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)
“That I believe. You’re no jailer. It’s against everything you’ve done in your life. You help people escape slavery.”
“I do.”
“And you must admit that my hiding in mage territory could be a good plan.”
“It would be, but there is no way I could hide there, not while I am ripening.” He exhaled and stood up in the bathtub.
Water streamed down his rows of muscle and, made its way along his long and still erect cock. The peak tinted pink with hunger and every cell in my body wanted to feed it some more.
No doubt reading my thoughts, he grumbled and climbed out of the bathtub. His hands snatched up a blue towel with white clouds on it and wrapped it around his thick waist.
“We’ll figure out a new plan.” His words came out rough and deeper than I’d ever heard him speak before. “One that never allows you to hide from me.”
There’s something about this ripening. He’s more possessive. Irrational. Angry fast.
Sinking deeper into the warm water, until the bubbles touched my chin, I considered his statement.
I tried to stop this addiction for him. . .but I can’t stop it. And even if I could. . .he wouldn’t let me.
But, should I remain at his side when hundreds of Royal Guards could constantly be tracking us?
It definitely made sense to find out what was going on with my blood and why my absence at the Quiet King’s castle commanded a hundred guards to search for me.
“Okay. We stay together and figure it out, but if it gets too dangerous for you to keep me near, then I’ll leave. I don’t want you or any of the people you care for getting hurt.”
“Guards burned down a town looking for you and you’re worried about my safety.” He smiled and combed his fingers through his wet hair.
“You’re strong, but battling against a hundred vampires by yourself. . .I don’t think so.”
He smirked. “You would be surprised.”
I rolled my eyes. “What about this. . .addiction?”
“What about it?”
“Can we. . .lesson the effects somehow?”
His smirk deepened. “If you prefer it, I won’t sleep in the bed with you. I’ll sleep on the sofa in the room where Leeta is. If you think it could help you lesson the effects.”
I bit my bottom lip and rubbed my thighs together under the water.
Xander’s gaze shot to where my thighs were. And although he couldn’t see them under the bubbles, I believed he knew what I was doing.
“We can sleep in the same bed together,” I whispered. “However, let us. . .calm down what we are to each other.”
A dark chuckle left him.
My thoughts are all over the fucking place. Something is happening to me too with this ripening.
Surely, he heard my thoughts as he studied me.
“I. . .don’t know. I’m so confused right now. With my now. . .ex-husband. . .and this new life I must figure out. . .and the addiction to you.” I twisted my fingers in my hand. “I just don’t want a serious relationship right now. I want to be free.”
“Free to do what?” Xander asked with a mask of neutrality.
Sighing, I replied, “Since I was born, I’ve always held a title that came with loyalty, duties, and limits to a man. I was my father’s obedient daughter, Ethan’s wife, and then the Quiet King’s domina, now you want me to be your queen.”
I wiped my face with my damp hands. “And there is nothing wrong with being your queen. To date, you’ve protected and provided for me. But for now, I just want to be Camille, to know how it feels on my own.”
He turned away and placed his muscled back to me. “You could learn about yourself with me.”
My head hurt from the craziness of it all. “Let’s hope that is true.”
“Either way, I believe we both agree that you remain by my side.”
“Unless it gets too dangerous for you.”
“The only thing that would be dangerous is your leaving my side.” He left the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
With Xander gone, the room descended into darkness. Shadows leapt and writhed along the sparkling walls like a living entity, pulling me ever closer to the sense of dread that he had left.
I can’t even be without him for a few seconds. . .and not feel sorrow.
Fear gripped me.
The candlelight flickered, sending eerie shapes across the room that seemed to reach out and grab me.
Would I ever be able to leave him?
Panic pulsed in my heart.
I stared into the undulating water, where I could see my reflection contorted with sorrow and fear.
Chapter 20
The Power of Blood
Camille
“Leeta is a vampire,” Victoria screeched the words out of her trembling mouth from where she sat on the bed next to Leeta.
Ty remained in the doorway as though unable to enter the room.
“A vampire!” Victoria yelled.