Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“Interesting,” Aiden murmured.
“Definitely. I can’t say that I’ve run into a blood witch in at least five hundred years. Probably the same for a necromancer,” Ronan added.
Okay, that settled it right there. If Ronan was at least five hundred years old, Sky had to know. This was a rare treat, and he didn’t want to miss out. Lowering his eyes to the floor, Sky carefully released some of his natural magical energy, like turning the handle on a spigot. Just a trickle was all that was needed.
In the blink of an eye, he hit two black voids. As if he were standing in two doorways he’d opened to the underworld, except the doorways were bigger than all of Hartford and the surrounding suburbs. The vastness of it all stole Sky’s breath away.
“You’re…ancient. Both of you,” Sky whispered as he stoppered his magic.
Ronan chuckled. “Ancient. He makes it sound like we were around for dinosaurs.”
Aiden smiled warmly at his mate. “I don’t recall any dinosaurs.” He turned his attention to Sky and Moon, his eyes twinkling with laughter. “But we have seen a few things in our lifetimes.”
Marcus was quick to continue the last of the introductions, which included Beltran Varik. The vampire looked nothing like his sexy model twin. He was tall and thin with Albert Einstein hair and a bow tie. He instantly buzzed with hundreds of questions for Sky and Moon about their magic, but Marcus crushed it with a growl, making it clear they didn’t have time for his research.
The vampire’s pout was adorable, and it instantly drew his two mates, River and Wyatt, to his side for cuddles and reassurances. That was one very pampered vampire.
“Mr. Wallace, please sit. Winter and Fox have told me what they know of the situation, but I’d like to hear your full understanding of it ahead of Christoph Sandor’s arrival.”
“Just Sky, please, and Christoph is coming here?” It was one shock after another. He’d hoped that Christoph’s ass would be dragged before the king, but he’d not been willing to bet that it would happen.
Aiden motioned to the seats they’d been sitting in earlier, while the rest of the Variks and their various mates settled around the room. “He’s been summoned. It needed to happen because of the reports regarding the human pets. Nolan’s disappearance has sped things up.”
Once he was seated on the sofa with Moon beside him as moral support, he went all the way to the beginning—to when Nolan stirred up a ruckus at Phoenix. Of course, now his drunken behavior made sense. The idea that Nolan had been drinking at the club at the same time he’d been searching for his brother had always struck him as odd.
But Nolan hadn’t been drinking. Christoph Sandor had taken a very big drink from Nolan, leaving him dazed and staggering. Fucking bastard.
Sky pushed on, talking about Owen’s agreement with Aldo and Colette, being hunted, and Nolan admitting that he’d been bitten by Christoph, supposedly making him the clan leader’s new pet.
He rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans as he talked about the magic he used to fend off the Sandor vampires. No one had gotten hurt, and he had a right to defend himself, but all vampires were anxious about necromancer magic, and it wouldn’t help his case if Christoph surprised Aiden with claims about Sky’s magic later. It was better Aiden knew everything up front.
“This pet business is going to cause us endless problems,” Marcus grumbled.
“True, but it has been a tradition almost as long as we have existed. It’s an institution at this point. Most vampires are unwilling to give it up,” Ronan said.
“It needs to end. Humans aren’t pets or toys. They have rights,” Sky snapped.
“It’s true. Humans have a right to choose, and there are plenty of humans who are happy to take on the role of pet.” Ethan leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees. “I’ve seen it firsthand. There are a lot of humans who relish the position, who take it as a badge of honor. They don’t want to be set free. And not all of them were taken against their will or treated poorly.”
Sky wanted to argue, but it was Moon who stopped him.
“It’s a different culture, Sky. You don’t have to understand it, but you can’t disrespect it just because you don’t agree with it. That’s like everyone looking down on you and me because of the magic we use.”
He stared at his friend and frowned. “I did not bring you along to talk sense into me. You’re here to help me be scary to the vampires.”
Moon smirked and bumped their shoulders together. “Then you shouldn’t have worn your gold vest. You’re always so adorable and shiny in your gold vest.”
Sky glanced at his pretty gold vest over the black shirt he’d chosen. Maybe he was adorable, but the vest was his favorite. It made him feel pulled together and powerful when he was really helpless and lost.