Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 100953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 505(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 505(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“Give me my daughter. She belongs to me,” he demands, pointing to the ground next to him. His eyes come to mine and he snaps his fingers. “Come here.”
“No,” I tell him. “You don’t control me anymore.” I stand up straighter.
“You choose him over me? Your own father?” he yells.
“You’re not my father,” I remind him. “You took me and put me away to use as some kind of weapon. I was never yours.”
“I saved you.” He actually sounds offended now as his eyes snap to Bishop. “She would have died in that place. You’re lucky I got to her first before someone else did.”
“I thank you for that, Gordon. You did save a little girl that day. As any person with a shred of compassion or care for another should do.”
Gordon laughs at Bishop’s response. “They are weak. Why are you always protecting them?” He glances back to me. “Even Loren.” Bishop growls so deep and loud I can feel the sound pass through my body. Gordon doesn't heed the warning. “She was weak, but I still cared for her.”
“What did you plan to do with me?” I ask, still not understanding that part. “Were you going to kill me? You could have done that when you found me that first day.” I can’t stop the crack in my voice as I try to be strong. I know he used me and doesn't even love me. I’m not sure he can understand that emotion, to be honest. Now that I look back with a clear mind, I can see it all.
“Those eyes. You looked up at me and I’d never seen something like them before. I’d never wanted a mate, then I saw Bishop’s. Not all vampires are lucky enough to find one, as they say, but Bishop was graced with one that was so different. I could feel how pure your heart was. Why would the fates choose such a mate for him? I didn't much care for that, so I took it for myself.” He smiles. “Then I wanted him to know I had it and that I’d made it love me and hate him.”
My head drops down. “It,” I whisper. I know everyone heard me. Vampires always do, but it doesn’t matter anymore. His plan didn’t work and I raise my head and look at Bishop. He’s been quiet this whole time.
“I wanted you to say or ask what you needed to,” he responds, answering my unasked question of why he’d been so quite. “I’ll always give you what you need or want, love. You know this.” I give him a smile because I do know that.
“Did you come here alone like this to die? Has it all become too much? I know the pain and longing for a mate,” Bishop says, and my heart hurts that he had to wait so long to find me.
I look back to Gordon who has a smirk on his face. “I always have a plan.” He gives a small shrug. “There is one thing I do love about the idea of mates. They’d do anything for one another, and I do mean anything.” A chill runs up my spine and Bishop steps in front of me. I have to peek around him to see what’s going on. “Have you ever heard of the Grim Reaper?”
I scrunch my face, trying to recall what I know about the Grim Reaper. Is it real? Maybe not, but vampires are real after all, so who knows?
“I know of him,” Valen answers. When I look over at his mate, she looks as surprised as everyone else. Except Bishop, who looks calm and knowing. “What of him? There’s no one here for him to collect. In fact, if he were here I think he’d come for you.”
“Unless…” Gordon pauses, looking straight at Bishop. “I told him you took his mate. That you didn’t like not having power over him so you found a way to control him.”
“He has a mate?” Kane asks, shaking his head in disbelief.
“He can’t, he’s older than any of us. He would have gone crazy by now if he hadn’t found her in all this time,” Bishop throws out.
“Does anyone really know what the Reaper is?” Valen says.
“You have a knack for getting in over your head,” Bishop adds with a long sigh.
“You shouldn't play with things you know nothing about, and no one knows shit about the Reaper,” Valen throws in.
“Who the fuck is the Reaper?” one of the twins says to the other. I can’t tell which is which now.
“The Grim Reaper is the personification of death. He comes to collect the souls of those whose time has come. There are many different stories surrounding him.” A soft female voice says.
“Dove,” Ezra and Erik bark at the same time. It looks like they came out of the closet.