Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Despite the moonlight cast overhead, I could see clearly. And I couldn’t take my gaze off the sprawling, rolling green hills of the Highlands that seemed gray and covered in shadows or stop looking at the thick and lustrous forests that lined the perimeter and stretched out for as far as the eye could see.
And then there was the massive estate, more like a castle from another time gone by. It sat atop a massive hill in the center of all that land and greenery, all stone and stained-glass windows and all protected by an impenetrable-looking wrought-iron gate all around.
“Do ye like it, lass?”
I didn’t—couldn’t—stop staring at everything in front of me, not even when I could feel the heavy weight of Banner’s gaze on me, not when I could hear the note of breathlessness in his voice, as if he waited with anticipation to hear what I’d say.
When I was finally able to tear my gaze from the sight to look over my shoulder at Banner, I saw how his expression held exactly what his voice had sounded like. Expectation and anticipation. He was hopeful that I would love this place.
“It’s magnificent. I’ve never seen anything so breathtaking.” The grin he gave me split across his entire face, morphing his brutal savagery into something softer, less intimidating. He flashed straight white teeth, twin canines sharp points on either side. His dark hair caught glimpses of the silvery moonlight and seemed to glow blue.
God, he was also incredible to look at.
And he’s mine.
For a prolonged moment, we just sat there and stared at each other, and I didn’t even care that Odhran and Cian were feet from us, their horses huffing out and stomping as if impatient. It was as if nothing else mattered or existed except Banner and me.
But then I saw Banner’s body tense, saw his eyes narrow, and looked down to see his hands tighten on the reins.
He slowly turned and looked toward the tree line, the thick, almost oppressing forest surrounded us. And as the foggy haze of desire and attraction for my mate slowly went into the background, I realized why he was now on alert.
“Come out, vampire,” Banner growled. “Because this is as close tae my home as ye’re getting.” Banner’s voice was nothing but a husky tenor, and I glanced at Odhran and Cian, seeing their hands equally tight on their reins, their big bodies stiff as they sat atop their horses.
For a second, there was no movement. I didn’t think anyone even breathed, not even the wind blowing. But then I heard my brother chuckle low, and it took everything in me not to roll my eyes. He was so dramatic.
Several long seconds passed, and all I could hear was the slow, steady sound of Adryan making his way out of the forest, his boots crunching twigs and leaves on the ground. And then he broke through the tree line, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, a grin already on face.
He stopped right after he cleared the forest and stared at me, his expression easy-going, but I could see the flickering redness in his eyes. He was good at hiding emotions when he wanted to be. If he was letting them be seen, it was because he was teetering on the edge of his sanity.
Adryan didn’t respond for long seconds, and I just stared at him, expecting the inevitable explosion to come from him that would bring out that very dark side of him that leveled empires.
I was about to dismount even though I felt Banner’s hand tighten on my hip protectively.
“Is this what you want?” Adryan said, and I felt the very air still.
I could hear my heart beating in my ears, knew the answer right away, yet I couldn’t say the words, couldn’t push them out.
“I know what you said in the cavern,” Adryan said in my silence. “I know what I smelled.” He said that last part on a growl and curled his upper lip as he looked at Banner.
I felt my face heat at the topic at hand, knowing what he meant when he said what I smelled. The desire, the mating need between Banner and me.
“And you’ve had several days to let this all sink in. So I need to know now, little sister, if this is truly what you want.” For all of Adryan’s cool and calm composure right now, I knew, could feel the rage simmering right below the surface. It rippled around him like waves moving away from a pebble thrown in a lake.
I swallowed and glanced over my shoulder at Banner. His expression was now closed off, his focus trained on my brother. But he still had his hand on my waist, his thumb gently brushing over my hip bone.
He glanced at me then, feeling my focus on him, and I gave him a reassuring smile before getting off the horse. I walked toward my brother, and the closer I got to him the more I felt the tension radiating from his body.