stare at it, all I see is the bad. Of how we were dragged here, of how I watched the queen take Patrick’s life, and how his lifeless body lay in front of me. I’ve got this heavy weight on my shoulders, and the only thing I want to do is go back to that beach where Grim is and spend the rest of my days watching the water and stealing kisses. Why can’t I have that?