Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“It sort of is. This needs to be celebrated, Ethan. You can’t run from it.”
The young vampire shocked him further by wrapping his arms around him in a quick hug. “Thanks.” He released Ronan on a gasp and another laugh. “I need to tell Marcus!”
“I think he’ll appreciate the good news,” Ronan said as they started for the door.
They didn’t get more than a couple of steps toward the door when there was a loud thud against the window. Ethan looked as if he nearly jumped while Ronan was already reaching for the young man to tackle him to the floor. Twisting around, he could make out something black flapping followed by several angry caws.
“What the—”
“Ozzie!” Ethan cried out.
“Who? What?” If there had been any question in Ronan’s mind how Aiden kept busy these past two hundred years, it was becoming clearer by the minute that the Varik clan was nonstop adventure. Every time he turned around, something weird and unexpected was happening.
“That’s Bel’s raven, Ozzie. He sometimes sends him to us,” Ethan explained.
“What? In lieu of a text message?”
Ethan snickered and waved for him to follow. “Nah. Just to keep an eye on things.”
Ronan trailed behind the young vampire, his mind still struggling to keep up with what he was hearing. “So, Bel—the scientist—has a trained pet raven who flies from his house to this one to keep an eye on the people for him?”
Stopping on the stairs, Ethan turned partially around to look at him. “You don’t know, do you?” he asked slowly and gave another little laugh before he continued. “I already feel like you’ve been around forever. I keep forgetting you’re still new to the Variks.” Which was a warming notion. “Bel can talk to animals. It’s his gift.”
Ronan nearly tripped down the last of the stairs, his hand locked on the handrail with a death grip to catch himself. That was a damn handy gift. Combine that with Winter’s ability to disappear and Ethan’s new ability to create fire, and the Variks were a dangerous and powerful clan indeed. He was a little afraid to ask what the rest of them could do. Not that he would.
A vampire’s gift, while a thing to celebrate within his clan, was a secret thing. A valuable tool and weapon. Each vampire was wary of another because they didn’t know what their rival could do. Oh, Ronan had known a few that liked to brag about their gift, but they weren’t living now. Something that would need to be explained to Ethan, but it could wait.
He followed Ethan through the foyer into the back of the house, which he’d not had much time to explore yet. Beautiful art decorated the walls, and he caught glimpses of antique furniture in nearly every room. The kitchen was another large room that was clearly in regular use—an odd thing for a household full of vampires, but he’d quickly learned that Ethan still enjoyed eating food. Then there was also the matter of feeding a pair of werewolves and a witch when they came to visit. If fact, he could remember all of the Variks nibbling on something here and there. He had to wonder if Ethan was aware of the influence he had on his family.
The back door was quickly unlocked and pulled open. Ethan stepped outside on the patio and turned toward the side of the house where they had last seen Ozzie flapping against the window.
“Ozzie!” Ethan called out.
There was nothing in the crisp night air. A thick blanket of snow covered the ground, glistening in the thin moonlight. The stillness was unsettling, and Ronan’s eyes were drawn toward the dark line of trees at the edge of the property. His instincts were shouting for him to grab Ethan and pull him into the house for his own safety.
The flapping of wings and an angry caw had Ronan turning in time to see the raven speeding toward them. Ethan raised his hand as if expecting the bird to land on it, but Ozzie bypassed him and settled on the stone railing for the patio area. Even after he landed, he continued to flap and flutter his feathers, his cawing breaking the silence of the air.
“What’s wrong with him?” Ethan muttered as he walked cautiously toward the bird. Ronan remained close to Ethan, ready to pull the smaller man behind him as they watched Ozzie turn toward the tree line and shout before turning back toward them.
Ronan looked at the trees, frowning. Something had upset the bird.
As they reached the railing, Ronan could suddenly feel it. Vampires. At least a dozen of them lurking in the woods. They were clearly outnumbered. But they were manageable numbers. He and Aiden could handle a dozen vampires, but the presence of the fledgling made them more dangerous. He was an easy, untrained target. And considering that someone among them likely knew the layout of the house meant that they would be attempting to infiltrate through an overlooked entry.