Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
The voices faded and Alexander looked toward Layla.
What the fuck was going on? Layla was human. What had her parents done?
Just then, Layla let out a moan and rolled over. As she did, the blanket pulled down and revealed her hip. The moon seemed to be able to cast a glow into the room, and as it did, he saw the birthmark—a five-pointed star on her hip. The door to her bedroom burst open.
Layla continued to sleep, and he saw Layla’s parents for the first time. Only, they were not human. He saw the glimmer of their human perception, but underneath were two gargoyles.
It had been a long time since he had seen gargoyles in the flesh. How they were able to pose as humans was quite a shock. Their services were hard to acquire, but they were known for protecting the most precious of people.
He glanced back toward the bed. Layla wasn’t just a human.
“You must be annihilated.”
“Is she the ultimate evil?” Alexander asked.
He didn’t need to worry about waking Layla up. The gargoyles had placed a protection around them. Anything they said or did wouldn’t be heard.
“You have no right to be here, vampire!” the gargoyle hissed.
Alexander felt his flesh begin to bubble beneath the surface. Few survived confrontation with their kind. He refused to back down.
“She has the five-pointed star on her body. Disaster of the Otherworld, the cult, hoping to wipe out all species, are looking for that star. Crazy Lizzie spoke of the future.” Is that why she came to him? Did the witch know he’d been secretly meeting with Layla? “They’re coming. That is what I know. Is she their leader? I cannot help save her if you don’t talk to me, beasts!”
The very thought of Layla being in danger filled him with a sense of dread.
One of the gargoyles approached and sniffed him. His scent caused it to sneeze but quickly pulled away.
The two beasts shared a look and then nodded at one another. “Layla is not evil.”
“Is she human?” Alexander asked.
“She is human, she is life, she is … everything.”
“You’re talking in riddles.” And this didn’t feel like a time to be playing mind games.
“Layla was born to a witch and warlock.”
This made Alexander frown. “That’s not possible. They are enemies, have been for a lifetime.”
“During the full moon, her mother and father came together, and the union created a life, a life also struck by lightning the day she was born. Layla was foretold. Her destiny is to bring peace and balance to all life. She must preserve it. The safety of the human race and that of paranormal rests on her shoulders.”
“Then why do they want her?” he asked, referring to the Disaster of the Otherworld.
The gargoyles looked at each other.
“They will attempt to sacrifice her. Her blood is powerful. To the person who drinks her, kills her, they can absorb her power, but it must be at the sacred place where she was conceived, and born,” the gargoyle said.
“They don’t plan to make her evil?” Alexander asked.
“You cannot make her evil. She is not easily swayed. She is powerful.”
“Where are her actual parents?” he asked.
“Dead. On the night our mistress gave birth, her creators were attacked by the cult. She was given to us to protect. Northern Forest Pack is safe for her. There is a protection spell guarding her, keeping her safe. No one will find her.”
Alexander looked back toward the bed. The birthmark on her hip seemed to shine brighter.
“Why are you telling me this?” Alexander asked.
“When she was born, a witch came, she was … a strange soul. She told of a man who would come. A man who could walk the earth but would have no heartbeat. Layla has a mate, she is destined to walk this earth, and live a happy life with.”
“You’re telling me that I am … I am her mate?”
“Your life has been empty. Layla will need someone who has known darkness, who has known good, who has walked the path of the living and the dead, to be worthy at her side. You are that man. You are drawn to her, are you not? Yet, at this time, she is nothing more than a mortal woman. A woman you care about. A woman you can’t stop thinking about. A woman you find intoxicating, just to touch, to be near.”
“Vampires don’t have mates.”
The gargoyle stepped close. “Yes, they do. They are too driven by their bloodlust, but they have mates.”
“You can’t take this conversation away,” he said. “That’s what you did to Brandon, right? You’ve made him forget.”
“His father before him knew of the risk of taking us in, but he also knew it would be a great sacrifice. We are all in danger. We must all band together to protect her. She will be the answer to our prayers.”