Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
He groaned into my mouth and pressed deep inside, his cock kicking as I milked him, my orgasm rolling like waves crashing on the shore.
“Sin.” I panted. My thoughts flew away, and he was the only one left.
He thrust once more and rested his head on the bed next to mine.
“I love you.” His words were barely a whisper, but they spoke to me in a way nothing else ever could.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
STELLA
FARNS SHUFFLED INTO THE breakfast room, his pace growing slower each day. Even as his age turned to infirmity, he refused to retire and simply live at the house. Though I wasn’t sure if the earth might spin off its axis if Farns wasn’t up at daybreak, dressed in crisp attire, and setting the house to rights from front to back.
“A messenger brought this.” He handed a piece of parchment to Sin. The oak seal was unmistakable. Cal.
He broke the wax and unfolded the missive, his brows drawing down with each line he read.
“What?” Lucius glanced to the hall. “Say it before Teddy gets in here.”
“All the last-borns have to attend the coronation. Even Teddy.” Sin tossed the paper down on the table and leaned back in his chair, the heels of his palms against his eyes.
“Oh, god, we can’t keep it from him.” My appetite vanished, and I flinched when I heard Teddy’s steps on the stairs.
“No, we can’t. And I thought Cal would let him stay away. Fuck. We’ll have to make adjustments.”
Lucius pushed his chair back and rose. “I’ll get in touch with Quinlan, let him know we’ll have one more on the list.”
“Do it.” Sin nodded and gripped the arms of his chair.
Lucius disappeared toward the study as Teddy walked in. He wore a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and jeans riddled with holes. He yawned and stretched his arms over his head as he approached.
He was the heart of the family, a pure soul. Would the knowledge of the trials hurt him? I knew it would. I only hoped it wouldn’t destroy him.
Sin grimaced, dread shrouding his features.
“Sin.” I took his hand. “Let me. Go with Lucius and get the plan straightened out. I’ll do this part.”
“What part? What plan?” Teddy sat beside me.
Sin squeezed my fingers. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I think it’ll be better. Go on.”
He rose and kissed me on the forehead before walking out, his steps stiff, worry sitting heavy on his shoulders.
“What is it now? Something bad?” The sleepiness had fled from Teddy’s eyes, and only fearfulness remained.
How could I explain? I had to keep him grounded, give him just enough knowledge to know the score, but not too many details.
I began where it all started, where it would make the most sense. “There are seven rules to the Acquisition.”
He paled. “It must be really bad if you’re going to tell me.”
“I have to.” I took his hand and pressed it between my palms. “I don’t want to, but Cal has demanded your presence at the coronation. So you’re going to find out some things. I’d rather tell you now. Just the two of us. And I-I’m afraid. So I’ll need you to help me. I don’t want it to change you or hurt you.”
“Tell me. I can take it.” He scooted his chair back and pulled mine around so we faced each other. “No matter what, I’ll deal.”
“The first rule, and the only one you truly need to know.” I cleared my throat and gripped his hand tight. “Is that if an Acquirer loses, he has to kill the last-born of his line.”
Teddy knit his brows together for a split-second before his eyes widened and his jaw went slack. “Me?”
I nodded. “If Sin were to lose, he would have to sacrifice you as punishment.” The words were so harsh, so steeped in evil, but they had to be said.
He shook his head, disbelief and shock in the slow back and forth movement. “Oh, god. No wonder. No fucking wonder. And all this time, I’ve been blaming him.”
“And you?” His eyes watered. “How long have you known? What did they do to you? What have you gone through for me?”
I leaned forward and pulled him to me, wrapping him in a hug as the pain washed over him like a pelting spring rain. “I would do it again if it meant keeping you safe.”
A sob rocketed up from his lungs, and he clung to me. “I’m so sorry. God, Stella, I’m so sorry. I don’t even know what to…”
“No. It’s not your fault. You have to know that. You didn’t set any of this up. It isn’t your fault. I swear. I love you, and I never wanted you to know.”
He shook, sob after sob breaking him down until tears wet my cheeks, too.
“It’s okay. Shh.” I stroked his hair and whispered what few words of comfort I could.