Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Silke turned her head to look at him, letting him see the heavy sorrow she kept from her mother. She didn’t want to add her grief to Fenja’s burden. Will we have children for her to enjoy? Will we be where she can easily find us? I don’t know the Carpathian ways.
He felt the anxiety in her and he couldn’t take it. He did the unthinkable, his body moving of its own volition. He rose and went to her, crouching down in front of her, framing her face with his large hands.
“O jelä sielamak, we will prearrange a place to meet your mother again. Have no fears. She is a traveler, a spirit walker. She has done this numerous times and will have left herself markers. Wherever she needs us to be, we will be. And we can give her dozens of grandchildren.”
Fenja laughed aloud, and immediately Silke swung her gaze to her mother, clearly astonished by the laughter breaking up the tension.
“Well, really, Silke,” Fenja said. “Dozens? I think your man might need to rein his ambitions in just a little bit.”
“Multiple births are common in my family,” Benedek announced with a straight face.
Silke’s gaze swung back to him and then she laughed, dispelling the last of the tension in the room. Filling it with her magic. Her sunshine. Her moonlight.
“You don’t remember your birth family. That is a blatant and very outrageous lie.”
He found himself smirking. “Tomas, Lojos and Mataias are triplets. Multiple births. They may not be related to me, but I do know a few twins and triplets. It could happen with my rather astounding prowess.”
Silke turned bright red. “You did not just brag in front of my mother.”
“She said she wanted to ensure you were in good hands. Well taken care of.” He did his best to sound saintly and pious as he returned to his chair.
“I did say that,” Fenja admitted.
“Don’t encourage him,” Silke said. “He’s already thinking he’s all that.”
Deliberately he leaned back in the chair, sliding one arm in a casual drape over the wide armrest. “I am all that. It’s good for you to know your lifemate is capable of providing anything you want or need.”
“Providing dozens of children might just be over the top,” Fenja said.
“Don’t say dozens,” Silke protested. “He might fixate on that number.”
“We will have centuries to produce many children,” Benedek pointed out with total confidence, teasing her. He’d never teased anyone in his life, and he found he was enjoying himself despite the situation. “Although we’ll need to have a few for Fenja to dote on right away.”
“I’m about to fight off demons. Hordes of them. I don’t think getting pregnant will be helpful.”
Benedek raised his eyebrow, looking to Fenja for confirmation. “Wasn’t it just a few centuries ago when women strapped their babies to their front and went to war? I am certain it was a common practice.”
“I’m armed,” Silke reminded him.
Fenja laughed again. Benedek could see where Silke got that magical quality in her voice. He’d thought she’d been born with it, but she had Fenja’s laugh. Silke’s tone was more compelling, but the lightness and invitation to join in was there in her mother’s voice. He hoped their children would have that same laughter.
“You have a little time, Benedek,” Fenja said, sobering. “I want to stick around long enough to see you both through the coming war with Lilith’s army.”
He felt Silke go on instant alert. What is it?
She is a seer. If she is determined to stay with us through the war with Lilith’s army, there is a good chance she has seen something in the future that she wants to prevent. That would be like her.
Benedek leaned forward in the chair, no longer with the pretense of being casual or amused. “Fenja, are you concerned that Silke won’t live through the coming war?”
Fenja appeared flustered, disconcerted to be so openly called out. She wasn’t used to anyone being direct with their demands, and it showed on her face.
“There can be no question that Silke will live. If she lives, you must as well. I have seen visions of how you battle the enemy, Benedek. You have no regard for your life. You are capable of brilliant strategies, but you prefer to face your opponent in brutal physical combat.”
“To destroy a vampire, one must be able to remove the heart. That necessitates being close to one.” He was unsure of having the conversation in front of Silke. She hadn’t been worried about him, certain of his abilities. Fenja was casting doubts on the outcome. He had thought she had been referring to Silke making it through the coming war alive, but perhaps Fenja was concerned with his ability to stay alive. Had she seen his death? Would she tell him?
“Does it?” Fenja asked. “Is it really necessary to stand in front of such creatures with them tearing the flesh from your bones, ripping you apart with poisonous teeth and claws? You risk becoming infected by their parasites. The acid in their blood burns through your flesh, your muscle down to the bone. The wounds you and your friends sustain are severe and could easily incapacitate or kill you.”