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)
Her nails were long, fangs exposed, and her pure-black eyes had taken over the whites, as she gave into the beast inside her. Lucy snarled and hissed at anything that came close to her meal. Her dress and face were soaked in blood, and the rest of the humans who had bite marks but were still alive were being sent out of the room.
“Lucy—”
“Will someone get this beast?” President Swan hollered, and at his voice, Lucy’s head snapped up, and a deep growl came from inside her.
Her body was hunched over as she got on all fours.
“Lucy, no—”
It was too late. She pounced. However, before she got far, Theseus was there, grabbing her neck and lifting her from the ground. Her feet dangled, and she began to snarl, trying to claw herself free, which only made Theseus squeeze harder.
“Theseus—”
He shot me a warning glance before lifting her. “You. Will. Cease. Or. Die.” The command in his voice was unwavering and harsh. He threw her like a rag doll into one of the walls so hard that it cracked, and she fell with a thud. Walking over to her, he picked her up again and slammed her into the wall repeatedly. Eyes wide, I looked at Taelon as he stood frozen with his eyes forward, his head up. And though masked it, with every thud of her body hitting the wall, he fought with himself. It was only when Lucy cried out that he moved.
“Help…”
He flinched. He looked over at her as Theseus let her go, allowing her to fall to the ground at his feet. Seeing her tremble, he made a move to go to her.
“You will not move!” President Swan all but roared. “Stand in your disgrace, Taelon, as she is brought to heel!”
“Ta…” Lucy looked up, her black hair all over her face.
Again, he tried to move.
“Disobey me, and you shall have her torn to shreds,” President Swan said but stopped when Theseus stomped on Lucy’s face with such force I thought I heard something crack.
“Theseus!” My voice broke as I called out to him.
He ignored me, but thankfully, he did not stomp on her again. Lucy seemed just to lay there, frozen. Slowly her nails shrank back, her fangs, too, and when the whites of her eyes returned, her lids drifted shut. Theseus turned to President Swan.
Now everyone was watching, but not watching like Taelon and I were watching. Even Daiyu had pity in her eyes. I preferred that to the nonchalant or even entertained looks on everyone else’s face.
“President Swan, First Lady Mimiteh Swan, Mikhail Swan.” Theseus bowed his head much lower than he had ever done before as he spoke to each one. “My guest has ruined your celebrations, taken the life of one that belonged to you, and was woefully unmannered and uncivilized. I do not know how to express my regret, however as the one who invited her, I take responsibility, and whatever punishment for this is deemed, I demand it be placed on me in her stead.”
“How the hell are we supposed to punish a Thorbørn?” Mikhail huffed, turning to his father. “He knows we can’t and is doing this to protect this thing.”
“Always stating the obvious brother,” Daiyu muttered, her eyes glancing towards me. “However, father, the Lessor blood is not his guest; she is hers.”
“Druella is my—”
“Your intended is not a mate,” President Swan interrupted and looked at me. “The apology should come from her; am I not correct, my swan?”
The mute woman beside him nodded.
“President Swan, First Lady Mimiteh Swan, Mikhail Swan,” I said, moving to stand beside Theseus, bowing my head to each of them and repeating the same words Theseus had said but adding, “I will accept my punishment after I take her away.”
“Since when does the one to be punished decide when to be punished?” President Swan asked, annoyed. “If your intended seeks knowledge, the first thing you should have taught her was the difference between her and those she associates with. Foolish love has blinded my son, Taelon, but she has no excuse. She was asked politely by my daughter to detach herself from this beast, yet she refused. We invited you into our home, and you bring chaos.”
Rewind power, this would be a good time to kick in. I thought, trying to figure out how to get it to work, but nothing happened.
“A life for a life. You brought her here, Ms. Monroe. She killed someone, and now, you will kill her.”
“Father!” Taelon hollered. “It was a human life; it is not equal.”
“Humans serve a purpose. What do Lesser bloods serve, expect for provoking the humans and witches against us? I miss the days when we hunted their kind.” Mikhail snickered and nodded to his father. “Your justice is as always perfect, Father.”
I bit my lip hard. Come on, rewind! Damnit.