Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“I was just about to send for you. Bay was going to change her for me, but Avionne has been looping time.”
“What do you mean?”
“She doesn’t want to leave me, so every time I hand her to Bay, she turns back time to get back into my arms. It was like Ground Hog Day in here,” I say.
“So she can speak to you in your thoughts, she glows like a little glowworm, and she can play with time? Ray, this baby is more than a gift. She’s an intention.
“I wouldn’t give her to anyone you can’t sincerely trust. Look, I can’t explain what I’m thinking right now. I have to go. I only came to let you know I’m leaving with Reilly.”
“What? To go where?”
“The west gate. It’s the gate to the vampire realm.”
“Why are you going there?”
“Reilly has something he needs to do there. I’m not sure how long it will take. Ray, promise me you’ll keep studying and training.”
My heart breaks. I just got my sisters back, but they’re all leaving me. Taylor has been out with Bradan, hunting Seraphina and his stone.
When they do come back to the clubhouse, I don’t really get to spend time with Taylor. I only speak to Billy when she has time to call and check in. Now Lee Ann is leaving too.
A panic attack begins to rise. I’m thrown back in time. All at once, I’m alone in that house again, trapped with no friends, no mom, no one.
“Ray?” Lee Ann says with concern in her voice.
“Ray, calm down. You’re not alone. I’m here, you have Avionne and Kendrick is always here for you,” Venus says.
Right as she says those words, Kendrick appears. He rushes to me and lifts me, taking my seat as he tugs me and Avionne onto his lap. He kisses my temple and murmurs words of love and affection.
“I have her. You go on and go with Reilly. It’s time to leave,” he says to Lee Ann as she looks at me with concern.
I can tell she’s hesitant to leave. For a moment, I don’t think she will. She glances at the door then back at me.
“Will she be okay?”
“Yes, I will take care of her. As soon as you all return, it’ll be time for the bonding ceremony. You all should be able to link to one another as well as the community,” he replies. “That way, in your absence, you will always be linked.”
“Yes, that would be best. I will be in touch as soon as I can,” she says before she takes off.
Kendrick palms the side of my face and turns it so I’m looking up into his eyes. Tears blur my vision. I hadn’t thought about how lonely I had been with my dad in months.
Between learning, adjusting to my new life, being pregnant and not being pregnant to being pregnant again, and everything else going on, I’ve been too distracted to think about the past. Now, as it hits me and my sisters are all gone, I feel hollow.
“You will never be alone again. I will be with you and they will return. No one will lock you up to spend your days alone. Anytime you need me, call. Open your mind to me and I’ll be there,” Kendrick breathes against my lips.
“And I will be here until we find my son. You are never alone, Ray. I promise,” Venus says.
I swallow down my abandonment and isolation issues and suck it up. I’m stronger than this. I haven’t been that scared little girl in a long time. I’m not going back there now.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Forget all of this. Come with me. I want to show you something,” Kendrick says.
Kendrick
I want to do this while I have a free moment. I could stand some time to get away from it all myself. When I felt Ray’s emotions, I rushed right to her.
Hearing her thoughts tugged at my heart. I wish I could bring all my brothers’ mates back home to be with her, but they are where they’re needed. I don’t know how long Reilly will be gone.
Another stone has been taken. That’s a problem, as Reilly’s stone wasn’t just hidden. It was used to hold closed the prison of a very powerful vampire. A vampire with a grudge against Reilly and the vampire lord, Damian.
It took decades to lock Faustus away. The chaos that ensued after almost collapsed the hierarchy of the vampire world. We did, after all, lock away their king.
If Faustus has escaped now that the stone is gone, we have much bigger problems on our hands. There are those who still pledge their allegiance to the old vampire king. Reilly needs to get this situation under control before we end up with a war on our hands.