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)
“$12.99 extra?” I gasped in horror as we made it up the stairs. “That’s a little steep!”
“It’s Mussel Silk. Do you know how much effort it’s going to take?” she said as we reached the top and moved to Taelon’s elevator. “In fact, I’m giving you a very good discount.”
I scoffed, pushing the button. “Sure, you are.”
I stepped into it with her, glad I couldn’t see their faces as we got inside and that neither Theseus nor Taelon followed us. I looked at the screen, realizing that I didn’t know how to work it. However, Lucy just tapped on the glass twice, and a keypad came up. She pressed the button for the guest floor. Briefly, I wondered how that could be secure, but who was going to break in? When the elevator began to move, she fell to her knees, her body shaking, but she still didn’t let out her sob. She bit her lip as hard as she could and kept her eyes shut as tears slid down her snow-white face. I was grateful that even Lesser bloods didn’t cry blood tears. There had been enough blood for the night. It was only when we got to mine and Theseus’s room that she fully broke down, sobbing. And though I knew she’d complain about it later, I hugged her.
“I tried so hard,” she gasped.
“I know.”
“I wanted them to see I could be with him.”
“You can.”
“I can’t.” She hung her head. “I disgraced—”
“You lost control, drinking from a human! I bet all of them have. They are only picking on you because of their prejudice.”
“Still, I ruined my chance.” She hung her head and lifted her bloody robes. “What am I saying? I never really had a chance. I knew they would hate me, but I thought…I thought they would allow me just to be next to him and hate quietly. His father is going to forbid me from even being next to him.”
“And Taelon will ignore him.”
She looked up at me even more sorrowful. “I know. That’s what I am afraid of. If he does, he will be abandoned. You should know how deeply it hurts to be abandoned by your maker. And his father is President Swan, the rest of vampire society will reject him, not just here but everywhere because they don’t want to cause chaos and bad relations with America. I will be the reason why he is an outcast, why he suffers, and I don’t want that. He loves his family.”
“He loves you more,” I reminded her. “And Ankeiros won’t abandon him.”
She wiped her face. “You can’t speak for Ankeiros. Theseus isn’t King. Just because he is with you does not mean his father will agree. It is a lot of trouble for a Lesser blood.”
“But—”
“Don’t piss off your new family just for me, Dru,” she said, petting my shoulder. “I have to deal with the consequences of my actions. You’ve already done too much for me.”
I wanted to tell her to take a second and relax, but I heard the elevator moving. She did her best to clean her face, sniffling a little bit more before rising from the floor, adjusting her clothes, and standing with her head held high.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to my father’s to stay with him for a while…alone.” She glanced over her shoulder as I got up. “Don’t worry, Taelon, is my mate; I’m not leaving him. We just need space. His family needs space. A few years will make his father calm down.”
“Years?” I spoke as the door opened.
Taelon was the first one inside, immediately looking for Lucy. She walked up to him, and he pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly, not saying a word.
“Come on. We should say thank you and go,” she whispered, tugging on his clothes.
He kissed the side of her head before his eyes found me.
“I make this blood oath to you, Druella.” Taelon got on his knees and bit his wrist. “If you ever need anything in this world, I will give it to you, without question.”
I smiled. “Even Lucy?”
He smiled back, nodding; “Yes because I know you’d return her to me.”
He was right.
“Thank you, both of you.” Lucy got on her knees as well when Theseus stood beside me. “If not for you, Lord Thorbørn, I may have gotten more out of control. Usually, Taelon can talk me out of it but…thank you.”
“You were told to call me Theseus, were you not?” He questioned. “Now get up and go. We all need to clean up.”
They nodded, rising. Taelon held onto her though. I was sure she was healing now. They walked back to the elevator. He glanced over his shoulder to Theseus as if we wanted to say more, but Theseus waved him on, clearly not wanting to hear it.