Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
I needed to keep everyone on track. “So Alvis had appointments today?”
“Yes.” Casey’s eyes went back to his laptop screen. “But not until nine. He had nothing on his books before then. I can give you a list of who he’s seen in the last few days.”
“He has a lot of friends, though,” Evan said. “All the times we’ve stayed here, I know Alvis often entertained.”
“How does a primal entertain? I have to ask because most of the vampires I know are shitty hosts.” I meant that in the nicest way possible. It wasn’t their fault they couldn’t eat food so they didn’t think up elaborate dinner party menus.
“Probably like Dan used to,” Nate added. “I love your dad, Evan, but when it was his night to host game night, snacks would be like a single bag of chips. Between like five of us, and one of us was a shifter.”
Fen gasped like he couldn’t think of anything worse.
“Well, he doesn’t eat,” Evan defended. “And I’m sure that was before he married Mom and Papa and inherited Albert. Albert would never allow someone to go hungry in his home. Even when we were on the run, somehow Albert and Eddie would find food and make sure everyone ate their fill. I often didn’t ask what was in those tacos of Eddie’s. Especially on the dinosaur plane.”
“That was a good idea on your part,” Trent assured her. “Though I have to admit, brontosaurus was pretty damn tasty. And nobody chide me about eating endangered creatures. I assure you those suckers weren’t in any danger of going extinct there.”
Well, of course my wolf would try all the weird meat. “I’d like a list of everyone Alvis met with regularly and we’ll see if Trent recognizes their scents. I’d like to ID anyone he doesn’t normally see, though I’ll still need to talk to the people on that list.”
Casey closed his laptop. “I think we should look into the witches down here. There are around twenty, and while each one passed all of Sasha’s tests, we can’t discount the idea that they could still be undercover agents for Myrddin. There are two in particular I’m interested in because I know they were in Alvis’s circle.”
“Relda and Jade aren’t agents of Myrddin.” Evan’s shoulders squared, and I was starting to understand this was her “I mean business and I’m going to argue hard” stance. “They’ve been down here for years serving the citizens of the Under faithfully. Do you forget how they helped nurse Lee after he lost his eye?”
Casey stood. “No, I don’t forget, but I also know that sometimes Myrddin can play a long game. He knows the king has returned, and that will move his timeline up. We’ve reached a dangerous time in this war. We can’t trust anyone outside of the inner circle.”
“Are you in the inner circle?” Evan challenged. “I don’t see much of you so how would I know? Or perhaps I’m not considered inner circle. Should we have badges?”
“I’m an academic, Your Highness.” Casey got somber quite fast. “One who has been working on this plane risking my life for twelve years while Trent and Sasha trained you. I’m not saying you haven’t done your part. You were children and you needed to grow up, but I did my growing up here and I did it by wading through the blood of my friends and fighting people I still love. I work for the Nex Apparatus. Until she or your father dismisses me, I will be here and I will give my advice. I am not a yes man. I will give counsel as I see fit, and it will not be dependent on the whims of a princess.”
A low growl came from Fenrir’s throat, and I worried I was going to have to step between him and Casey—who I was kind of proud of for that speech.
Instead, Evan was the one who placed a hand on Fen’s chest, and she softened her expression. “Stand down, Fen. I was being a brat because I’m still processing the fact that my parents are back and it didn’t go the way I thought it would. I’m starting to understand that I had unrealistic expectations. Casey is right. He’s been here for years longer than I have, and the academics have never faltered when it came to supporting my parents. Not once. Not even when they had stakes to their hearts.” She turned back to Casey. “I apologize. And you know I don’t go by a title.”
Casey nodded, showing he accepted the apology. “But you do now. It’s important that you acknowledge your royalty. Anything less is to say your father is not the king. You are Princess Evangeline of Vampire and Lady Evangeline of the High Fae. I know you have trouble with your Fae relatives, but you must acknowledge them now that your father is back. Devinshea might be able to bring them to our side.”