Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
It’s as if I leave the room we’re in as I keep her clenched to my body and continue to kiss her surprisingly soft lips. I’m at a loss for understanding.
“Daddy, Daddy,” a little girl calls.
I turn to find a small child with eyes like mine, brown skin, and reddish-brown-and-blonde ringlets bouncing as she runs toward me. Her arms are open wide as her little legs carry her forward. She launches in the air and my heart races.
The distance is too great, she will fall if I don’t catch her. However, I’m thrown when she floats as a pink translucent orb encases her.
“Thank you, Mama.” She giggles. “Daddy,” she squeals happily as I open my arms to catch her when the bubble pops and she falls toward me.
“Damn, that was hot as fuck.” Dinesh’s voice brings me back to the here and now.
Blaise steps away from me quickly and pulls her hood up over her head. “You will be fine by morning. You should eat something. My venom can be hard on the stomach when it’s empty.”
With that, she rushes from the room. I fall back on my heels and stare after her. Lifting a hand to my lips, I find them seared.
“Don’t worry,” Ms. Posh says. “They will heal in a moment, as will the open wound. It will seal right up.”
I nod and swallow thickly. I don’t know what just happened, but something has changed within me. I have no doubt that my spirit link has opened.
“This can’t be,” I whisper.
“I get the feeling shit’s about to get real around here,” Dinesh says.
“Hush,” Bach chides. “Come, we will feed you. Her warning is very real. You don’t want to suffer that stomachache.”
I nod and lift to my full height. “Lead the way.”
* * *
Blaise
I pace my bedroom as my body buzzes. I can still feel his hands on my waist. Such big hands.
My lips are still tingling from that kiss. I was so angry when I felt him leave the castle. I had a mind to let him find out what those woods had waiting for him.
I never should’ve let him get that far. Any further and we both would have been in trouble. My powers don’t work at their max strength that far. It’s a part of the curse.
“Are you okay?” Soila asks.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“He’s the one. He has to be. I could feel the connection from you both. It pulsed off of you.”
“It was the use of my powers, nothing more,” I mumble.
Soila flies to float in front of my face. Her lips are pursed at me. “You know that’s not true. Don’t keep fighting him. It’s not going to help us.”
I close my eyes and shove a hand into my hair. I have no idea what happened back there. That wasn’t normal. Every time he’s around me, I get this ache in my chest. It has only gotten stronger. It’s a burning sensation that makes me uneasy.
When we kissed, I felt like my heart would explode. It wasn’t until he started to hallucinate that it eased a little. Now I feel this pull. I want to go in search of him.
“Don’t you think I understand this?”
“I’m sorry, princess. I have overstepped.”
“No, no, you haven’t. I’m just frustrated. I don’t know what to do. Look at me. He wouldn’t have kissed me if he had a choice.” I frown.
“Oh, Blaise. You were not the only one enjoying that kiss. He was right there with you.” She giggles.
“Ugh, this is stupid.”
I turn and throw myself across my bed. I should go to sleep. Maybe when I wake, this will all be over. I bite my lip and groan.
“Can I offer a suggestion?”
“Go on.”
“You should put on something pretty and go down to dinner with him. I’ll fix your hair. Come on. It’s worth a try,” Soila says.
I lift my head to look at her. The pleading in her eyes makes me reconsider throwing this day away and starting over tomorrow. I sigh.
“Okay. I’ll try.”
An hour later, I feel like a fool. Soila and Hiasha worked together to straighten my hair and recurl it to cascade around my shoulders and down my back in deep body waves. Heavy feathered bangs fall across my eyes and distract from my scars a little.
The tight blue corset and leather pants are what I normally wear under my cloak. However, they insisted that I not wear the cloak. I feel so exposed.
My hooves are revealed, as is my tail. I drew the line when Hiasha tried to paste rhinestones on my hooves. It already looks as if I’m trying too hard.
“Stop fidgeting. You look great,” Soila says.
I nod and wipe my hands on my thighs. I blow out a breath and push the doors of the dining room open to enter. A gasp leaves my lips when I see him.