Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
From behind him came Esther’s voice, breaking the moment. “No one told you to start getting tipsy,” she said, shoving him aside with a playful push, making him laugh. The sound was deep and contagious. He stepped back easily, giving her the floor.
"Lo," Esther greeted me warmly, her happiness at seeing me radiating off her.
Alexander raised an eyebrow, looking mock offended. “Do I not exist?”
Esther grinned up at him, giving him a one-sided hug. “Alex,” she said in a teasing tone, clearly in a good mood. He pulled her in for a proper hug as we stepped inside the grand foyer of the estate, the atmosphere immediately warmer than I had expected.
As we walked in, I took a second to glance at Bishop. There was something about his easygoing demeanor, the lopsided smile that always seemed to linger on his lips, which made him approachable—even in this intimidating setting.
His sharp cheekbones and squared jaw gave him a striking, almost dangerous look, but the sparkle in his eyes and that ever-present stubble softened the effect, giving him a roguish, playful air. We stepped further inside, and the grandeur of the home unfolded before me. Dark, rich wood adorned the walls, with intricate carvings that added to the overall opulence. It was a space filled with history and power, but there was a warmth there too, something familial that made me feel like I was stepping into more than just a house—it was their sanctuary.
As Alexander and Esther continued talking, I couldn’t help but observe how easily they fit together, how their interactions flowed with a natural, effortless grace. The bond between them was undeniable, a deep-rooted connection that hinted at years of shared experiences and trust. It left me feeling as if I were slowly being woven into something beyond my understanding.
Bishop caught my eye again, his lopsided grin still firmly in place, like he was already in on some private joke. “You ready for the madness?” he teased, raising his glass in my direction.
I wasn’t sure if he was referring to the evening ahead or something more sinister. The glint in his eyes told me it didn’t matter—whatever it was, I was already in it. The game, whatever it was, had already begun, and I was just starting to understand the rules. Before I could respond, Emilio appeared from around a corner, his smile just as friendly and disarming as always.
Without warning, he pulled me into a hug, catching me completely off guard. I stood there stiff as a board, unsure how to respond. His laugh echoed through the room. “The Devil, Alex,” he teased, “did you tell her she couldn’t even hug her family?”
Alexander chuckled, pulling me back to his side, his arm wrapping possessively around my waist.
“I didn’t tell her anything of the sort. She’s just a good girl,” he said, his voice low, filled with that familiar, dangerous edge.
My face flamed, the heat rising up my neck and into my cheeks. I could feel every pair of eyes in the room on me. Bishop grinned wider, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. “Good girl, huh? Well, she’s learning fast. Or maybe it’s just Alex’s training that’s working,” he joked, his tone dripping with innuendo.
Esther rolled her eyes, reaching out to lightly slap Bishop’s chest. “Don’t make it worse,” she said with a playful smile, though even she couldn’t hold back her amusement.
Despite my flushed cheeks, there was something strangely comforting about their banter, the way they all teased and laughed together. It felt almost normal.
I had never seen any of them this at ease, behaving like actual people and not the satanic royalty they usually projected. There was a softness to them in this moment, an ease that didn’t match the darkness I’d come to associate with their world. It was jarring, in a way—seeing Alexander, Bishop, and Emilio laugh and joke like they were just a group of friends or family. Not powerful men who ruled over something twisted and secret. As the laughter continued to ripple between them, a feminine, bell-like voice suddenly called out, cutting through the conversation.
"She’s here."
I turned my head in the direction of the voice, my heart skipping a beat. A woman was approaching, her presence commanding, yet there was something ethereal about her, something delicate. She looked like them—no doubt related—but there was an almost doll-like quality to her.
Her features were finely sculpted, too perfect, too delicate, like a living porcelain figure come to life. Behind her, a man trailed after her, tall and well-built, with a relaxed smile on his face. His eyes sparkled with amusement, as though whatever already entertained him was about to unfold. The woman slowed as she neared, her gaze never leaving mine. There was something unnerving about the intensity of her stare, as if she were assessing every inch of me. She stopped a few feet from me, her eyes still locked on mine.