Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
What the hell was with all these voices suddenly piping up inside me? I guess it had finally happened and my mind was failing now too.
“Now, come along,” Mr. Magnus was saying as he tugged my arm. “Don’t disappoint my brother. He’s been expecting you and can be a bear when he doesn’t get his way.” Like I hadn’t said a word, he opened the passenger door in the Escalade and carefully placed my backpack onto the floor. “Here, let me give you a boost up. These things sit too damn high off the ground if you ask me.”
It was so sweet that he was trying to cover for me being unable to climb into the oversized vehicle but not so sweet that he’d just ignored every other word I’d said. I hated having to admit my disabilities out loud and it looked like he was about to make me do it a second time.
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
“I heard every word of it,” he answered as he literally lifted me up and onto the seat, placed my cane next to me, and closed the door right in my face. I would have panicked if he didn’t come across as so damn friendly. Of course, they said Ted Bundy had appeared friendly to his victims too.
“I don’t mean to be overbearing, but my little brother can really be something when he doesn’t get his way. And he wants to see you.” He grinned and I was struck again by how beautiful he was. “Now please, Kailar. My mother and father spoiled him outrageously, and he’s used to having things done the way he likes. I know it sounds strange but please give it a chance. Alyx really has his heart set on meeting you.”
“He does? But why? I mean, I’ve never even heard of him before. What kind of job could I possibly do for him?”
“He needs an assistant, and he thinks you’d be perfect. He’ll explain everything to you.”
As soon as he climbed into the driver’s seat, I frowned at him. “You realize this is creepy, right? It’s almost like I’m being abducted.”
He laughed as the engine purred to life. “Do you feel as if you’re being abducted?”
“No,” I muttered. “I just don’t want your brother angry or-or disappointed when he sees me. I can’t be what he expected.”
“No,” he answered softly. “You’re perfect. I think you’ll find that you and Alyx need one another. Now, sit back and rest for a bit. It’s about twenty minutes until we get there. May as well make yourself comfortable.”
The ride, as it turned out, was as crazy as the introduction of Keion into my life. Roads which were always crowded, with horns blaring at each other, appeared to be running smoothly. We didn’t get held up by the first red light—they turned green every time we got near them. No jaywalkers. No accidents. Nothing but road perfection. It was weird as hell.
Chapter Three
After traveling into the nearby countryside a few miles outside of Knoxville, we came to a huge, ornate gate that proclaimed the green fields and tree-lined driveway behind it to be Magick Hill. The gate opened on its own as we drove up, but Keion waited for it to open fully before he drove the big car through.
The driveway was cool and shaded and led up a small hill to a gorgeous mansion with white columns and a real antebellum look, though Keion assured me the similarities ended there. The entire interior had been extensively renovated.
As we walked in, I was fascinated to see an entire wall facing the door that was made entirely of glass and lit from within. When I exclaimed in amazement, Keion smiled.
It’s a salt-water aquarium, one of many that are interconnected throughout the house. My brother and I both love the sea.”
A voice came from the side. “And then I was injured and couldn’t go in the water for a while.”
I turned to look at the man who’d made that last remark, and he was standing just inside the door leading off the entry hall.
Keion smiled at him. “There you are. Kailar, this is my brother Alyxsander.” He gestured back at me. “Alyx, I’ve brought you Kailar.”
I almost did a double take, because he was just that good looking, with dark hair and sapphire blue eyes and a perfectly chiseled face. That face was every bit as handsome as his brother Keion’s, but he had some lines around his eyes and mouth that had been carved there by pain. I saw why as he came forward to meet us. He was leaning heavily on a handsome wooden cane. Its handle was shaped like the head of some kind of sea monster. He noticed my gaze and smiled ruefully.
“You like my cane? My brother carved it for me by hand.” He held up the head again. “This is called a Kraken. Frightening, isn’t it? My brother’s truly talented. I had a, uh, a water-skiing accident. They replaced the joint of my knee, but an infection set in, and well, I’m still recovering after a couple of operations to fix it.”