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)
Rose’s smile is coy. “He whispers in my ear about a good many things.”
I swear Samuel blushes.
“If the old man ever cut the purse strings or we began to disagree, then we might have a problem,” says Leilah.
“That’s never going to happen.” Henry shakes his head. “You’re the only one of his children inclined to sire more vampires and train them to be useful. It’s why he made you heir.”
“Mm.” Leilah flips her hair back over one shoulder. The woman is the epitome of glamor. Her being heir is news to me. She seems a smart choice, however. “It’s good to have company, little brother. One day you might find a human you would prefer not to live without.”
“Doubtful,” says Henry.
The way I resist the urge to watch Lucas with all my might…someone should give me a medal. Or at least a cookie.
“Are you expecting a rush on turning newborns now that the rules are lifted?” asks Henry.
“That’s happened?” I ask in surprise.
Rose nods. “I don’t necessarily believe there’ll be a rush. Most of our kind have seen how much easier and less complicated life is with fewer of us around. But we’ll see. Reactions to us decreasing the patrolling of the city is a bigger concern.”
“It pays to be cautious, and the creatures in L.A. know that. No one wants another cull.” Henry sighs. “Is it true two bodies were found drained of blood and left in public spaces this morning?”
Samuel’s lips thin in irritation. “Yes. Long Beach and Pasadena.”
“Hopefully just a few foolish vampires acting out,” says Rose. “They’re being hunted as we speak. But I understand some of the parties celebrating the easing of the rules were quite rowdy.”
“We’ll find them. Sooner or later.”
Henry throws a leg over the arm of the chair and says nothing.
I take another sip of blood. Not sure where they get the good stuff from, but it tastes so much better than my usual fare from plastic bags. “This world is so complicated.”
“Feeling overwhelmed?” asks Leilah. “Give yourself time. It’s a lot to adjust to.”
And Lucas and Zofia dance on. She throws her head back and laughs and ugh. I can’t do this. Not with all of these people watching me from the crowd. Having all of these emotions about him in the first place is discombobulating as fuck. I rise from my seat with my clutch in hand and say, “Back in a moment.”
“Where are you going,” asks Henry, who has already jumped to his feet.
“Just to check my makeup.”
“I did your makeup. It’s flawless. What are you insinuating?”
I think calm thoughts and smile. “Henry, be calm. I just need a moment.”
“All of these nosy assholes watching all the time,” says Leilah. “I don’t blame you for wanting a break. Lucas and the Woodsman legend was bad enough before he went into hiding for seventy years. Now it’s out of control.”
Henry grunts. “You’re not going to hide away and cry, are you? Father doesn’t like it when you cry. But he especially doesn’t like you crying on your own.”
“No, I’m not going to cry,” I say.
Henry just gives me a look. I have no idea what it means.
“Human girls go to bathrooms in groups, I’m told,” says Leilah. “Would you like some company?”
“I’m fine. But thank you.”
She nods and searches the crowd for Margaret. Her partner stands at the bar with a glass of scotch or similar in her hand. And the look they share…I want that. The open affection and support they show each other. To go through life together as they do. It’s a beautiful idea. Though, I don’t know how practical it is, since my current crush is dancing with his ex-hookup who looks like a supermodel.
Eh. Whatever. As my mother once told me, you can’t control what other people do, you can only control how you react to same.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” says Henry, in an unusually no-nonsense tone.
Benedict watches us go. Nicholas seems to have disappeared. Guess he’s gone hunting.
In a dark hallway off to the side is the bathroom. A pack of giggling humans stumble out and hurry past me. Though, one bares his neck in what I assume is a tease. He should really be more careful. My control is getting better each night. But it’s still not great. The familiar sound of their blood rushing through their veins, the warmth of their bodies, and the scent of them is all right there, making my mouth water.
Henry snaps his teeth playfully at the group. I hustle my ass into the bathroom and ignore them as best I can. To think that less than a week ago, I was one of them. A real live mortal girl with a beating heart and working lungs and all the rest. Now I am this magical, messed-up thing. Who knew being undead came with such a complicated romantic life?