Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Her bite was slow and gentle, to the point where he worried she hadn’t seated her mouth properly—but he knew the instant she began to draw against him. There was a pull upon his vein and then she gasped deep in her throat and her hands tightened on him.
The drinking was very restrained, as if she were determined to cause him no discomfort. Except there was no way she could hurt him.
Actually, no… that was not true.
His free hand lifted because he wanted to draw her closer—and as his arm hovered in the air over her bent shoulders, he wondered how this had happened… how he had become attached to another other than Cordelhia. What did that matter, though.
Like their parting, it was something he could not change.
And she was right. He had a purpose to carry him onward, and vengeance was no casual thing. He just wished she could believe that, if not for ahvenging his murdered shellan, he would have begged to stay with her.
But if not for Cordelhia, he wondered if Nadya wouldn’t have asked him to stay.
He couldn’t not ahvenge his mate, however. And anyway, it was clear that Nadya didn’t believe what he’d said to her.
So after this feeding, they would part, and if there was any fairness in destiny, he was going to kill someone if it was the last thing he did.
And he had the sense… it probably would be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Thanks to the newscast’s footage about the burglary in Leczo Falls, Vishous was able to re-form safely in the middle of a picturesque town square, right behind a white gazebo that looked like it had been used in any one of the Kevin McCallister movies. As he glanced around the park-like public lawn, he checked out the line of nineteen-twenties-era storefronts across the street.
There was a diner, a clothing boutique, a grocer’s, and a butcher’s. Also a flower shop and a mail place.
And the pharmacy.
Had he been here before? V wondered. Because he had the sense he’d seen the layout somewhere, even before some parents had left a nine-year-old behind at Christmas.
“Well, if this isn’t a gingerbread village. Looks good enough to eat.”
As the female voice registered behind him, V smiled in the dark and turned around. His blooded sister, Payne—also a product of the truly toxic union of the Bloodletter and the Scribe Virgin—was standing tall in all her black leather, her shitkickers planted in the grass, her lean and powerful body set, but not tense. With her long black hair braided, and no makeup on her face, she looked beautiful and deadly.
“Hey, Sis,” he said.
“I was surprised to get your text.”
“You told me you wanted to be more involved.”
“I’m not complaining.” She put her palms forward, all chill, brother. “I did have to tell your boss that I had to reschedule our sparring session, depending on how this goes.”
V winced. “So you made Wrath’s night, huh.”
“He took it as well as could be expected.”
“Did he light something on fire? Or just steam from the ears.”
“It was over text, so I can’t comment on anything other than the words he used. The tone and whatever else he felt were mercifully absent.”
“He says you’re the best partner on the mats he’s ever had.”
“There he goes, making me blush.”
The King had lost his eyesight completely a couple of years ago, but he’d kept his hand in the fighting game, even though to his immense dissatisfaction no one would let him out into the field. His life was just too precious to roll any kind of dice with, and besides, considering the straight-up killer he’d been for most of his adult life, he’d already run out of luck in battle.
“So, what are we doing here?” Payne glanced around. “Other than reenacting Back to the Future.”
V snapped his fingers. “Oh, shit. That’s what it is. Rhage was watching Marty McFly the other night, and I came in during the skateboard scene. That’s where I’ve seen this town layout before.”
“It sure is picturesque.”
“Ah, but the big bad world has come to Leczo Falls. Someone’s been doing a little breaking and entering over there.”
McTierney’s Family Pharmacy was on the corner, the plate glass windows of the three-story, wedge-shaped brick building hand-painted with the name in old-fashioned gold leaf. In contrast to all the Norman Rockwell, however, the door was marked with police caution tape and there was an evidence seal at the jamb.
“Come on,” V said as he indicated the way forward. “That’s our crime scene.”
“Oooooh, I’ve always wanted to play Jessica Fletcher.”
“You’re going to need to be a lot shorter and get a wig.”
“Also learn how to type.”
The two of them set off, heading around the gazebo and onto the public square’s sidewalk, then stepping into the road. Everything was neat as a living room, no litter around, nothing collecting at the storm drains, not even a stray newspaper page wafting on the breeze. It was like the place had been vacuumed and dusted.