Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
“But isn’t that a tremendous risk? Revealing ourselves?” Xiao Dan choked out.
A chill ran through Yichen at the suggestion. Hiding their true identity from humans had been the one constant in his life over the past two thousand years. He’d watched their poor reaction to anything even slightly different, whether it be race, religion, or sexual orientation. He could hear the near unanimous cries for their extermination in his mind.
“It is,” Marcus murmured.
“But so is allowing King Ash and Queen Belladonna to run unchecked,” Rei argued. “Humans with guns are little more than cannon fodder in a battle with the fae, but if you throw enough of them at my father’s forces, they could slow them, allow the vampires, witches, and shifters to make a real difference.”
“That is a very grim picture you’re painting,” Moon mumbled.
“It’s also the truth,” Marcus replied before Rei could. “However, Aiden isn’t revealing our secret without a backup plan. Rafe is with him. While my brother can be chaotic, he was also gifted with the power of mind control. If Aiden feels this human can’t keep the vampires’ secret, he will have Rafe wipe his memory.”
“That’s a relief.” Xiao Dan sighed. “Our secret would be safe, but we would still be in the same difficult predicament that we are in now.”
“True,” Marcus grumbled.
“Maybe it’s time I brought the goo out of retirement,” Bel whispered, his small voice sounding so dejected.
“You said you destroyed all your notes and the recipe for the goo,” Marcus growled.
“What’s the goo?” Moon asked in Chen’s ear.
“I have a very good and accurate memory,” Bel said, not reacting to Moon’s question.
River cupped Bel’s cheeks with both of his hands, turning his face so that the vampire was forced to meet his hazel gaze. “No, my sweet Bel. This is too dangerous, and you gave your word you’d never make it again.”
“Why am I suddenly afraid of the goo?” Yichen mumbled, throwing questioning looks at Chen and Xiao Dan, who could only shrug at him in return.
“Bel was working on a cure for vampirism and he accidentally invented this goo that melts people. It’s…it’s…” Ethan shivered. “It’s pretty horrific to see.”
“Well, now that stuff sounds like fun,” Rei chimed in. He rubbed his hands together and gave a wiggle on the sofa next to Yichen, bumping their hips together.
“No,” Xiao Dan declared, and it was like a hammer being slammed down. “I cannot place restrictions on the actions of the Varik clan, but the Zhang clan will not use such a weapon.” As he mentioned their clan, his eyes locked on Rei and stayed. Yichen’s heart stopped, his mouth going dry. Was Shixiong including Rei within the Zhang clan?
Yichen ripped his eyes away from Xiao Dan to find the same shocked expression on Rei’s pale face. His lips parted and moved, but for a moment, no words came out. At last, the elf swallowed hard before bowing his head low to Xiao Dan.
“I will abide by the wishes of the Zhang clan leader,” Rei said in a trembling voice.
Xiao Dan nodded and turned a soft smile to Bel. “I see no reason for us to give up hope just yet. We will defeat the fae and push them back without needing to use a weapon that has left a mark on your soul.”
But that still left them with no clear answer on how to get rid of King Ash. There was no way he was letting Rei go into fae territory alone.
Chapter 18
Rei
Raindrops glistened on leaves as he walked through the garden. A steady drip, drip, drip, accompanied the nightly song of the frogs and crickets. A brief rainstorm had moved through the area while they were talking with the other vampires. Just enough to clear the heavy pollen from the air and wash away the last of the day’s heat.
As refreshing as he should have found it, the lovely garden did nothing to lift the weight squatting on his chest.
He was one elf.
What good was a single elf against an army?
Against the king?
Against his own people?
Shame should be eating him alive for daring to stand up to the oak and holly crowns. He was the fucking crown prince of the fae people, heir to the Dawn throne. He should be standing by his father’s side as they fought to usher in a new era of growth and power for the fae. The Earth in human hands had suffered. Wiping out the humans and claiming the land for the fae would help to restore nature.
But the Earth had never belonged to the fae. They were supposed to be occasional stewards, nudging things along here and there. A vacation spot to visit before returning home.
There was nothing wrong with their home. It wasn’t as if it were dying or that it was too small for their needs. No, King Ash had grown greedy or gone insane. Possibly both.