Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 85552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
The two moons were far apart from each other, which meant dusk had just arrived. I lay on the cool ground. Grass shifted in the breeze and scratched my bare legs.
“You were having a nightmare.” Xander kneeled over me. His blond-and-black-striped eyebrows furrowed. “What were you dreaming about?”
“It was a nightmare about one time when I was forced to watch four vampire prince babies be executed.” I got up off the ground.
Xander’s lips formed into a grim line. His eyes brightened.
“Your eyes. . .” I pointed to his face.
The eyes returned to normal.
“What about them?” he asked.
Did I really see them glow?
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
The aroma of cooked food drifted on the night air.
“Where are we?” I asked.
Cracked paint coated all the wooden buildings around us. There was no way we were in Capitol City.
Wooden buildings weren’t allowed there.
“We’re in Freemont, a human town right outside of Capitol City.” Xander seized my hand. “Usually, I guide my party beyond this place to another town, but after searching for you and then carrying you the rest of the way, I’m too tired. We’re staying here tonight.”
Music and laughter floated out of the wooden building behind me. Xander pointed to the back entrance. “I know the owner. We’ll sleep, wash, and eat here. I could even get us some supplies to help us with our journey to Zumaya.”
I combed my fingers through my hair. Slime left my auburn strands and attached to my fingers. “A shower or bath sounds good too. Will you need me to give you more blood? I could—”
“No,” Xander snapped.
I flinched at the sudden mood change.
Frowning, he directed his attention away from me. “I would prefer it if you stop offering your blood to me.”
I held my hands out to my sides. “I just don’t want your wasting away all your funds while you help me.”
“Don’t worry. I figured out a different way you could pay me while you were sleeping in my arms.”
“How?”
Xander headed to the entrance and knocked on the door. “Could you get me a box of Zumaya mushrooms when we get there?”
“Definitely,” I agreed. “My family is in the mushrooming business.”
“Then we’ll use the last vial of your blood to get us there. And in exchange you’ll give me a large box of mushrooms.”
“Deal, but I’ll give you two boxes instead of one.” I came up beside him and smoothed down the now tattered and blood-stained shirt I wore. “Hold on. Last vial? What happened to the other vial of blood?”
Keeping his back to me, he blew out a loud breath and shifted his weight on to his left foot. “Why? It doesn’t matter what happened to it.”
“I’m just wondering.”
“If you must know, I drank it.”
My mouth dropped open in shock. “You drank the whole vial?”
Domina blood held a high potency level for vampires. One sip and blood energized and healed them of any pain. More than a few sips and they became sick. I’d read that large doses could be lethal.
“You can’t just drink a whole vial of my blood. Are you okay?” I touched his back.
He waved my hand away.
I blinked.
“I’m fine.” Xander cleared his throat and banged his fist against the door. “I’m completely normal. Well, besides the odd new habit of wanting to be near you, I’m the same as usual.”
“Wanting to be near me?”
The door burst open. A dark brown skinned woman peered out. Her brown eyes concentrated on Xander. A gray ponytail rested on the top of her head. She wore a long white dress with a rainbow pattern. “Finally, Xanny comes to visit my hotel. What do you want? You must be in some sort of trouble.”
He smirked. “I came here for room and board like everybody else.”
“Knocking at the back of my establishment and begging for room and board?” She shook her head. “I haven’t seen you in a year, not since the last Ambi’s Blessings Day. I should toss you over my leg and whip you.”
“I’m too old for whipping.” He tilted his head to the side. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
She flashed a wide smile. “Yes, you are, dear Xanny. The time of your youth ended too soon. I’d just begun to enjoy disciplining you. Why did you grow up so fast?”
“I’m not the god Ambi.” He shrugged. “I can’t control nature.”
The door opened wider.
She held a green wooden pipe in her other hand. Brown smoke floated from the opening.
Zumayan mushrooms.
She gestured for us to enter and then led the way. “And will you introduce me to your new friend?”
“No.” Xander took my hand.
We followed the woman up a set of stairs.
She seems nice enough.
“I’m Camille,” I said, following him.
Xander glanced over his shoulder and scowled at me.
“That’s a lovely name.” The woman continued forward. “Do you like simpleton soup with rice?”
“Yes, I do.” My stomach growled. “Thank you.”