Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 145721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“The longest night of the year belongs to us,” he said, tapping forward with glee. “It belongs to the creatures of the night. Those who have fought to claim their rightful place.”
Another cheer went up in the crowd hungry for his approval.
“Only to be cut down by the insidious human hand. To be cut down from power by the insufferable Monster Treaty. As if being stronger, faster, and living longer than the humans were some sort of illness rather than what we all know it to be.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Salvation.”
The response was deafening. All manner of monsters cheered for his glory and his promised salvation. This was what they were all drunk on. Not promised blood or entertainment. It was about reclaiming what they believed had been taken from them. And it made them ravenous.
Then, her eyes found Walter at the base of King Louis’s dais, staring up at him in concentration.
She nudged Graves. “What’s he doing?”
“He’s protecting King Louis,” he breathed against the shell of her ear. “His force field encircles them both.”
Kierse’s eyes narrowed as she focused on Walter’s magic. She could see a shimmer of gold shadowing him and weaving around King Louis, too. They’d have to take out Walter before getting to him. “Did you know he could do that?”
The flicker in Graves’s jaw was enough to say that he hadn’t known. Another new ability. Walter was shaping up to be more than Graves had ever anticipated.
King Louis continued. “You already know what I believe, what I stand for. This isn’t an election, where I recite my triumphs for you to know that I am strength. I am the height of vampire strength, the height of all monster strength! I will not back down. I will not fall. Not like my brothers before me. I will fight for our rights, for our ability to live our lives how we see fit. Not how the baser, lesser humans deem to be fair.” King Louis held up his hand as the crowd foamed at the mouth for his offer. “They want us to grovel at their feet when we are the apex predators in this world.”
Kierse turned her focus to the humans in the room. The meals these monsters had purchased for the night. Most seemed just as enthralled, but Kierse found a few humans who looked as disgusted as she felt. They didn’t deserve this. None of them did.
“We are the Men of Valor! We will not grovel. We will not compromise,” King Louis shouted to his supporters. “We are the rightful rulers of this world. It is time to take it back!” The crowd cheered, and King Louis called over them, “Feast tonight, brothers and sisters. Enjoy the spoils of our war. Tomorrow, the real work begins.”
Everyone cheered for King Louis, chanting his name.
“The doorways are clear,” Graves said.
Kierse turned to leave, but Graves went suddenly still. “What?”
And then she saw Dr. Mafi at his back, a gun pointed at his spine.
“Not so fast,” Dr. Mafi said darkly.
“What are you doing, Emmaline?” Graves asked.
“You are here to kill me.”
“I’m not.”
“Liar,” she hissed.
“Let him go,” Kierse growled, retrieving a knife from her boot and positioning it under Dr. Mafi’s ribs. An easy shot upward would drive it into her heart.
Mafi froze. “Kierse?”
“We’re not here to kill you. Now, let. Him. Go.”
“I can’t,” she whispered.
Kierse dug the knife in deeper. “I don’t want to kill you. Let’s go somewhere and talk about this.”
“To give him a chance to kill me?” she snarled.
“Emmaline, I am not here for you.”
“You sent your dog after me,” she said in fury. “I came to Louis, knowing you wanted me dead.”
“I sent Edgar to offer you protection.”
She laughed. “I don’t believe you.”
But Kierse saw the truth in his words. Mafi might be holding him at gunpoint, but Graves had magic. She didn’t doubt for a second that he could have gotten away from her if he wanted. Which meant he wanted to talk. So, even though Kierse hadn’t known that he’d sent Edgar after Dr. Mafi, she wasn’t surprised by it, either. There was no reason to lie here.
“He’s telling the truth. We’re not here for you,” Kierse said.
“We’re here for something else,” Graves said.
“Something . . . not someone?” Dr. Mafi asked.
“Yes,” Kierse said. “Now, drop the gun.”
Kierse saw the pain war through her features.
“How can I trust you?”
“Don’t trust him,” Kierse said. “You know he could stop you at any point. If he hasn’t, it’s because he doesn’t want to hurt you. Neither do I. Please, trust me.”
Mafi glanced at her, and whatever she saw there made her lower the gun a fraction. “I have a room nearby. I will take you there.” Graves turned to face her, and she said, “Don’t think about reading me.”
That was the moment Kierse realized . . . Graves wasn’t wearing gloves.