Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79726 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79726 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
A smarter girl would have gotten off this ride about five stops ago.
And maybe I would have. I don’t like danger. I can’t even handle scary movies.
But I do actually know why I keep hanging around, and it’s not even a morbid curiosity that, like the cat, might just get me killed if I’m not careful.
Dammit, this man who’s hand I’m holding has bewitched me. Though I know, or think I know, that in spite of all the supernatural crap swirling around me, it’s the one thing that feels… well, real. Grounded.
So when Layden seems to relax after the woman has a quick conversation with her ‘Grandpa’ and then Layden’s waving a confident hand for us all to depart the helicopter, I’m able to follow confidently. Well, I can pretend confidence with the best of them. I can only pray and trust its not one of the most foolish decisions I’m making in my life.
Chapter Twenty-Three
REMUS
I’m constantly aware of Lo-Ren’s presence as we walk down the ramp and into enemy territory. My nose takes in every scent. My brother’s and their women and children. The summer air and the forest beyond the mountain fortress.
And of course the group of cold, deathless creatures standing in front of us, faces grave in anything but warm greeting. I search the faces of each of them. Granted the one I met so long ago was covered in blood, but I have an excellent scent memory, and I don’t think he is here.
“Hi, I’m Phoenix,” says the woman who rode in on the motorcycle, stepping up and holding out a hand to Abaddon, a welcoming smile on her face as if she is not standing in front of a host of vampires. I frown and tilt my head. This one’s scent is quite different. Like nothing I’ve ever encountered before, and I’ve traveled everywhere there is to travel on this small globe. She certainly does not smell undead.
My eyes flick to Layden, who’s eyes bounce back and forth between her and the men behind her. We wasted time on the plane. We should have been grilling little brother more about the dynamics of the tenuous situation we were walking into.
Abaddon introduces himself and his little family, then the rest of us. We all nod when he says our name.
The man Layden first approached steps forward—Phoenix’s Grandpa Vlad. “Layden never told us of his extensive family when he last visited us.”
The man is tall by human standards, six feet at least, and he has perfectly smooth skin. He watches everyone with his dark eyes.
“I would think one such as you would understand the need to be… circumspect in matters of family.”
Vlad’s eyebrow lifts ever so slightly. “One such as me. And what might one such as you be called?”
“I’ve already told you my name is Abaddon.”
“I was not referring to your name.”
I know my brother well enough to sense the danger in his smile when he responds, “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean,” Vlad bends forwards at the waist, inhaling deeply, “that I can smell the power emanating off of you. But you are not witches, nor dybbuks, nor any other wielder of magic I’ve ever met before.”
“Yet my brother spent time amongst you.”
“We thought he was an anomaly.”
Abaddon shrugs. “Everyone comes from somewhere.”
“You dance around my question.”
“I was informed my family and I might have sanctuary here.” Abaddon’s voice and stance becomes harder. “Is that the truth, or should we leave now?”
“Of course, we’ll provide sanctuary,” Phoenix says, butting into the conversation, her grandfather shooting her a look that would shrivel the soul of most. Phoenix ignores it—fascinating. Even more fascinating, her grandfather allows the interruption. He seems like the beheading rather than the benevolent kind.
“We appreciate powerful allies in these tumultuous times,” Phoenix says smoothly. “And we don’t have to tell all of our secrets. We barely know each other.” She shoots her grandfather a significant look. He glares back silently for so long I don’t think he ever will.
Finally, though, he turns back toward us, putting on a clearly disingenuous smile. “I am Vlad Dracul. Welcome to our home. We are glad to offer sanctuary to your family. One of my sons will show you to your rooms.” He makes a quick gesture, and a man from behind him scurries forward.
“I’m happy to take them,” Phoenix gestures her arm towards the building behind her.
“You will stay here,” Vlad says, voice gruff but clearly authoritative. I don’t miss the twitch of Phoenix’s mouth at being ordered around, but she nods, tilting her face toward the ground. There’s some sort of fascinating play for power between these two. Usually, it would be the sort of thing that would fascinate, nay even delight me.
Right now, though, I only frown seeing it, because I don’t like my consort and I being caught in the middle of a vampire family power struggle.