Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
An ache began in my head, and I didn’t want to talk about this. “I’m not arguing with you. If you’re here to fill me with your lies, then begone.”
I turned and walked to the window, pushing the filmy curtains back. The room was large and lovelier than I’d suspected a room on the Hell plane could be. I’d only ever been to neutral sites where Myrddin would meet with the demonic council. Everything was red and black and brimstone. They had a brand, after all.
This place was softer, more romantic. Like a B&B. I wondered if all the newlywed demons found their way here for the honeymoon.
“It’s prettier than I thought it would be.” I should have kept quiet and maybe Casey would have walked off, but my mouth kept right on working.
“It’s better now.” Casey moved behind me, so close I could feel him brush against my back as we stared at the gardens and low-hanging full moon. “When I first came here there was still a pall on the place. There was a lot of rot. I thought maybe Gray had renovations done, but then I realized it was the house itself that changed.”
“Yes, the lands are a reflection of the lord,” I murmured, not wanting to think about how nice it was to have him close. I could smell him, smell the soap he used and the fabric softener on his clothes. “I never thought Sloane would be such a romantic. I bet if these were Trent’s lands, it would be one big dive bar that served the best burgers and had a ton of big screen TVs playing sports all the time.”
Casey chuckled and wrapped his arms around my waist. “If it was Lee’s, it would be one big brothel.”
“What are you doing?” I asked, breaking his hold and turning his way.
He stood there like the big, gorgeous nerd he was. “Trying something new. Fighting with you hasn’t worked. So let’s not fight. How about we make a deal. I’ll give you an hour a day to tell me how amazing Myrddin Emrys is, and you let me point out three logical fallacies in your beliefs.”
“Why would I ever do that?”
“Because I’m going to point out those flaws while I’m eating your pussy,” he replied in that no-nonsense fashion he’d perfected in the last decade. “I’m done fighting my instincts. You are my bonded mate.”
I shook my head. “We broke that bond a long time ago. I’m not a companion.”
Vampires lived for companions like the queen. Like Evan. They often couldn’t control themselves around those women who glowed for them. With the exception of academics, of course. Academics loved a good companion, but they bonded with other beings as well. There’s a biological component to the bond between vampire and companion. They exchange blood. It’s a marriage in our world and it’s usually for the life of the companion, though sometimes they bond so tightly the vampire can’t live without her. But the point is the vampire gets something from the exchange. A vampire on companion blood is faster, stronger, smarter than a vampire who drinks human blood. Therefore vampires mate with companions.
Except the stupid academics, who don’t give a fuck about biology and follow their dumb hearts.
“I think I made it clear who I loved that day in the woods, Olivia.” Casey took a step back. “I told Meredith I didn’t give a fuck about companion blood. I needed something else to sustain me, and I could only get that from you. You are my companion, Liv. You are the only woman I will ever love, and now I fear I gave up too quickly. I’m sorry, baby. I did leave you alone. I should have put every ounce of my energy into getting you back and getting you healthy again.”
I wasn’t sure I liked this turn. “I am perfectly healthy.”
“You’re not, and I don’t think I realized how far gone you were until this afternoon. I guess I thought you were always a willing participant.”
“I am. I’m fighting on the right side of this war.”
His stare pinned me. “You might not have a thrall stone in your head, but he’s manipulated your version of reality. You can’t even think logically when it comes to him. My Liv is so smart she shocks me sometimes. My Liv is independent and knows when to stand up to everyone. My Liv challenges the people around her to be better.”
“Your Liv is dead. She died that night in Wyoming.”
He stared at me for a moment. “She didn’t, and I know that now. She got scared and then impatient, and finally circumstances put her in Myrddin’s path and he used her. He knew a good thing when he saw it. He knew how talented you are, and he warped that brilliance to his own ends. He knew how to hurt the rebels. He knew how important you were to us.”