Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
I’m glad my brothers and their families will be getting out of here today. I’m just sorry Phoenix had to grow up in this toxic environment. It’s only more of a testament to the strong person she is.
I take a bite of my food as Phoenix politely asks her grandfather how his business dealings are going. Likely to fill the awkward silence that has fallen over the table.
Vlad waves a hand impatiently. “The only business I care about at the moment is you. Tell me he rode you thoroughly enough to breed you last night.”
Gasps come from the women around the table.
Vlad ignores them, staring pointedly at Phoenix.
She glares back. “Don’t be vile. There are children at the table.”
Vlad sniffs the air and narrows his eyes. “I don’t smell the scent of fucking on you.”
Abaddon jams his chair back, standing in fury, but I take my cues from Phoenix. She’s quietly furious, and I know she wouldn’t want me making a display on her behalf.
“Not that it’s any of your business how I conduct myself in my marriage, but I showered this morning.”
Vlad leans in, face hard. “You should have been fucking this morning.”
All right, I’ve had enough. But before I can say anything, Phoenix is already there, slamming her knife into the table between her and Vlad.
“You might get to say who and when I marry, but the biology of when I conceive is something beyond either of our control. You will stay the hell out of my sex life.” Venom drips from her voice. “Don’t push me.”
Vlad glares right back at her, and the entire room holds its breath in the strained silence that follows. Until Vlad finally breaks out in a low chuckle that releases the room’s tension. “That’s my girl. Fine. I’ll stay out of your sex life, but don’t think for a moment that I don’t expect results. By this time next year, I expect to be a proud grandpapa.”
“It hasn’t gotten old already?” Phoenix can’t help asking snidely, gesturing to the four men in the corners. Because we both know his “sons” are actually grandsons going back untold generations already.
“None so interesting as you, my lovely,” Vlad says, reaching out a hand to caress Phoenix’s face. She jerks back from his touch, and I feel her shudder.
Vlad just smiles that predator’s smile again.
Fuck I wish I could kill this bastard. Phoenix swears he’s untouchable, and I understand her reasons, but still…
To my right, little Raven suddenly flies up out of her chair, evading her mother’s arms as Hannah tries to reach for her.
“Raven, honey, you know we sit while we eat breakfast,” Hannah tries.
Raven’s little face is contorted, and she points a finger at Vlad.
“Bad,” she pronounces loudly.
Then the small toddler flies up and out of her chair at Vlad like a little bullet.
We’re all so shocked that no one moves in time to do anything about it. All of us, that is, except for Vlad’s sons, one of whom shoots from the nearest corner and snatches Raven out of the air by her wings a moment before her little snaggle-toothed fangs can connect with Vlad’s face.
“Filthy meat-eaters,” Vlad’s son snarls at her.
Raven’s not finished with her surprises for the morning, apparently. Suddenly, she transforms in Vlad’s minion’s hands from a cute little toddler into—
We all gasp as she lets out an animal growl and shapeshifts—I can’t think of any other word for it—into some sort of monster three times her size. She opens her mouth and has three rows of razor-sharp teeth and a tail with spikes whips out. Her torso is furry and muscled. Instead of being cute and fluffy, her wings have become leathery and veined and stretch out behind her like a huge, mutant bat.
Vlad’s minion drops her at the same time that she shoves him back.
When Vlad’s minion grabbed her cousin’s wings and snatched Raven out of the air, Luna began crying. As the vampire flies back from Raven’s shove, a portal opens behind him. He doesn’t even have a chance to realize what’s happening before he disappears into the shining man-size pool hanging in the air like a liquid mirror before it closes up behind him.
Right after, Raven transforms back into her adorable child self and hovers to the side of Vlad’s chair, fluffy wings flapping madly as she looks at where Vlad’s son disappeared. There’s a moment of silence as the rest of us do the same.
It’s broken by Vlad clapping loudly, enjoyment transforming his angular features. “Such delightful allies I have as in-laws.” He looks at Phoenix and me and, with a dark, avaricious tone, adds, “I can’t wait until we get our own.”
“Raven!” Hannah jumps up, holding her arms out to her daughter. “Get away from him.”
“Father,” another of Vlad’s sons objects. “Make them bring Avram back!”