Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
The “family room,” as Lyric called it, was cozy by royal standards, with buttery-soft leather sofas forming a massive seating group big enough to seat all of the Order in residence and their mates, leaving one side open for a projection TV that dominated the south wall. The Hunters had a voracious appetite for documentaries and the program was currently paused on a documentary about the Cold War.
Guess when you missed a few centuries, you had a lot to catch up on, though Ajax preferred reality TV, no matter how many times we told him it wasn’t actually based in reality.
Jocelyn shifted her weight beside me, leaning into my side as Alek tilted his head, no doubt weighing his words.
“So are you a witch or are you a vampire?” Alek finally asked, breaking the silence.
“I’m not sure,” Jocelyn answered, her fingers gripping mine.
“Do you still have your powers?” Alek asked, leaning back against the couch and draping an arm around Lyric.
I wasn’t fooled by the passive, relaxed body language. If he deemed Jocelyn a threat to our species, he’d crush her mind with a single thought.
Jocelyn glanced at me, and I nodded. We’d had hours to discuss how to handle this moment, and I was all for sticking to the plan.
“I haven’t spent a lot of time exploring what this means for my magic.” A faint blush crept up her cheeks, and I smothered a smile, because I knew exactly how she’d spent her time since she’d woken up. She released my hand and flourished hers, palms up. Lavender strands of magic swirled from wrists to knuckles. “I think it’s safe to say that I still have my powers.”
My gaze jumped from Dagon to Talon, and from Lachlan to Ransom and Ajax, finally landing on Hawke, who still looked like shit. There was no other nice way to say it, but at least he’d been convinced to join the conversation since Olivia was upstairs with a still speechless Avianna.
Alek blinked, but that was his only physical reaction to Jocelyn's reveal.
I felt Jocelyn’s nervousness through the bond and sent her a wave of reassurance. No matter what happened in this room, she had me. Was my cousin currently in possession of my lands? Absolutely, but that didn’t mean I didn’t own other property. Even if Alek went against everything I knew of him and threw us out, we’d have a roof over our heads.
“But you did transition,” Ransom said slowly, his gaze narrowing. “Because you don’t exactly smell like one of us.”
“I did,” she answered, baring her teeth in the most awkward smile ever.
Ransom’s brow furrowed as he stared at her straight, even teeth.
“I just don’t quite have control over when these things pop out, or I’d show you.” Her nose crinkled.
Ransom didn’t look convinced.
I nicked my lower lip with a fang, cradled the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss. It was hard, deep, and over far too soon. Just the quickest taste of her and I wanted more. I wanted it all. You’re not here for that.
She gasped as I released her, revealing two brilliant white fangs.
“Well, damn,” Ajax said in his low timbre, flashing a grin. “Looks like she’s a vampire after all.”
Jocelyn covered her mouth with her hand and shot me a glare that said we’d discuss my actions later.
We’ll discuss them all night long, I said down the bond.
She rolled her eyes, but the flush in her cheeks was an even deeper shade of pink than before.
“You’re a hybrid,” Alek said, rising slowly to his feet. “I’ve never seen one before, but that’s the only explanation.” He looked over his shoulder at Zachariah.
“I’ve never seen one, either,” the older vampire remarked, watching Jocelyn with open curiosity but nothing malevolent. “Fascinating.”
“Great, we’ve established that she’s a vampire-witch, or whatever,” Hawke snapped. “Are we done?” He leaned on the wall closest to the door, making it clear that he was spending as little time as possible in this meeting.
“Is she a threat to the species?” Dagon asked, voicing the question no one else had dared to.
“To whom?” I countered, angling myself slightly so I was between them as rage rose like a tidal wave in my veins and my body prepared for combat. “Because I’m the fucking threat if you ever say something like that again.”
“I’m not the one who mated a witch. It’s a logical question.” He shrugged.
“Stop,” Zachariah ordered Dagon in a tone that left no room for argument.
“You’ve been here for about four fucking seconds,” Hawke snarled. “And so far the biggest threat has been from the two you call brothers.”
“Fucking hell,” Lachlan muttered, rising to his feet.
“Saint and Samuel have nothing to do with this,” Dagon argued, gesturing toward Jocelyn and me.
I undid the buttons on the wrist of my dress shirt, glad I’d left my weapons upstairs, or I might have fired a bullet into his shoulder just to prove a point.