Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Look, it’s not that I didn’t wanna tell you, it’s that, well, I couldn’t. Or at least I thought I couldn’t. You’re a Sleeper or more accurately, I believed you were a Sleeper, which means I could spew my guts about it all I want, but the first time you closed your eyes. POOF!” Her hands make an exploding motion. “Back into The Fog you’d go. I could offer to turn you, but this shit isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“You can’t turn a non-Sleeper into one of the soulless,” Ptur quickly proclaims. “Especially not one that’s mated to an ancient dragon. Her soul is mine and mine is hers, not yours.”
“Ohhhhhhh,” Kyla slowly drags out the word while flopping back into her seat. “That’s why you both keep saying mate. You’re Fated Mates.”
Something similar to a faint purr comes out of the creature beside me. “We are.”
She kicks her chin my direction. “Got a mark?”
I casually turn over my wrist on the hand that also houses my orc ring to display the image on my skin.
“And here I thought your first tattoo would be when we got matching ones for Catwoman.”
“Why would she get another shifter’s mark permanently placed on her?”
“It’s a comic book character,” I offhandedly reply to him prior to asking her a question. “Do vampires have soulmates like shifters?”
“They don’t have souls, so the answer is no,” Ptur callously states.
“You need her,” Kyla informs on a point my direction. “You have no tact.”
“Neither do you,” I sassily point out.
“Yeah, but I already know why I need you.”
We exchange small giggles while Ptur shrinks a bit inward, “My apologies, Miss Herrera. Offense was not my intent.”
“I don’t work for you so Kyla’s fine.” She brushes off with a tossed hand. “Now, did you come all the way down here with an actual point, or did you come all the way down here to simply poke the vein and see how much blood pours out?”
“Is being a vampire the real reason so many of your metaphors are blood related?”
Her face scrunches in a less than innocent nature.
Of course, it is.
Why do I get the feeling that there are numerous other in my face clues about who beings really are that I’ve just been ignoring due to the “stop the crazy” meds I didn’t need?
“Your presence, Ptur,” Kyla less than slyly redirects the conversation to the hovering male beside me.
“P,” he politely corrects.
“Is it just to instill chaos—which has always been my favorite job—or did you come by for an actual reason?”
I direct my attention to him. “While her interrogation lacks subtlety-”
“It always has.”
“-it is a fair question. Did you actually need something, or did you just come by to see how I was enjoying the meal because I wasn’t answering your texts in the timely fashion you prefer?”
“You can eat and text,” he quietly complains. “I’ve seen you do it.”
“And I can also put my phone down to enjoy the company of the creature I’m dining with.” The smug smirk that slips onto my face is instant. “You’ve also seen me do that.”
Ptur reluctantly acknowledges the point with a small tip of the head. Afterward, he clears his throat and announces, “There’s a dinner I need to attend this evening and was wondering if you’d like to join me.”
“Professional or personal?”
“Both.”
The response receives an intrigued eyebrow lifting.
“Hiro Llakakura—the world-renowned chef—is hosting a private dining experience for a few select patrons. He’s anxious to unveil his latest interactive experience. Being that he is one of DL & Co.’s more elite clientele whenever we’re extended an invitation for an event, it is an unspoken, undeniable understanding that a member of the Draak family must attend.” My significant other’s hand lands on the back of my leather chair to steal the smallest strokes of the closest skin he can. “Given that I am the only one with a mate who is not pregnant,” the faintest bit of disappointment isn’t hard to hear, “the responsibility falls on me.” His gray stare stays connected to my green. “It would be an honor to have you at my side this evening; however, rather than make that decision for you—which you hate—I am asking you to join me. He specializes in ocean immersion, therefore it’s safe to assume seafood will be on the menu.”
I thoughtlessly moan, “I love seafood.”
“And I love when you make that sound.” His cocky grin is briefly flashed. “Although, less in mixed company.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve heard sex sounds come out of her mouth,” Kyla casually proclaims.
Seeing the narrowing stare of my Fated Mate spurs me to loudly interject, “It’ll be my pleasure to go.”
Ptur drops his attention back to me, soft smile returning. “I like when you’re pleased.”
“You like pleasing me.”
“It is my duty.”
Great Ones, does he do it well.