Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
“People,” I said, lingering on that word.
Not vampires. Not creatures. Hell, not even witches. She'd said people. The Sons of Honor, no doubt, but it was clear she couldn't even find the will to say their name out loud.
A new form of disgust rose up inside me, her little slips of tongue doing enough to confirm what I had suspected about my eldest brother. Edward truly was working with them like Father had been, the same band of humans who were using weapons against us in order to try to eradicate our species. They’d already killed so many humans who even had a quarter of supernatural blood in them. I'd been working diligently with the king and his assassins on trying to stop that, seeing as my little gift of sensing supernatural blood was helpful.
“The king only offered me mercy because I assured him I didn't condone the actions of my father,” I said. “Had he suspected for a second that I did, his assassins would’ve eliminated me.”
“I doubt that,” Mother said, chuckling softly. “But I do have a question,” she continued, looking at me skeptically. “How was it that you managed to convince the lie detector that you were innocent?”
My blood ran cold. I had hoped she’d never ask me that. Because she knew what Benedict was, the king's personal brand of lie detector, and she had to know that Alek would have used him to test my allegiance.
I straightened in my seat, smiling deceptively at her. “I know a few witches,” I said, and relished in the fact that it was the truth.
Jocelyn may not might be my BFF, but she liked me well enough that if my mother went digging, there would be confirmation that I spent time in witch territory.
“She owed me a solid,” I continued. “Gave me a little spell before my questioning. It made sure that no lies showed up on Benedict’s skin.”
“Benedict,” my mother latched on to the familiar way I spoke the assassin's name. “Interesting.”
“Would you rather I had not sought out a witch?” I fired her way. “You sound almost disappointed that I wasn't caught.”
“Oh no, of course not, darling,” she said. “I am quite happy you are alive and well, just a curious situation is all. You must understand things have been so dreadfully dull since your father died.”
“Indeed,” I said.
Part of me believed her, but the other part knew it was more likely that she would’ve delighted in me getting caught and tortured. Too bad for her, she didn't know there was no witch spell needed. I’d spoken nothing but truth to Benedict and Alek and every other vampire in his inner circle in regards to my allegiance to them.
Talon must have felt that fierce declaration down the connection radiating between us, because he twitched that tail of his, curling it around my calf, up and down in a way that had me thinking about anything but politics.
“We shall ask Edward once he returns here,” she said. “Shall we? I'm sure that he'd be open to my suggestions for a proper pairing for you,” she continued.
Talon continued his teasing, that tail getting dangerously close to an aching part of me between my thighs before it would snake back down my leg in the softest of caresses.
“I'm sure you’re just as ready as I am for you to be married.”
That was sobering enough to shake me out of the need pulsing through my blood.
“Seeing how it's highly unlikely you'll ever be mated,” she said. “We've tested enough hands on your skin that it's improbable that any of the worthy males would actually be linked to you through the fates.” She gave a heavy sigh, shaking her head as she looked me over. “And to think, you were such a fine specimen. I'm not sure why the fates wanted you to spend your life mateless. There must be some sort of defect within you. But arranging a marriage can be just as effective.”
Shame and rejection and pain curled my insides.
Talon’s tail fell to my ankle, as if he felt every emotion hit me one by one.
Memories assaulted my mind, embarrassing and violating memories that I’d tried my best to bury.
I managed to wait fifteen minutes before I came up with an excuse and retired to my bedroom.
I locked the door the minute Talon cleared it, but I didn't wait for him to shift as I rushed to the bathroom and locked that door behind me. Two traitorous tears slid down my cheeks, and I swiped at them with the back of my arm.
I needed to get a hold of myself. Needed to not let that vile, wretched vampire who called herself my mother get to me.
“Cassandra,” Talon called for me from the other side of the door. “Open the door.”
I blew out a breath and slowly opened the door, shrugging as I watched him take in the tears on my cheeks.