Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 29328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
The only stories I know are the ones I’ve picked up from people who took pity on me after my parents’ deaths.
But they’re legends.
I feel like I’m about to pass out.
Ethan sighs. “And one of my own. Unbelievable. You know, you just want one night out without responsibility.”
Alex grins. “Yes, because being a parent is so hard.”
“Damn.” Mason chuckles under his breath. “Timber’s bar may never be the same after that comment.”
Ethan lunges. Alex grins, and Cassius just rolls his eyes as if he’s been dealing with toddlers—aka the Immortal Council—for longer than he can remember. He slowly whispers, “Stop.”
The entire room freezes, except for our little get-together. Everyone is literally frozen in time, save for the tiny pieces of dust in the air that slowly fall all around us.
“Alex, I swear. If you don’t stop pestering him, I will make you ash.”
Alex grins. “I live for it.”
“And yet you might die from it,” Cassius growls and spreads his arms wide, feathers shooting from his back to form giant, purple and blue wings. I stumble backward. He plucks a feather and very slowly brings it to the vampire’s neck. “We don’t harm others unless they truly deserve Hell. Do you understand?”
His pulse races; I can sense it with how my mouth waters. Tarek slowly pulls me to his side and keeps me there as if he knows I’m tempted to get my revenge and drink all the vampire’s energy but am too terrified to get close to Cassius to do so.
“I think we should let her,” Tarek says. “Let her take what he stole.”
Cassius nods his head. “And the rest of you?”
“If it makes it go faster,” Ethan grumbles. “You, Alex?”
“Blood.” Alex sighs. “So messy. Plus, Mason’s already behind the bar pouring drinks because we’re taking too long, bro.” He looks at Tarek. “Don’t you work here?”
Timber sighs. “I’ll go help. You guys deal with this. Don’t make a mess, and let me know when I need to guide him to the Underworld. Haven’t been in a few months. Kind of miss—” He stops talking. “My brother.” And now, this is where I faint as Horus, God of the Sky, just nonchalantly walks into the bar with his bleach-blond hair, gorgeous, chiseled face, ripped jeans, and no shirt.
Timber points at the sign. “No shirt, no service.”
Horus walks over to one of the frozen dancing humans, grabs the guy’s shirt from him, and puts it on. “Better?”
“Animal.” Timber laughs.
Horus just shrugs. “What sort of party am I missing? I thought it was weekly guys’ night. I’ve been busy, and that vampire looks ready to shit his pants. You good, bro?”
The vampire who attacked me actually starts peeing himself. I almost laugh, except I’m also terrified. I can’t look away from the tattoo on Horus’s face that tells everyone in existence just how powerful he is, what he is, and what he’s capable of.
“I think…” Cassius locks eyes with me. “I say we let her have some fun, take back what was stolen, and go have a drink.”
“Yup.” The rest of them walk by.
All but Horus, who stops by my side and leans down at least a foot and a half. “Break his heart, and I’ll break you.”
I start to shake. “T-the vampire?”
His lips are so close to my ear I can feel the heat from them. “No. The werewolf. Trust me when I say he’s more tender than you think, and he’s like my brother. Mark my words, if you harm him, you won’t even remember getting your limbs ripped from your body.” He squeezes my shoulder and walks off. “What beer’s on tap?”
Tarek sighs next to me, still holding me. “He’s been very dramatic since he found out his wife is pregnant. Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite—I mean, not like Ethan does. Or me. I don’t think my bite is extremely hard in general, but—” I point at the vampire trying to escape through the door. “Oh, sorry. Yeah, be right back. But”—he backs up—”before I catch him, do you like, want him dead before or after you suck? I can prepare him any way. Might have been a chef in another life, who knows?”
My jaw drops. “Um.”
“Never mind.” God, his wink is gorgeous. “Be right back. Grab a napkin because you’re about to suck him dry—compliments of the chef.”
I barely see him move through the open door before he’s back, and the vampire’s on his knees in front of me, getting drug through the bar and into the back office.
I follow, slowly.
Tarek releases him, then hits him across the face to make sure he’s out. “All yours, pretty little demon. Better you feed on him than me.”
“Why’s that?” I ask in a small voice.
Tarek leans down until we’re face-to-face. “Because at the end of the day, I truly don’t think you can handle me, little girl.” He pats me on the head and shuts the door, only to crack it open again. “Oh, and try not to make a mess. I really like my couch.”