Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Chills go down my spine. “They don’t dare come anywhere near the Nocturne Court, but I can assure you that I can protect everyone from bloodsuckers. You’re safe.”
“I’ve got a lot to learn…” he says absentmindedly, and the bat opens its mouth. My heart stops, but the critter just licks Luke’s finger.
“And looks like I have a book to read.” Because I want to understand where Luke is coming from too.
“I have a special edition at home. I’ll give it to you on your birthday. I like… all things dark and dangerous.” Luke smiles at me when he says that, and I’m pretty sure it’s because he means to suggest he likes me.
“Well, it’s your lucky day, because there’s plenty of dark and mysterious things I can show you during our courting,” I say and follow the bat with my gaze as it attempts to fly off toward the window, only to float to the floor. Pathetically.
Luke slides back under my arm, puts his cheek on my pec, and closes his eyes. In this moment, I understand why he wanted to save that baby bat. “Now that we’re in agreement about what things will be like between us, I’m looking forward to this upcoming month. This is all so… magical. I want to find out more about this world. And you. Thank you for sharing so much with me.”
My heart throbs as if it’s been touched by the moon itself, but maybe there’s no greater power anyone can ever have over me than this small human who doesn’t yet know he will want to be mine.
Tomorrow, I will start courting him in ways he cannot even fathom.
I wonder if he’s ever witnessed an execution before.
Chapter 19
Luke
Ican’t believe I’m thinking about it, but I miss Kyran. He’s only been gone for a few hours, yet I’m already itching for his company. And to feel his lips against mine.
We slept in the same bed, something I barely ever do with a lover, yet it felt like the most natural thing in the world. I miss him even more than I miss my phone, and that’s something for a terminally online guy like me. I wish I could put a photo of Count Flapula on Instagram, or check if there’s any new drama in the world of indie bath bomb crafters, but most of all, I wish I could text Kyran.
A needy part of me wants to ask where he is, what he’s up to, whether he’s feeling okay after the despair’s bite. He still has a bruise where the creature bit him. If I had my phone, I would WebMD the shit out of that.
But I don’t.
So I’m stuck in my digital detox, living in the present, and being ‘mindful’.
It is kinda nice, actually. I spent some time brushing Flap’s fur and just enjoying my time with him instead of also listening to a podcast or watching TV at the same time. It made me notice little things about my new pet, like how he really does look like a bunny, but that his feet have longer fingers and claws. I’m guessing he uses them to hang from branches or rocks.
I wish Kyran was here, so I could ask him about it.
A knock on the door makes me shut the elaborate cage my dark prince had his servants bring in from some far-off corner of the castle. I leave Flap inside as I rise to my feet, ready to see him.
A part of me wants to rush to the bathroom and make sure I’m presentable, but I also don’t want to make him wait.
Seeing Reiner enter with the same wooden chest as yesterday makes me go limp as if I were a balloon with a hole.
“Master Luke, are you well?” Reiner asks, opening the door in the silver bars and passing through it.
“Y-yes,” I mutter. “I just thought Kyran… might have come back. The last day and night were so turbulent…” Understatement of the fucking year. I almost got married and murdered on the same day, then had sex with shadow tentacles. I don’t think even the heroes of the most popular soap operas could rival me in terms of unexpected twists to their lives.
Reiner’s face scrunches, and he drops the handle of the chest, letting it fall to the floor. He collapses in front of me and grabs the edge of my robe. “It is all my fault. Please, forgive me, Master Luke. I swear I had nothing to do with that vile woman’s plan! I was only trying to make sure the wedding goes as planned. It has not, and it’s due to my actions. I don’t even know what would have happened if you died! I would have never forgiven myself.”
I freeze, out of my depth. Most of my life, I couldn’t even afford restaurants with table service, so I don’t have much experience with waiters let alone servants.