Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Are you ready?” Gabrio asks.
“Is it as bad as I think it’s going to be?” I ask.
He laughs. “Trust me, it is much worse.”
I smile tightly. “Wonderful.”
I step up to the mouth closest to me. “So what do I do?” I look at the wrangler.
“Jump in with two feet. They will handle the rest.”
I’m pushed from the mouth of the nastiest creature I’ll ever encounter in my life, onto dry ground. I’m covered in a thick, sticky coating of what can only be described as serpent digestive juices. The texture is thick and stinks like a thousand dead fish entrails left out on a hot summer day for extra stink.
I’m on all fours, gagging and hacking, trying to clear my mouth. I spit twenty times but can’t get the taste out. It’s in my ears and nose, too.
“Lake?” says Alwar’s deep voice.
“Just one second.” I wipe the dangling spit from my chin. I have never felt less sexy in my life.
“I see you survived.”
“You could’ve warned me.” I hack.
“I tried, but you would not listen. Besides, would you have gone if I’d told you what lie ahead?”
Somewhere close by, I hear the sound of Gabrio vomiting and coughing. I guess he made it too.
“Did Master choose to stay?” Alwar asks.
I glance up at him. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“He has not surfaced.”
I get to my feet, but immediately double over again and retch. “I don’t suppose there’s some water around here to bathe in.”
“No.”
I stand and see Gabrio wobbling in our direction. He’s also covered in goop.
“Where’s Master?” I ask.
“He said he wanted to stay,” Gabrio answers.
“He didn’t even say goodbye? But I love that dog.”
“He is not a dog,” Alwar says.
“Yes. I know. But…” He’s been by my side for years. “So I’m never going to see him again?”
Gabrio shrugs. “Do not worry. You have more than enough protection. Otherwise, he would not have remained at the temple.”
That’s not the point, but I don’t expect them to understand.
“So did you get what you went for?” Alwar asks.
I got way more. I try not to look at Gabrio even though I’m curious. Does he intend to tell Alwar about the sex? Does he feel guilty?
Honestly, I didn’t think I’d feel a thing, given that I was one hundred percent transparent with Alwar about this being a marriage in name only. But now, standing here with him, I feel a little guilty. I didn’t just sleep with one of this brothers, I kind of slept with two. I still don’t get how that was even possible.
I clear my throat. “I did. And I’m anxious to get back to the palace and give the address. When can all the citizens and leaders be assembled?” My understanding is that I give my inaugural address, and then everyone goes home. I then hit the road with my army, traveling from kingdom to kingdom, demanding they bend the knee. Not a very practical process, but I’m not here to argue. I’m here to stop these monsters from taking down the wall.
Alwar sounds relieved. “We can send Fliers out to make the announcement and summon all the kingdoms. Their leaders will expect to be flown to your palace.”
Great. I need to arrange Flier mail and air transportation for the elites. “So I need to visit the Flier queen and bite her?”
“I believe so,” Alwar replies, “but perhaps your general can assist.”
I need to speak to Rool anyway. “Have you seen him?”
“The vampires are just over that hill, waiting for you.” Alwar points to a small stand of spindly trees with bulbous branches.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Do not take too long, Lake. We have only a few hours of darkness left.”
I nod and walk in the direction of the hill, avoiding the long tentacles hanging from one of the willow trees. I’m more than a little sad that Master decided to stay behind without telling me. I know he’s not a dog, but he still feels like part of my family. He was all I had left of that life, really. Bard isn’t Bard anymore. Grandma is dead. My parents are gone. Even my ex, Dave, is dead. I have a few good friends, like Sunnie, but I wonder what kind of relationship we’ll have if or when I get home. I’ll never be able to tell them the truth about what’s hidden away inside my family’s estate or the dangers lurking inside the walls.
It suddenly hits me. Even if I get to go home, there’s no going back. The life I had is gone because the woman I was is gone. She’s a vampire now. Hopefully not for long, but still, I’ve been forever changed by Monsterland. And someday soon, I’ll have to accept that and move on from the past. Because once this is all over, I plan to start over.