Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
A pair of amber eyes watch me from the back of the room. Neither human nor vampire.
Henry nods to a person wearing a tall white wig and a wide ornate dress. “He’ll be wanting to hand out cake later. You know, one day Pierre will acknowledge that the French Revolution did, in fact, happen. This is the problem with many of our kind. They get stuck and time moves on without them.”
Leilah holds court near the bar with Margaret at her side. And over by the door to the back room is a selection of green velvet couches. There sits Lucas. His gaze captures mine as soon as I’m in view, and all of the good and sensible reasons regarding why I should stay away go straight out the window. Not that there are any windows down here.
In an act of sheer bravery, and to give my self-doubt a kick in the pants, I wore the hottest dress on offer from Henry’s selection. It is fire. A black gown with shoestring straps, a bodice that makes the most of my cleavage, and a full skirt with a split showing a lot of leg. My hair is in a sleek bun, and there’s a pair of sky-high stiletto heels on my feet. I even broke out the diamond earrings he gave me for the evening.
When Lucas stands and holds out a hand to me, I can maybe admit I dressed up for a few reasons. To get this reaction from him, being one of them. To have him look at me like nothing else matters.
I was wrong. Sleeping in a different bedroom didn’t change a thing. We seem to be on more of a collision course than ever. His grip is firm but gentle as he leads me to sit at his side. Not a word is spoken. There’s this strange accord between us. He wants me with him and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. That’s the truth of the matter.
He’s wearing another of those perfectly fitted black suits with a matching button-down with his hair slicked back. It’s a dark and dangerous sort of beauty. Nothing close to what I ever imagined for myself.
“So you are besotted with your newborn. If Samuel hadn’t told me, I never would have believed it,” says Rose, seated nearby with her husband. “Ripping off Archie’s head makes sense to me now.”
Samuel smiles knowingly and holds his mate’s hand.
“He challenged me,” says Lucas.
“Mm.”
“You know how it is, Rose.” Lucas passes me one of the martini glasses full of blood. “Skye here has been helping me adjust to this new century. That’s all.”
“Bullshit,” she says in a voice not much above a whisper. “Your scent is all over her, and the way you watch her…I honestly didn’t think you were capable of the finer feelings. But I understand why you would wish to downplay it. We’ll talk of it no more.”
I scowl. “It’s not like I didn’t shower.”
Lucas doesn’t respond. He, instead, turns to Henry and grimaces. “I asked you to dress presentably tonight.”
“This is an Alexander McQueen graffiti suit, Father,” says Henry. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”
Benedict joins Nicholas leaning against a wall nearby. Together they stand, talking quietly and watching the crowd. Nicholas is in black boots, pants, and a button-down with the sleeves rolled back. He doesn’t bother to hide the pistol he wears in a shoulder holster. I am not ashamed to say I am wary of the man.
And all the while we’re being watched. By vampires and humans and who knows what else. The weight of their gazes is a lot. I honestly don’t know how Lucas and Rose tolerate it—being the focus of attention everywhere they go.
“Ming and Lucia were unable to attend,” says Lucas. “But Javier dropped by earlier.”
Henry nods. “Not surprising, given what’s going on.”
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“A lot of vampires are entering the city. Some with connections to hostile families from other areas,” says Samuel. “Trying to keep track of them all is next to impossible.”
“You mean Lev’s people?”
“Among others.” Henry stares out at the crowd. “His sire was very unhappy at his failure to take L.A.”
“He hasn’t moved on from that yet?”
Rose smiles. “A few decades isn’t so long for some.”
“What happens next?” I ask, taking a sip of my drink.
“We wait,” says Lucas. “There’s been no further sign of my brother. But Nicholas will leave us soon to continue hunting. It’s his job to flush him out.”
I just nod.
“Who’s the werewolf?” asks Henry.
Samuel runs his tongue over his teeth. “He’s here representing several packs. Most notably from the mountains in the north and the desert to the west.”
“Is that the owner of the amber eyes?” I ask. “That dude is huge.”
“The wolves want to see how we handle things,” says Lucas. “If Lev has let go of the idea of trying to take L.A., or if violence in the streets is about to escalate again.”