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)
“You’re afraid I might challenge him to a duel.”
Her lashes fluttered. “You are a bit old-fashioned and he was very insulting.”
He was grateful she acknowledged that her brother was disrespectful. He arched an eyebrow. “Old-fashioned? I assure you, my brethren believe I am very forward-thinking.”
Outside the palace walls, wolves began to howl. First one and then a chorus of others answering. Afanasiv scowled. Vasilisa burst into laughter.
“Even the wolves can hear that white lie. I believe your friend is close.”
Afanasiv nodded his head. “There is a bond between us. Those of us who believed we owed it to our lifemates to survive as long as possible but were too dangerous to continue hunting and killing vampires went to the monastery. We took an oath, had it carved into our skin, an oath sworn to our lifemates. When the emptiness became too severe, we chanted together to remind one another of that oath of honor. We passed two hundred years in the monastery ensuring that we stayed true to our lifemates and our code.”
“And he is close now because . . .” she trailed off.
“He felt my annoyance with your brother. Carpathian hunters do not feel emotions until they find their lifemates. Nicu felt mine, and because I am unused to emotions, mine were uncontrolled and very raw. He feared I could become a danger to others, so he hastily made the journey to ensure he was near should I have need of him.”
Vasilisa frowned, her brows drawing together. He had the unexpected desire to rub his thumb over her lips and then her eyebrows. He did just that.
“My understanding is that once you claim your lifemate, you can’t turn vampire. You’re perfectly safe. Did I get that part wrong? It was explained very hastily to me, so maybe I didn’t understand it fully. You tied us together and your soul is intact, right?”
Afanasiv felt he was treading on quicksand. He didn’t want to have this conversation with her, not now when her brother was waiting to chastise her for her choices. “My soul is whole and safe, Vasilisa. It was guarded by your family and handed down mother to daughter until my lifemate was born. I owe the women in your family a debt I will never be able to repay.”
Her little frown began to come back, but the door to the formal dining room opened. This time it was her brother Garald who called out to them. “Vasi, Afanasiv, quit making eyes at each other and come on in before Andros wears a hole in the granite.” There was amusement in his voice, but even with that, Afanasiv caught that little note of concern.
Afanasiv took the opportunity to avoid talking about claiming and what that might mean in terms of making Vasilisa wholly his and keeping him safe. He took her hand again, enveloping hers in his much larger one to go straight into the dining room.
It was enormous, a banquet hall more than an actual formal dining room. A hundred guests could easily be accommodated, far more than that number. The floors gleamed a beautiful black and white, with thin bands of gold running through the marble tiles. Beautiful chandeliers hung overhead, dripping teardrop crystals that glittered with color. The tables gleamed a brilliant cherrywood. The walls were marble as well, as if the tiles had run from floor to high ceiling, causing the room to seem even larger. The gold streaks appeared to widen as they reached higher toward the chandeliers. The overall effect was breathtaking.
Andros Sidkorolyavolkvo paced the length of the entire banquet hall, and yet that didn’t seem enough space to contain his ire. He turned his head slowly to look his sister up and down and then really look Afanasiv over. He took in every aspect with those same eyes Vasilisa had, seeing far beyond the outer shell to the person inside.
Afanasiv paid him back in kind, standing unflinching under the intense scrutiny as he assessed the man who ruled the Lycans. Andros wasn’t simply regarded as the authority there in Siberia but was the authority over all Lycans. They had a council, and for the most part, decisions were made at that level. But when disputes erupted that couldn’t be fixed by the council, the matter was presented to Andros. His word was absolute law in the Lycan world.
Afanasiv knew the royals were never spoken of outside the Lycan people. They were protected by being kept a secret. Lycans were very good at secrecy. If Afanasiv was worried that members of the Sacred Circle would turn on the royals, Andros had to be worried as well. Having his sister be a lifemate to a Carpathian had to be just one more headache for him.
Andros paced back up the room until he was standing directly in front of them. “Just how far has this courtship gone?” he demanded.