Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Do you think they’ll show?
Hearing Leo’s voice in my head is nothing new. I know he switched to talking like this because he didn’t want the others to hear. I don’t remind him they probably still can. It’s been a while since we’ve been fed the same blood, but I’m sure the effects are still in their system. Of course, I have no proof that shared blood is what allows us to talk with one another, but I think it is. I know when I was talking to myself and Grace heard me the night of her accident, it was done without trying. Hell, I didn’t even know it was possible. I recognized immediately though that she could hear me because she was my mate. The connection was more powerful than the ones I have with my brothers. It’s almost like a living, breathing connection—as powerful as a physical touch.
“We’re here,” Six answers as they step out into the clearing. Six and Eight stand with someone else. I frown.
“This was supposed to be a private meeting, Six,” I rumble, letting him know that I’m not happy.”
“We trust Jay. He is one of us.”
“Jay? One of us? He doesn’t look familiar.”
“He wouldn’t to you. Still, he was created just like we were. He searched us out and lives with our pack now. He is part of our family.”
“Does he know how quickly you push family aside?” I grumble. We were all created in the lab, but Endy and Sean are more what books describe as werewolves instead of vampires.
“Nine believes as we do,” he counters with a careless shrug.
“You’re an asshole, Six, and why are you calling a man after our dead brother?”
He shrugs. “I can do what I want. Also, that’s the second time you’ve referred to me as Six. Is that the way it is to be now? I still go by the name Leo’s mate gave me. Call me, Endy.”
“That’s rich considering you hurt Ettie by turning your back on her.”
“We didn’t turn our backs on her. We merely left our past behind and the people who believed controlling others and their decisions are more important than giving them freedom. We may have not been created like others in this world, but we live in it and deserve the right to free choice—just like everyone else.”
“What Oracle did saved our lives,” I point out, irritated all over again.
“I was on the Council with him. We should have been consulted. We should have been made aware that the bastard was feeding us his blood without letting us know—just so he could control us!” Six hisses.
“He didn’t control you. He issued one order to override Draven’s—”
“Like we were sheep! Pets for him to make kneel at his feet!”
“He kept us all from killing one another. Or did I miss something?” Leo snaps.
“You wouldn’t understand. You drank from your mate without permission, forcing her into a blood bond without choice,” Eight replies.
“Bullshit. Leo saved Ettie’s life. Just like Oracle saved every last one of us,” I bark.
I knew this was useless. They won’t help.
Leo’s voice booms in my head. I want to say he’s wrong, but I’m starting to agree with him. I nod and we both turn to get back in the vehicle.
“We’ll help,” Eight says out loud—proving yet again they can listen to our conversations. I never thought that would be a bad thing—not until this moment. Then again, we’re not truly brothers anymore.
“You don’t even know what you’re agreeing to,” Leo laugh. The sound is devoid of humor.
We’re helping to protect Seven’s mate.
Shock hits me and Leo and I stare at one another. The voice in our head is not one we’ve heard before.
“Who are you?” Leo demands. “How can you talk to us through our connection?”
“I told you he is one of us. We didn’t meet everyone at the facility. We only know the ones who stayed in the containment area with us. There are others.”
“We need to know more.”
“Eventually, we will approach it as part of the Council. For now, let us concentrate on Grace.”
“How is it you all know about Grace?”
“We have eyes in the hospital.”
“And ears, apparently,” Leo grumbles under his breath, obviously as upset about all this as I am. Evidently, the conversations I had with the others in the hall were listened to. Most of the time we discussed it through our connection, but there were times when I felt safe enough to talk out loud. Evidently, that was a mistake.
Eight shrugs.
“We need eyes on Grace at all times. She’ll be coming home with me tomorrow, but she’s not safe—none of us are unless we find Scar.”
“Scar?”
“It would appear you aren’t aware of everything.”
“He’s back and I’ve scented him at the restaurant where Grace worked and at the hospital.”
“Shit,” Eight rumbles.
“Are you sure? We’ve been tracking him. We were positive that he was headed back toward West Virginia,” Six questions.