Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
The pool must’ve been one of the portals to the gods’ realm he’d heard rumors about within the immortal community, because when he woke, he had the gods’ light coursing through his veins. His body was stronger, and he felt more in control of his beast. Yet, at the same time, he knew his brother was more dangerous than ever. The beast was rumbling like thunder and stirring like a violent hurricane, ready for destruction.
It was a good thing that he and Sky had gone their separate ways. For the best.
When Willa woke up in her new body, he’d need to steer clear of her, too. A second chance for both women could not be cut short by his brother.
“Are you going to stare at yourself all day?” Pet snapped from the passenger seat of his jag.
“Maybe.” He picked up Pet from the little pink pillow he had sewn for her and strapped in so it wouldn’t blow away with the top down. To the average driver, he looked like a very disturbed man with a doll riding shotgun, but that was fine. This was LA. Humans had seen weirder.
“My wings itch.” She squirmed inside her bandage.
“That is a good sign. It means they are healing.” Damien entered the shop. MF was already busy at work, sewing the hem of a green satin dress with a lace bodice and square-cut neckline. “I see you’re adding your own touches to my designs.”
“You’re back.” MF popped up from the seat and gave him a hug.
He stiffly patted her on the back. Just because his curse was no longer an issue did not mean he enjoyed being touched by everyone.
MF let him go. “I heard what you’re going to do for me.”
Ah, yes. Hunt down the last living vampire. “I have been tasked with locating him, yes. But I am told he does not want to be found. Apparently, he has been hunted by the locals for a very long time and is a master of evasion.”
“How do you think he survive the blast?”
Cimil never explained any of that. He guessed it had been a matter of luck. “Perhaps we’ll never know.”
“Oh, hey. Did you hear? That building downtown burned to the ground last night.”
Damien frowned. “What building?”
“The one where all the body parts were being shipped.”
Damien felt his chest tighten. Yes, he had gone to the top floor. What he’d witnessed was beyond disturbing. MF had been right. The entire trafficking ring had nothing to do with sex.
Supernatural Body Parts was kidnapping human women to conduct trials. Soon, they were going to complete phase one and move on to phase two: men.
Their business?
Grinding up immortal body parts that contained high concentrations of immortal stem cells. With them, they were growing new bodies for their rich, powerful clients. They were selling immortality. Youth. Beauty.
Damien had walked through the entire lab, read some of the files, and looked at the charts. In room twelve, the first two nearly completed female bodies sat submerged in goop, hooked up to dozens of monitors and tubes. He couldn’t see what was missing from the bodies, but the chart had a completion date. One more week.
So that had been the final piece of the puzzle. Sky’s body needed seven more days, when he’d only had two to give her before his clock ran out. He’d had no choice but to take the job and Cimil’s offer of true immortality.
The other realization was that Vincente Newbery had not been peddling his fear porn to raise money at that party. He’d been trying to convince the wealthy elite guests to become immortal. To fight fire with fire in some fake impending doom scenario involving the world takeover of evil creatures. Also, bonus. Live forever. The party was to get orders for new bodies. It was all right there in SBP’s business plan.
Meanwhile, the other side of the business was used to kidnap test subjects and round up what was left of the immortals. After the blast, it likely became increasingly difficult to find the creatures they needed, which was why they began holding festivals to lure them in.
Damien left the place sickened. Cimil had said it was part of a bigger plan, to have faith, but there was no way he could let SBP continue. He’d texted Cimil half a dozen times.
Damien: Do you intend to give those bodies to Willa and Sky? Do they know? You cannot allow the SBP to continue.
Cimil’s response had simply been a unicorn emoji, fireball, skull and crossbones. What the fuck does she mean? he’d thought.
That had been over a week ago, and now he understood what the message meant: Minky blew the place up.
Damien set Pet down on the table next to the green dress and picked up his cell to text Cimil one more time. The building was gone. Were Willa and Sky still getting their second chance?