Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
If I truly mutilated two bodies—and I’m not at all convinced that I did—I must find out why and who manipulated me into it.
“I didn’t do it, Rogan,” I choke out.
“Hannah... I love you. That won’t change.”
“You can love a person capable of such a horrific act?”
“You love me, don’t you? I ended their lives because they threatened my mate. You.”
I sigh as my nausea subsides. I rise and face him, my beautiful wolf.
“I do. I love you, Victor Rogan. I love you, and I’m going to prove to you that I did not do this.”
“We’re at war, princess. None of this matters.”
“It matters to me.” I turn and then look over my shoulder. “I love you, but please, don’t try to find me.”
59
“Princess! No!”
I scramble out of the bunker and into the battle raging around me.
Rogan will come after me. I already know this, and he’ll scent me. Find me.
I can only hope that his love for me will convince him to do as I ask. To let me go.
I race quickly, dodging arrows and spears and flames.
I need to find my father, which means I need to escape the ether.
Of course, if I knew how to do that, I’d be back in the real world by now.
“Dad!” I yell. “Dad! It’s me, Hannah! I need to talk to you!”
Nothing.
Not that I expected anything.
Funny. If it were the other way around, all he’d need to do is summon me, and I’d come. I’m bound by blood.
Except...
Not anymore. I’m bound only to Rogan.
Does that mean my father won’t hear me? Won’t rescue me from the ether? Does he even have that power?
So much I don’t know. I had no idea the ether even existed mere days ago.
It was Rogan. Rogan’s love. Our bond that first brought us to the ether. Except that time it was lush and green.
Now it’s raging with weapons and fire.
If I can’t escape the battle, I’ll have to fight my way out. I still have my pistol and the knife I stole from the vampire—
And I remember.
My father.
My father’s voice, when I was ready to slice into the rogue vamp.
You will not, Hannah.
You will not harm your own kind. Not for him.
He can still reach me despite our broken bond. Perhaps, if I concentrate with everything I have, I can reach him.
It’s different. He’s the monarch. He’s the one who can force obedience. But I’m the heir to the vampire throne. I haven’t renounced my bond to my father, but my bond with Rogan has proved stronger.
Perhaps I must...
No, I can’t. I absolutely can’t do it.
I can’t renounce my bond with Rogan. It’s not possible. We’re mated. Fated mates.
But even if the bond exists, I could refuse to act on it.
I shake my head at the thought. I couldn’t if I tried. My connection with Rogan is bigger than either of us.
How then? How do I reach the vampire king? How do I reach my father?
How do I—
Whomp!
I’m on the ground with the wind knocked out of me.
Teeth scrape the flesh of my neck.
“Mmm. Royal blood...”
Seriously? This guy again?
“Fuck you!” I grit out.
Then I wince, waiting for the bite, until I remember—
He’s not allowed to harm me. None of them are. He all but admitted it before.
“Take me to my father,” I say.
“For the price of a few drops of blood.”
“Fuck you!” I yell again, and I gather everything in me—still fueled by Rogan’s blood—and I jump into a stand while grabbing the vamp’s own knife from my boot. I hold it to his exposed throat. “What would your king think if he knew you threatened to take his daughter’s blood?”
He spits at me—a loogie right on my cheek.
“Nice.” I hold back my gag and wipe his own spit on the leather collar of his tunic, all while still holding the blade to his neck. “Real nice.”
“You’re not one of us,” he grits out. “You’ll never be one of us.”
“Nothing would please me more,” I say, “and if I could change my heritage, I would. But the fact remains that I’m the heir to the fucking vampire throne, and there's not a damned thing either of us can do about it. Now, you’re going to take me to my father, or I will open your throat and watch you die. And then I’ll cut out your fucking heart.”
60
You will not, Hannah.
You will not harm your own kind. Not for him.
My father’s voice in my head once more.
“I’m not harming him for Rogan, damn it!” I yell to the air. “But if you don’t show yourself, or if he doesn’t take me to you now, I will do it. I swear to God I will do it!”
“Fine,” the vamp chokes out. “I’ll take you to him.”
“Good. You’d better make it quick because my alpha wolf is coming after me any minute now.”