Total pages in book: 436
Estimated words: 415303 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2077(@200wpm)___ 1661(@250wpm)___ 1384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 415303 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2077(@200wpm)___ 1661(@250wpm)___ 1384(@300wpm)
My teeth chattered.
Why couldn't I get warm?
With a huff, I moved away from the bed and went to stand in front of the fireplace just as the door to my bedroom jerked open, nearly coming off the hinges.
Ethan stood in the doorway, blanketed in the warmth of the fire's glow. My breath hitched in my chest, even though I tried to stop my physical response. It was impossible — and embarrassing — knowing he probably heard my racing heart.
His hair was loose from the ponytail, falling around his sharp cheekbones and jaw.
His nostrils were flared as if he smelled something horrific.
And when I opened my mouth to speak, he held up his hand and hissed at me.
Freaking hissed.
Like a cat.
I held my tongue and stared at the fire, thinking that was probably the best option for me at that point.
Get warm.
Funny, my entire life had been about rules, memorization, planning, and now I had one goal in life — to get warm and stay that way.
It was all I could allow myself to focus on. I was pretty sure if I let myself fully think about what had just happened to me, I'd have a nervous breakdown. After all, I was only human, something that was impossible to ignore with someone like Ethan standing next to me.
His fluid movement from the door to the fireplace was quick. I blinked, and he was standing next to me, holding his hands out.
I knew he could feel the heat, so I wasn't going to insult him by asking, even though it seemed like some of my studies had been clearly lacking. After all, I'd always thought vampires bit, but I had no bite marks, no recollection, nothing except blackness and the idea that his touch had been so painful I'd wanted to die.
"You are safe," he whispered in a hoarse voice. "Cassius won't be coming for you. He'd have to track you first."
"Am I untraceable now?" Now that I was his. Now that I didn't belong to myself anymore.
Ethan pulled his hand back from the air, clenching his fingertips into a tight fist. "To everyone but your mate."
"You." I closed my eyes and willed the tears to stay in. What was happening?
"Me," he confirmed.
My heart continued to race. I tried to glance at him out of the corner of my eye, but when I did, those eyes — once green — were black and still trained on me. I didn't know vampires had black eyes, didn't know any part of their physiology — outside of their fangs — changed.
"The cold will pass," he said, still staring at me.
Finally, I turned to give him my full attention, hoping it wouldn't be the last thing I did. "Why am I so cold?" My teeth chattered as if to prove a point. I hugged my arms closer to my body and got closer to the fire.
"You'll be cold until he leaves you completely," Ethan said slowly. "I marked over him… took away what I could." His hand reached out cupping my face. "Soon you'll be warm again."
"B-because you're warm?"
He dropped his hand and smirked. "Scorching."
I was swaying toward him, not even realizing it, but his hands came out and steadied me then stayed. When he touched me, I could feel his heartbeat through his fingertips; it was addicting, fascinating. I moved closer. He didn't release me. His black eyes changed to more of a gray and then finally changed back to a flashing green as I moved into his arms. It was like I had no control over my body — I just wanted to be close.
And he was so warm.
And alive.
Very much alive.
His eyes hooded.
Inches apart — our lips were almost touching. My mind screamed at me to back away, but my body told me it was exactly where I needed to be.
"You're hungry." He twirled a piece of my hair with his fingertip then sniffed it. "I'll bring you food. Under no circumstances are you to leave this room until the marking is complete."
He released my hair. His other hand fell from my arm.
And the loss was heartbreaking.
"How will I know when it's complete?" I croaked out, like any terrified prisoner would.
His face cracked into a seductive smile before he looked away and his jaw clenched. "You'll know… because you'll be so on fire for me, you'll think of nothing else. Not food, water, safety — not anything. Your only need will be me."
I gulped. "Then what happens?"
He turned and walked to the door at a normal pace, pausing only to call over his shoulder, "I give you exactly what you need."
That's what I was afraid of.
Genesis
It was an hour later before any food was brought to me. I'd foolishly assumed it would be Ethan bringing food; instead, it was Alex.
I breathed a sigh of relief when he came into the room, tray of food in hand, and offered a shy smile — without the noticeable waves of seduction. Apparently, he could turn it off and on.