Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 116408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
In another lifetime…
“What did you think of him?” Jullien inquired, breaking into his thoughts.
It was almost as if Jullien could read his mind, but it was more likely that he’d read some little expression Philippe couldn’t quite keep from his face. They had spent the better part of a century together; there was no one else who knew him better.
“Rafe was interesting.”
Philippe had barely gotten the carefully measured words out before the room filled with Jullien’s incredulous laughter. It was a sound Philippe heard too rarely, and he welcomed it even if his friend was laughing at him.
“Please tell me you’re lying to just me and not to yourself.”
Philippe glared at his companion, but he was pretty sure he did a poor job of it, because Jullien was still smiling. With a groan, Philippe waved a hand at Jullien. “He was as beautiful and wicked as you described him. The devil in the flesh.”
“And just as sinfully tempting,” Jullien finished with what sounded suspiciously like a sated sigh.
“Have you ever…?”
Jullien quickly shook his head, but he didn’t lose his pleased expression. “No. As tempting as he is, he’s not a risk I’m willing to take. I’m content to admire him from afar.”
Philippe knew Jullien feared Rafe’s reaction to the scars that covered his body. No one wanted to suffer through such a moment when expecting pleasure, something Philippe knew all too keenly. “Is he the reason you go to his clubs so often? Admiration of his form?” Philippe teased in hopes of keeping Jullien’s mood light.
“There are many good reasons to go to his clubs, but you’ll discover that firsthand, right? That’s where you plan to catch him next?”
Philippe nodded. “I thought being on his home turf would be most comfortable for him. Put him at ease.”
Jullien chuckled again. “Into the lion’s den. Well, it might prove to be to your salvation that I don’t think he prefers to mess around with other vampires.”
“Really?”
“Don’t get me wrong. He has. I’ve heard from plenty that he’s quite amazing, but if you watch him, he skirts most vampires in favor of the humans in his club.”
Philippe smirked. “It makes sense. Humans are far easier to manage. They offer up less of a threat.”
Jullien was still chortling softly to himself when he pushed out of the chair and crossed the room to stand in front of Philippe. Lifting one hand, he cupped the back of Philippe’s neck and pulled him in until their foreheads touched. “Whatever you have to tell yourself. Just be careful lying to yourself, and don’t underestimate him. If you’re not a Varik, you are no one to him,” he said in a whisper.
His first instinct was to scoff at Jullien’s warning, but he knew his friend’s words came from the heart. And Rafe was more of a distraction than Philippe had initially expected. He would be careful. There were too many people depending on him.
“I’ll remember,” Philippe said.
Jullien released him and started to walk toward the double doors, likely heading to his own room. “He wished to hand our request over to his brother. Winter.”
Jullien froze. Philippe was sure his friend didn’t breathe for several seconds. It was a fear they had discussed when they first considered speaking with the Variks. Winter Varik was a dangerous adversary. There were whispers all around their world about him, but there was little in the way of hard fact. Not that many cared about the facts.
When a vampire suddenly turned up slaughtered or simply disappeared from existence, it was hinted that it was Winter’s doing. When someone threatened a Varik and met a messy end, it was Winter. When a vampire withdrew his or her complaints against the Variks, it was Winter standing in the shadows with a fistful of frightening secrets.
Philippe wasn’t sure how much of it he believed, but he knew there must be some kernel of truth to all the rumors.
And asking the Variks for assistance meant putting the Arsenaults within his cold, blue sights. Until now, his clan had no reason to catch Winter’s attention. They couldn’t afford him looking too closely at them. Would a word from him sway his brothers into not helping?
“We knew this was a risk,” Jullien said carefully.
“I told Rafe that we would deal only with him. Only he would have safe passage into our domain.”
Jullien frowned and looked over his shoulder at Philippe. “But does that make them more suspicious of us?”
“I think we’re seen as cautious. I plan to deal with Rafe personally to show my seriousness and dedication to this task. That has to count for something.”
Jullien’s frown softened. “It does.”
“Any news on Piper?”
Jullien bowed his head for a second. “None,” he replied, still facing the doors.
“She’s still out there. Alive. We’ll find her.”
Jullien nodded. “We will,” he murmured, but his voice lacked any confidence. “Good night.”