Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“Another reason you enjoy art?” he mused. “You can create love stories from it?”
“You’re teasing me, but you’re the one who drew the picture. And this.” I pointed to the next sketch of a family. A man and his wife, her carrying the child in her arms, and her husband grinning widely at the child.
“We are going to be late,” he said, trying to take the book from me, but I put it behind my back quickly and got in his face.
“You’re a sucker for romance, too, Mr. Sweet Talker.”
His jaw cracked to the side. “Do you know how many I have killed, young one?”
“Oh, is this the part of the story where you try to convince me you are a bad, dangerous man?” I giggled, thinking of how many times I had read those types of scenes. “Are you forgetting the first time I saw you? You were naked in the forest, feeding from bodies. If I didn’t get that you were big and bad then—”
“Thank you for calling me big. I have always been unsatisfied with the depictions of the Greek form, especially in sculpture.”
Oh my God.
He chuckled, kissing my cheek, and I was so frozen in shock by his long-winded compliment to himself that I didn’t notice he took the sketchbook until it was too late.
“Shall we?” he asked, offering his arm.
“You are…” I didn’t have words, nor did it matter because I heard the elevator. Ignoring his arm, I walked myself over to it.
It only took a moment to arrive. When the engraved doors opened, Lucy was there dressed in layers upon layers of royal blue, yellow, and black silks, with flower petals on the shoulders and the hem of the gown. Her black hair, half up and down, had different jewels of flowers in the top. She looked like an ancient Korean princess.
“See, what did I tell you?” She spoke to Taelon, who was dressed in matching silk robes, his black hair brought forward to give him side bangs, but his hair was much longer now, almost as long as hers. “Druella was too stubborn to give in just yet.”
Wait; what? The spell on me was broken.
“Hello, to you, too, Lucy. Nice outfit,” I said, looking her over again.
There were so many places to look. She even had a jade butterfly pendant dangling from her waist, but half of the butterfly was missing—well not missing, the other one half was on Taelon.
“Yes, it is the best I could do on short notice. No one told me it was a costume ball.” She brushed her hand over her clothes. If this was the best she could do with short notice, what would she do if she had enough notice? Make a crown and ten-foot train?
“I see you went for a Greek goddess, Druella, how beautiful and appropriate seeing as who your mate is.” Taelon smiled and glanced over to Theseus, who stood somewhat bored.
He was much more stoic and uptight with company around. The playfulness in him was completely gone. “English evening tails? I would not have guessed that would be your choice.”
“Our host failed to inform us about this evening’s events. We all made do with what we could,” Theseus replied, leading me inside the elevator.
“Yes, Mikhail isn’t my favorite brother. The fact that I’m here at all is something, let alone with guests,” Taelon grumbled, making space for me and my dress, and the doors closed in front of us.
“If it is his 500th birthday, how old are you?” I knew he had given me the time period he was from, but I had very little knowledge of Japan outside of anime. Oh God, don’t say that aloud, Druella; they will laugh in your face.
“I will be 459 in a month.” Taelon shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.
I glanced over at Lucy, who was still messing with her clothes, adjusting and pulling, not at all paying attention. She was nervous.
I leaned over, grinning as I asked, “Don’t you think he is a little old for you?”
That caught her attention quickly. “Says the woman whose mate is around the same age as Taelon’s father.”
“I am not mated yet.” I shrugged my shoulders and could feel Theseus take in air beside me, restraining himself from speaking.
“Yes, is that why you two are sharing a room?” she posed back to me.
“It was the only one offered.”
“You did not even bother asking.” She said as if she’d won. “Taelon would have given you one.”
“Fine, since you’re my guest, we should be together.” I grinned.
“You are welcome to come stay with us,” Taelon cut in, causing Theseus to growl, and both Lucy and I turned back to stare at him.
“Is she, now?” Lucy asked with a dark tone.
Taelon’s eyes widened in realization. “I only meant—”
“…to create harem?” I asked him, doing my best to keep a serious face.