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)
“I will burn this house down around you, hunter. There are Lycans here. They think to hide from me, but they cannot. Give me what is mine and I will go quietly.”
The vines collapsed back to the floor they’d been made from. The flooring now appeared twisted and scarred. The blood from Olga’s body no longer stained the flooring. Instead, there were blackened blemishes on the wood, like wounds.
“Vampires are ever the deceivers.” Afanasiv circled back around to the wider part of the room, where he could lead the vampire away from where the mage might have lingering power to aid one of his chosen army.
“And hunters are not? I heard of your contract with Lilith. She told Olga, and the mage heard everything. You did not fulfill your contract.”
Gazsi followed Afanasiv slowly, trying to cut him off but not succeeding. That confirmed that the vampire had his ability to work his spells, but his physical body was too much energy to maintain without an infusion of blood. Had Xayvion been watching, he would have learned quite a bit from his experiment.
Afanasiv would have felt guilty had he spoken with anyone about the contract he had made with Lilith, but the other Carpathians, men of honor, had assured him following the contract to the letter was what was expected of him, even with an enemy such as Lilith. His parents hadn’t made it out of the underworld, but Lilith’s side of the contract hadn’t specified the conditions of their health. Technically, Afanasiv had killed his father by ripping out his heart. Lilith hadn’t done that. He had made the pact with his father and followed through, even though it was the most difficult thing he’d ever done. He had welcomed losing his emotions after that.
What are you doing? I’m making my way back to you. Stay near the door.
Was there a little bit of panic in his confident lady’s mind? I am an ancient hunter, sívamet, he soothed. I need a larger space. Have no worries, I know how to kill a vampire after all these centuries.
He tried to keep a shield between them in his mind—not because he feared she couldn’t take the battle with a vampire, but he disliked her seeing the way the demon in him embraced the battle.
I need to know you are all right, Siv.
Again, there was that note of anxiety. Part of him was happy for it, another part mystified. Vasilisa, you wanted me to have faith in your abilities. Why are you questioning mine? That made no sense to him.
I can’t touch you.
From out of the walls, more vines attacked. Several dropped from the ceiling, trying to form a cage around him. He couldn’t shift to mist, not with the vampire’s heart attempting to chew through his palm. Using his free hand, he countered, reversing the direction of the vines back onto the vampire.
Snarling in frustration, Gazsi blocked the wooden vines he’d created as they snapped greedily at him and tried to sink hooks into his body. Afanasiv continued to backtrack through the house, staying off the floors and away from the walls. He didn’t get too far ahead of Gazsi, not wanting him to attempt to lure anyone else out of their hidden safe room as a hostage to trade for the shrunken heart.
We are merged, my lady, and yet I can sense you are apprehensive.
The next room was exactly what he was looking for. Oval-shaped. Large. Empty. A fireplace with a good-sized chimney. His dragon had been glowing on his side, a warning that the vampire was near. He hovered close to the fireplace, turned slightly so the dragon faced the firebox with an iron grate on the floor of it. A few logs were piled up, ready to be set on fire. The ashes were already cleaned out for the night. The dragon glowed bright for the briefest of moments, casting a shadow on the opposite wall. Then the fiery red-orange light was gone as the mythical creature traveled up past the damper to the smoke chamber and out into the night.
I feel the vampire’s gathering power. He is starving. He is also aware the Lycans have arrived in force to protect us. He knows the plan was somehow thwarted, but he doesn’t know how.
Afanasiv didn’t like the idea that Vasilisa was anywhere near Gazsi’s mind. It was as rotten as the heart he held in his hand. If the vampire sensed she was there, he could show her things that would sicken her. She would never be able to get them out of her mind. The best healers would not be able to aid her.
How do you know these things? You cannot touch his mind, Vasilisa.
Petru and Benedek removed the splinter of Xaviero from Rudlof. Once they were able to destroy the sliver before it found another host, they questioned Rudlof. Lycans put our species first as a rule. Rudlof knows all of those within the Sacred Circle involved in the conspiracy to murder us. He also was connected with the vampire through Xaviero. That sliver was meant to command Rudlof and spy. That gave Xayvion two sets of eyes. Through Rudlof, all Lycans can feel the master vampire’s hatred of you and his need to get at your blood.