Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
But it was her eyes that caught my gaze and held it—they were poison green and while she was smiling widely at the two of us, the smile didn’t reach her eyes at all.
Could she be Slade’s mother? I wondered. But no, he had told me she was dead. So then, who was she?
9
SLADE
Fucking Lyrah.
That was my first thought when my stepmother interrupted the best kiss I’d ever had in my life—the kiss that sealed my union with my Fated Mate—with Aurora.
Speaking of my new bride, she was staring in confusion at my family who had just invaded the Holy House. Not that I minded my Sire being there—I didn’t even mind the presence of my half brother, Hrake. He was a good kid, despite who his mother was.
It was my stepmother, Lyrah, who I absolutely loathed. And now she was striding on her stilt-like heels into the Holy House my true mother had designed and prayed in, babbling about how she couldn’t believe that I would have my Binding Ceremony without inviting my “parents.”
“Seriously, I’m hurt, Slade—hurt.” She pressed a hand to her heart and opened her bright green eyes wide in a wounded expression I knew was as fake as her breasts. Behind her, I could see my Second, Rive, making motions at me clearly meant to convey that he had no idea how my stepmother had found out about my Binding.
I shot him a glare in return—I was really unhappy that the woman I liked least in the world had burst into what should have been one of the best and most sacred moments of my new life with Aurora. It was like having a delicious dinner and then ending with a pile of shit for dessert—it ruined the whole fucking thing.
“Son, we really are hurt you didn’t invite us,” my Sire said, stepping forward.
Not for the first time, I wondered how a male who had been such a fearsome Enforcer all his life—who had risen to the top of our Clan through brutal efficiency and fear to become Chieftain—had been hoodwinked by a woman like Lyrah.
“Your mother and I—” he began.
“She’s not my mother,” I growled, glaring at him. “And I didn’t invite you because I preferred to have a small, intimate service with just Rive as my witness.”
My Sire’s face went dark.
“Slade, you will not speak of my wife that way!” he thundered. “She is your mother by Clan Law. You must respect her!”
Fuck—what a mess. Lyrah was always making messes wherever she went. But to look at the meltingly sweet look on her face you’d never fucking know it.
“Now, Slade—your father and I just want to celebrate with you!” she cooed, stepping forward. “At least introduce us to your new bride. Who are you, my dear? Are you pure human—one of the ‘Untainted?’” she asked Aurora, not even waiting for me to make the introduction she’d demanded.
“Er, yes.” Aurora looked at my stepmother uncertainly. “It’s, uh, very nice to meet you,” she said haltingly. Clearly not sure what the correct greeting was, she put out a hand hesitantly.
Lyrah bypassed the offered hand and enfolded Aurora in a smothering hug. Even from where I was standing I could smell her cloyingly sweet perfume.
“My dear, welcome to the family!” she cooed in Aurora’s ear. “We’re so very pleased to have you!” She pulled back and nodded at her son. “Hrake, come meet your big brother’s new wife!”
Hrake stepped forward sheepishly. He was tall for his age, almost as tall as Aurora was, though he was only ten cycles old.
“H’llo,” he mumbled nodding at her.
“Hello.” Aurora smiled, clearly more at home with him than my stepmother.
“Sadly, our daughter couldn’t come,” Lyrah said, making a sad face.
Stepdaughter, I wanted to say, but didn’t. I wasn’t surprised my little sister, Jessina, wasn’t there—she hated Lyrah almost as much as I did and I was sure she knew I didn’t want anyone stepping on my private ceremony with Aurora. She had probably stayed home on purpose.
“And this is my husband, Zirex—the Head of Clan Cruel,” Lyrah said, continuing on. Clearly she had taken over the introductions.
“Hello, my dear,” my Sire said, stepping forward. He took Aurora by the shoulders and bent down to give her a kiss on each cheek—which was proper for a greeting between in-laws. “Welcome to the family,” I heard him say.
“Oh, thank you,” Aurora said faintly. She was looking overwhelmed, I thought. I didn’t blame her—Lyrah was a lot to take, even on a good day.
“Well, now that you have a bride, you must come live at home again!” my stepmother said brightly, smiling at me. “You simply cannot continue to stay at that awful hotel when there’s more than enough room in the mansion!”
“That ‘awful hotel’ is a luxury resort,” I said dryly. “And I’m very happy there, thank you.”