Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
There has been a mage working to destroy us, just as Xavier did his best to destroy the Carpathian people and Xayvion worked to bring the Jaguar people to extinction, Vasilisa said. A few are not all, as you well know, Siv.
That is true. Forgive me. He voted to take the child from her mother, yet he doesn’t want to be held accountable. I find that . . . revolting. The thought of that little girl scared, not understanding what is happening and why she isn’t with her mother, infuriates me.
Lada looks so miserable and sad. I know this is breaking Andros’ heart. She told him she wouldn’t marry him to save him. She didn’t tell him about her daughter. It was the first and only time he asked me to read her mind. He said he knew she loved him and wanted to know why she wouldn’t accept his marriage proposal.
Afanasiv had known Vasilisa had gone to Lada to console her before she left for home. He also knew she had slipped into her mind to find out why Lada had turned down Andros’ proposal of marriage. Vasilisa had been shocked to find out Lada had been given an ultimatum. If she didn’t get Andros to propose to her, she would never see her baby daughter again. She had turned him down to save him from whatever the Sacred Circle had in mind. She had already done so much to get her baby girl back, and they hadn’t returned her. She didn’t believe they would. Andros had put a plan in motion with his family.
Question the one on the end. His name is Grisha Golubev. He is always sweating and smiling. He is young to be on the council. He is a yes man if I ever saw one. He asked me out numerous times, and his mother and father went to Andros twice to ask for my hand in marriage.
Afanasiv didn’t have to be told twice. If Andros had been approached twice by Grisha Golubev’s parents for Vasilisa’s hand in marriage, then he was definitely someone Afanasiv wanted to take a much closer look at.
That’s his father, the grinning one sitting beside him, Vasilisa added. His name is Vovo. She gave a little shudder. Even if Grisha had been the nicest man in the world, I wouldn’t have married him just because of his parents. His mother is sitting in the front row beside Polina. Her name is Belka. She smiles just like Grisha does. It gives me the creeps.
Afanasiv slipped easily into Grisha’s mind. The man was filled with lewd thoughts of Vasilisa. He was certain he would end up with her. His parents had promised him, and they always came through with their promises. They were getting Andros out of the way. Even if Lada did come through, and Grisha didn’t think the woman had a chance in hell of landing the royal, his brilliant parents had already found a way to get rid of Vasilisa’s brother. Afanasiv was unfamiliar with some of the visuals in Grisha’s mind.
My lady, join me. Ignore his rude ideas of what he would like to do to you. I do not understand what he means by his parents finding a way to get rid of Andros. There is a site where oil can be found, but it isn’t one worth pouring money into. Any Lycan would know that.
Vasilisa was too much of a lady to comment on the disgusting visuals Grisha had in his mind when it came to her. She moved right past them and went on to explore the site where the oil had been discovered.
This is an old discovery. It is in the middle of the preserve Dimitri claimed. He had the government inspect it so his permits would be clear. The Golubevs must be the ones who wrote to the government and got them all stirred up again. A government agent, I believe he is an interrogator, Nikolay Sokolov, is staying at the inn with three other agents. Sokolov served with Andros. He mentioned that he thought our family were royals and that many of the people up here followed us. No one would ever say such a thing unless they were trying to get us in trouble. That would be treason. I’m certain Sokolov was sent here to find out if those rumors are true and if there is oil worth collecting.
Grisha didn’t send for the agents, Afanasiv said. Let me check his grinning father. He continues to stare at your brother as if he expects him to fall over in a faint any moment.
Don’t think my brother hasn’t noticed. Andros is saving him for last.
Afanasiv entered Vovo Golubev’s mind without preamble, sliding in fast. He didn’t try to disguise the fact that he was there. He let Vovo feel bees buzzing in his mind as he moved around. Vovo’s head came up, and the grin slowly disappeared from his face. A look of alarm replaced that smirk.