Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
We left the restaurant not long after the conversation that still clung to the edges of my mind. The car was silent, save for the hum of the engine and the occasional rush of wind outside. My head leaned back against the seat, my eyes tracing the darkened scenery of the Isle as it passed by, the shadows of trees and the distant gleam of the moon on the lake. My hand was resting in Alexander’s, his thumb absentmindedly brushing over my knuckles as he drove with his other hand.
It took a while for me to realize that the path we were on wasn’t heading back to the estate.
The familiar curves and winding roads were missing, replaced by unfamiliar streets that led along the coastline. It was hard to tell in the dark, but my instincts told me something was different.
“Where are we going?” I asked, turning my head slightly toward him, my curiosity piqued.
His eyes flicked toward me briefly, a mischievous smile pulling at the corner of his lips. “For dessert,” he said, his voice casual, “and a surprise.”
The thought of something more after the conversation about Anya was unsettling. But I didn’t push him. I kept my eyes on the road, watching the moonlight dance across the water beside us. The night felt darker, the air around us more secretive, as though the Isle itself was shrouded in mystery. After a while, we reached two sprawling estates, each one mirroring the other in size and grandeur, standing like sentinels along the coast.
Their presence alone was intimidating, a testament to the wealth and power that came with being part of the Impío faith. Even in the dark, they loomed above us, steeped in an old, almost ancestral importance. We turned into the driveway of the slightly larger estate, parking behind another flashy car that was already there. The house towered over us; its sharp architecture softened only by the subtle lighting coming from inside.
It reminded me of our own home, secluded and wrapped in luxury, but there was something different here, more personal. I knew instinctively that this place held history for Alexander. The air was heavy with it. He cut the engine and stepped out, coming around to my side and opening my door, as always. I blinked, taking in the massive house, feeling the cool night air rush over my skin as I stepped out.
The smell of the lake was stronger here, mingling with the earthy scent of the trees that surrounded us.
“Where are we?” I asked again, my voice quieter this time, uncertain.
He smirked down at me, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “My parents’,” he said with a knowing smile, clearly anticipating my reaction.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. His parents? My mind raced. I had already met his father—the man gave new meaning to the word intense. He had a presence that filled the room, a cold, calculating authority that left no room for doubt. His mother, however, was like a ghost. Always mentioned and never seen. A figure I had imagined but hadn’t met, a woman whose influence was undeniable, yet whose face had remained hidden from me.
I stared at him. “Your parents?”
His smirk deepened, enjoying my surprise. “Yes, deliciae. My parents.”
I had never really thought about what meeting them would be like. His father’s intensity had been daunting enough, but the thought of meeting the woman who had shaped Alexander into the man he was now...
My mind raced with questions—what was she like? Did she know everything? Would she approve of me? Alexander sensed my rising anxiety because he stepped closer, his hand brushing gently down my arm before resting at the small of my back. The warmth of his touch steadied me, grounding me in the moment.
“Relax,” he murmured, his voice low and reassuring. “I was meant to bring you here weeks ago for brunch. They’ve been waiting to meet you.”
The idea that they had been waiting for me didn’t help.
He kissed my temple lightly, his lips warm against the cool night air. “Come on, you’ll be fine.”
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves as we began walking toward the grand entrance The massive double doors swung open before we could even reach them, revealing a figure I recognized instantly—Bishop. He greeted us with a wide, charming smile that threw me off guard, as if we’d known each other for years, despite our few brief encounters. He held up a large glass, clearly already a few drinks deep.
"Finally!" Bishop exclaimed, his grin growing wider. "I'm on my third glass already."
I blinked, momentarily surprised by how at ease he seemed. He had always behaved as though we were old friends whenever we crossed paths. The charm and the raw magnetism he carried was undeniable—dark chestnut-hued hair styled as though he'd just run his hands through it, and those deep hazel eyes, glinting with a playful mischief that could be dangerous if you didn’t know better.