Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 85552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“You’re so stubborn and there it was next to my face, so soft and welcoming.”
I yawned again. “Don’t. . .do it . . .again.”
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” he asked. “Should I rub the pain away?”
“No.” I closed my eyes.
I’ll just rest for a few seconds and then start walking.
“So your husband and children are in Zumaya?”
“Yes.” My muscles loosened until my whole body went limp in his arms.
I leaned against his chest and relished in the tingling warmth that flowed from his skin. His herbed aroma blocked out the sewer’s stench. I pressed my face into his flesh, gradually losing myself.
“Tell me more.”
I kept my eyes closed. “My husband and twin girls are the reason why I couldn’t stay in the castle. I have to get back to them.”
Xander loudly snorted. “And what a great man your husband must be.”
I opened my eyes. “Is that sarcasm or are you being serious?”
“I’m being sarcastic. What type of man allows his woman to be submitted as a breeder to a ruthless king?”
“A man who honors his duties to his village.” I closed my eyes and snuggled closer to Xander. “My husband was Zumaya’s treasurer. He also controlled the town’s food supply. During the last few years I was there, we had a drought and then a food shortage. Many people died.”
Xander increased his speed to a pace I would’ve never reached if I’d been walking myself. “So your husband gave you away because he couldn’t manage the town’s funds?”
“You don’t understand. Our people were dying.” I yawned again. “My husband sent a message to the king and respectfully requested aid. Guards came. Instead of bringing us food and supplies, they examined the females.”
Xander growled. “They tested all of the women’s blood?”
“Yes. Three teenage girls and I were the only ones with positive results.”
“And you couldn’t just let the young ones leave?” Xander asked.
“No. Of course not.” I opened my eyes a little and saw him staring at me. “My husband was more than willing to let the young girls go off with the guards, but I fought for them to stay. It would’ve been wrong. Two of them hadn’t even turned fourteen. Plus, I’d experienced love and childbirth the right way. I had my memories to keep me sane when the Quiet King came to my bed.”
Xander’s voice sounded low with a hint of anger. “And did he come to your bed?”
“I’m untouched.” I would have drifted off to sleep if it weren’t for Xander asking me another question.
“Why did you decide to escape the king?”
“I watched the guards slaughter baby princes.” I tensed as those horrific images crashed into my mind. The babies’ screams returned. “I’d rather die than watch my babies or any other helpless person be murdered.”
“I agree.” Xander’s body stiffened around me. “Go to sleep, Camille. You need your rest.”
Chapter 4
Little Vampire Princes
Camille
In my dream, a black cape draped the vampire executioner and trailed along the ground. No hair covered his head. A leather mask with the royal seal shielded his identity from the onlookers.
One by one, he lay a baby prince on a gray slab of stone that dripped with blood.
The babies bawled and squealed. They couldn’t have been more than two months old.
Patterns of dark black lines trailed up their tiny legs. Each child had their own unique design. The princely marks started at their ankles and ended at their little hips.
Did the marks speak to the history of their ancestors? Did the lines, colors or patterns have something to do with their power?
Only princes possessed the marks and only the Quiet King knew why.
Everyone else was too afraid to ask. Instead, we just sat there powerless, witnessing the infants’ deaths. Our faces blank.
The guard raised his wooden ax high above his masked head. “Go in peace, little ones.”
“Close your eyes,” my maid whispered behind me, but I kept them wide open as the ax slammed down on the first child’s neck.
Boom!
The tiny head rolled off the table and crashed onto the floor. Red liquid coated the space in seconds and spotted my pale-yellow robe.
“I won’t close my eyes.” Tears formed and threatened to spill over my eyelids. “The least I can do is remember their deaths.”
The executioner went to the next screaming baby.
The boy turned his wailing face in my direction. His little copper eyes begged for me to save him.
And then suddenly, his skin stretched and formed into my daughter’s image, Lily. Auburn curls sprouted from the baby’s bald head.
“Mama!” she cried.
“No!” I struggled to get up, but I couldn’t move. It was like I was stuck in dried cement. “Not Lily! That’s my baby!”
“Camille! Wake up.” Xander violently shook me. My head bobbed back and forth with the force.
“Stop. I’m awake.” Blinking, I opened my eyes to the night sky above me. “I’m awake.”