Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
His face came closer to mine, and he shook his head. “It’s close, but I do believe we can do better.”
Leaning into him, our noses nearly touched, I asked, “Better?”
“Closer.”
“If this were a century ago, this would be quite scandalous, Theseus.”
“Oh, without a doubt.” He grinned. “Two flying creatures in the moonlight? The church would call it the end of days.”
I rolled my eyes. “I meant how close I already am.”
And he knew that. “Ah.” He pretended just now to understand. “How lucky I am it is not a century ago and can be even closer to you without fear or Puritans to disturb us.”
I laughed as he drew me into him. Our bodies pressed together completely. I could feel every inch of his hard body against mine. His grey eyes stood out even more in the moonlight, and the stronger his grip was on me, the warmer my whole body became in his arms. “I brought us up here; I think the least you can do is kiss me.”
“But where shall I kiss?” he questioned, his lips on my forehead first. “Here?”
“Closer.” I smiled.
So, he kissed my eyebrow and giggled. “There?”
“Not quite.”
His found my cheek. “Then here must be it?”
“Almost.”
“Hmm.” He pretended to wonder and then kissed the tip of my nose. “Surely, that must be it.”
“Well if you think that’s enough—” I didn’t get to finish before his lips touched mine.
All of me shook in his arms as the warmth of his mouth spread through me. His hands moved to my face and hair, bringing me closer. There was no need for air. There was no need for space. All I wanted was more, opening my mouth I wanted...him. He wanted me, too. I could feel the way he held on to me. The way his tongue tangled with mine and fought against my thoughts.
All too soon, there was a loud whistle from below.
“Go away, Ulrik,” Theseus grumbled, his lips only off mine for a brief second before they were kissing me again.
“We need her magic.”
At that, my head snapped back down. He hung from a window, grinning up at us.
“You found something already?” I gasped, that was faster than I was thinking.
“We found many—”
Hinrik popped his head out, pushing Ulrik back. “Forgive him, brother. He is being a nuisance on purpose. It can wait until after you are both less occupied.”
I pulled back from Theseus to his dismay. “We are less occupied.”
“I will get vengeance for this Ulrik.” Theseus cursed under his breath.
Chapter 27
The very first thing that came to my mind upon entering was the lost Library of Alexandria. I’d read many depictions and seen even more artistic rendering of it, such as O. Von Corven’s famous nineteenth-century sketch. But right now, all of them seemed to pale in comparison to the Thorbørn family library. It had all the same grandeur as the rest of their home, without the modern elements. It looked ancient with rows of columns and scrolls that lined a whole section of the walls that went on for rows. It seemed untouched by time or man, but that was impossible because there wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere.
Slowly, much slower than a human, I stepped farther inside, moving from the double doors to the first row of rolls. The paper was well-aged, and I knew the ink must have faded a bit. What lost knowledge of humanity was just sitting on a shelf here? How many historians, conservators, restorationist, would give everything they had just to spend an hour in here?
“A great many, I would assume.” Sigbjørn’s voice arose from behind me, and when I turned to look, he was lifting a massive covered canvas onto an easel with ease and automatically, with vampire speed, I was at his side curious.
“What is this?” I asked, almost bouncing. It had to be amazing. Everything here was amazing, and if it was art, it was my bread and butter.
“She looks like a puppy waiting for a bone.” Ulrik laughed at me.
“If she had a tail, it would be waging for sure,” Hinrik added.
“Leave her be,” Theseus grumbled, stepping up to his father and me. “Father, did they interrupt us simply so we may be their entertainment, or is there truly a need for us?”
“Us…as in the both of you?” He grinned. “No, you are not needed, Theseus. Druella, on the other hand, I need her assistance.”
“Me?” I looked between him and the blanketed canvas. “With?”
With a single tug, he pulled the sheet off the art, exposing a blank canvas, and I could feel all the excitement and joy fall from my face. So, when Ulrik began to laugh, I knew the disappointment was clear.
Even Theseus couldn’t help but snicker. “I would be jealous, a simple painting, or the lack of one could bring forth such an expression if you did not look so endearing as you pout.”