Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 31462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Sky nodded. “What do you need? Would it be easier to do it here or in Moon’s house?”
Red kneeled and placed Damon in front of him. He kept both hands firmly on the pig, but poor Damon just flopped over, looking both exhausted and somewhat depressed. “Outside is best. I think Damon is calm enough to stay within the circle. I just need a knife to cut a circle in the ground.”
“I know where Moon keeps his casting blades. I’ll go get one,” Sky offered. Before he took a step away, he grabbed Nolan’s biceps. Sky stared hard at him, his large eyes filled with unspoken questions.
Nolan’s heart warmed and he nearly kissed the man again. “I’ll be fine here with Bel and Red. Grab the knife, but don’t run with it.”
Sky’s bright expression gave way to a mock gasp. “Really? You think I’d do something so stupid?”
“It’s been a strange date. Let’s not push our luck,” Nolan chided. He gave in to impulse and pressed a quick kiss to the center of Sky’s forehead.
“Smart.” Sky nodded once and briskly walked off toward the farmhouse, nearly disappearing into the shadows.
“Are you and Sky on a date?” Bel inquired.
“Technically, our first.” Nolan took a couple of steps around where Red and Damon were resting on the ground. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the giant raven. Never had he seen a big bird quite like him up close.
Ozzie cocked his head to the side as if he were inspecting Nolan as well. The cranky creature squawked once and snapped his large beak at him, earning a tap from Bel.
“Be polite. He’s just curious. I’m sure he’s never seen a bird as lovely as you,” Bel admonished.
“I haven’t,” Nolan agreed. “You are the largest and most beautiful raven I’ve ever seen.”
Yes, he was talking to a bird. Why not? This was a night of just rolling with the weirdness.
He almost asked if Ozzie could understand him, when the bird lifted his head and puffed out his chest. Yes. Ozzie could understand him and was now preening under his praise like a black peacock.
It was on the tip of his tongue to inquire more about Ozzie, but a wolf howl cut through the silence followed by several other excited yips and howls. Ozzie’s entire body stiffened for a blink of an eye, and then he was off, darting through the night.
“Don’t get in the way!” Bel shouted after him. “Let the wolves eat first!” The vampire turned his attention to Nolan and flashed a crooked grin. “He’s a beautiful bird, but he’s gotten quite heavy since I found my mates. He eats far too well, thanks to Wyatt and River.”
Damon grunted softly at their feet, and Bel immediately shook his head.
“No, you’re a very lovely pig. Mr. Mosely did a wonderful job when he turned you into a pig.”
Red huffed and hung his head. “Really, you can just call me Red. All my friends do.”
“Thank you, Red. Would you mind very much if I watched you change Damon into a human? I’ve had the opportunity to watch Fox cast a few spells, but never anything quite so astounding as changing an animal into a human.”
Both Nolan and Red stared at Bel for a moment. His manner of speaking, his posture, everything was so straightforward and earnest. Nothing like Winter or even any of the Sandor clan that he’d met.
“You can watch. No problem. The more complicated spell is changing him into the animal. Switching to his true form isn’t much,” Red explained.
“You know, you’re not like any of the other vampires I’ve met so far,” Nolan blurted out.
Bel’s lips twisted into a smirk. He blinked and his eyes glowed red. “Were you expecting something a bit more like this?” As he spoke, long sharp fangs flashed.
Nolan jumped back a step, his heart jumping into his throat. The transformation from harmless bunny to bloodthirsty wolf was almost instantaneous. The idea that Bel Varik wasn’t dangerous evaporated in a puff of smoke.
The vampire blinked twice more and the red was gone. A laugh escaped him and the fangs were gone as quickly as they appeared. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you so badly. That was cruel of me. It was just a joke. No, I’m not like a lot of vampires, but I am still one. We come in all shapes, sizes, and types.”
“If you want to meet an unexpected vampire, I’ll have to introduce you to Gideon in person,” Sky called out as he approached with a small leather satchel in his hand. “A video call isn’t the same. Gideon is adorably sweet. You would never expect him to be a vampire.”
Bel nodded next to him. “Yes, very true.”
Sky handed the case over to Red and sidled up to Nolan, who subconsciously wrapped his arm around Sky’s shoulders again. The smile that Sky directed up at him said that he was well on his way to being properly trained. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Sky was a cuddler. He liked hugs, cuddling, and generally being petted. Did that make him an affectionate cat or just an oversized lapdog?