Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“My heart may be black, but I still have one.” He stared deeply into my eyes, and to my shock, I felt a sort of peace in their dark depths. Maybe because with Ansin, I knew what he was. He made no effort to hide his nature. Everything else in my life felt like pure chaos.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“What is this place?” I asked Ansin as the driver pulled up to a tall metal gate. It was still pitch black out, so all I knew was that we’d landed in Crete after switching planes in Athens.
“It is King’s palace, the one he built for Mia. It is where you will find the Seers.”
King’s house? Seriously? Yes, I knew King was from Crete, but he was dead, and I didn’t need a fresh reminder by being here.
My stomach tensed, and my pulse accelerated. I felt like I’d just been thrown into the deep end of a pool without knowing how to swim. This house had history, according to what King once told me. For example, it was built overlooking his favorite beach. He’d also fallen in love with Mia here.
“Why didn’t you warn me?” I asked quietly.
“What would it have changed?”
The driver pressed a button on the intercom, and the gate slid open.
“Who lives here now?” I asked nervously, not knowing what to expect.
“Just the caretaker.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
“I paid people to keep an eye on King, just as he paid others to keep an eye on club members.”
“But King was gone for twenty-five years.” Before I was born, he’d thrown himself to the bottom of the ocean after Mia, Arch, and Ariadna were murdered. He’d intended to die, but that was not how things panned out.
“I wanted to know the moment he returned,” Ansin replied.
“So you could kill him, right?”
“What else?” he replied shamelessly.
I shook my head, and we pulled forward.
The black SUV stopped in front of a huge glass door. From what I could see, the two-story home looked very modern, with bright white paint, right angles, and a flat roof. It wasn’t something I imagined King living in. Too new.
Suddenly, goosebumps broke out over my skin, like the house wanted us to leave.
I rubbed my arms over my black sweater. I’d changed on the plane to black jeans and leather boots, unsure of what to expect. If and when we found this Spiros man, were we going to sneak into his house to look around? Were we going to nab him and question him? All I knew was that Ansin was dressed to kill. Or ride a motorcycle. Or do pretty much anything he normally did since he wore his usual white T-shirt, jeans, and distressed leather jacket.
“The grounds are heavily warded to keep Seers and intruders out,” Ansin explained, likely noticing the chill in the air, too.
“Then why am I inside?”
“You own it.” Ansin slid from the car.
I sat there for a moment, trying to let that sink in. I leaned forward and looked through the windshield to take in the facade.
“Hurry up. I have work to do,” Ansin called out. “And you have Seers to connect with.”
I exited the car and joined him at the entryway.
“If the Seers aren’t allowed inside, then how the hell am I going to connect with them here?” I asked.
“I will explain shortly.”
A plump older woman with deep olive skin answered the door.
“Hello, come in. Come in.” She stepped aside. “I prepare di master for you, Miss Jeni. I prepare guest room for you, Mr. Bastuli. Dinner in fridge.” She grabbed her coat from the hall closet. “I return in di morning.” She slid past us, walking toward the gate.
“Where’s she going?” I asked.
“Far from this place if she knows what’s good for her,” Ansin replied.
Okay, now I was worried. What did Ansin have planned? “What about the Spiros man—the lead you told me about?”
“He will be along shortly.”
“He’s coming here?” Ansin had said he didn’t know where he was.
“Yes.”
We walked inside the foyer, and Ansin shut the door.
“You need to start explaining the plan, Ansin. Now!” I added angrily.
He let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t have much time to get set up.”
“Ansin…” I warned.
“Do you want to find your child or not?”
“Of course I do!” We’d just spent twelve hours flying to get here.
“The man wants the blood of a king. He’s coming here to get it.” He held out his arms.
I stared. “You mean you?”
“Yes, believe it or not.”
“You’re a king?” News to me.
“I was next in line to rule my people before they were slaughtered. That doesn’t change my place or lineage.”
Great. Another king. “So he’s coming here to get your blood in hopes to bring back…?”
“King.”
I choked on my own gasp. “I’m sorry, but whatthefuck?”
“I have not told you everything.”
“Yeah. No kidding. You’d better start talking, Ansin.”