Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
“No, it’s not common,” Xiang answered for him. “Especially since one of the Varik brothers has two wolf shifter mates.”
“Huh.” Rei elbowed Yichen. “Maybe you and your clan should stay in the area for a while. Maybe there’s something in the water here that helps vampires find their mates.”
“Normally, I’d argue with you, but…” Xiang’s voice drifted off as he turned and stared straight at Chen and Moon, who were leaving the crowd, walking hand in hand. “I would have put money on the fact that Chen Bo Cheng would never find someone to put up with his cranky ass.”
“You looking for a mate, San-ge?”
“Now that we got you home again? Yeah, maybe I am,” Xiang said, lifting his chin. “If you’d turn down a chance at that kind of happiness, you’re crazy.”
Yichen’s gaze strayed to Chen and Moon as they approached, arms wrapped around each other, smiles broad on their lips, already puffy from kissing. They were in their own happy world that nothing could pierce for at least a little while. That wasn’t saying they hadn’t gone through hell to attain that happiness.
Over the past week, Moon and Chen had filled him in on what had happened after they met, including their trip through the underworld and how Moon came to be a vampire. Their trials didn’t weaken their love but strengthened their dedication to each other.
No, Yichen wasn’t crazy or a fool. He’d snatch up that kind of love.
However, he knew that sometimes love wasn’t enough to make forever possible. Sometimes it was smarter to go your separate ways.
Chapter 12
Rei
He didn’t think it was possible, but he had a new favorite thing in all the world.
Jealous, possessive Yiyi.
This version of the vampire was positively addictive.
Growl at the flirting vampire? Go for it.
Manhandle your elf? Yes, please.
Need to mark your territory? Rei was happy to strip on the spot to provide his Yiyi with access to all of his skin.
It didn’t matter that Rei could have plucked the offending vampire’s eyes out and bounced them off the walls. If Yichen wanted to protect him and claim him, Rei was content to play the role of damsel in distress.
Unfortunately, the only distress he was suffering right now was a case of blue balls as they trailed behind Rafe up to his office. Sure, he’d made peace with the idea that he and Yichen were only ever going to be friends, but that didn’t mean the vampire’s grumpy possessiveness did not turn him on. Wu Yichen was sexy as hell with his long hair, full lips, and glittering hazel-brown eyes.
Of course, Rei had always found him to be attractive, but the moment Yichen began acting as if he cared about Rei’s well-being, all that sexiness skyrocketed, leaving Rei breathless and horny.
Stepping into the office was like plunging underwater. The cacophonous music that filled the nightclub stopped the second he shut the door behind them. There was just a low, thudding beat from the bass that couldn’t be kept out. Floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the dance floor filled one wall, allowing the club owner to survey his domain without needing to be in the throng of people.
“I saw you down there. You couldn’t behave yourself for one minute,” a slender blond man with laughing green eyes chastised.
Rafe immediately left their side and strode to the man, his hands extended and a soft expression on his sharply featured face. “Mon ange, it was a bit of teasing.” He took both of the man’s hands and pressed kisses to the knuckles before wrapping one arm around his waist. “You know there’s just you in my heart.”
“I also know that you can’t help yourself,” the other vampire murmured. He brushed a kiss to Rafe’s cheek and turned his attention to the newcomers. “I’m Philippe Varik, Rafe’s mate. I’m sorry we didn’t have a chance to meet earlier or under better circumstances.”
Chen stepped in front of their gathering and extended his hand. “Chen Bo Cheng,” he introduced. “I’m sorry we could not meet, but I heard that you and Rafe fought bravely in the woods to help us recover our missing brother.”
“We fought the fae to save a vampire, and now we have an elf standing in our midst. What a strange world we live in,” Rafe drawled, his eyes narrowing on Rei.
Yichen shifted, stepping right in front of Rei to return his glare. While his protectiveness was pushing all the right sexy buttons, it wasn’t getting them anywhere. They needed to play nice with the Variks and find this witch.
“Don’t mind that one,” an older woman interjected as she walked away from the wall of windows with an empty martini glass in her hand. She was short, with wrinkles lining her face and thick black hair liberally threaded with gray. “He was dropped on his head as a baby, and he never recovered from it.”