Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“Montgomery,” I said calmly, preparing to lie, “let me be completely transparent. I’m not gonna be with a man whose heart is taken and always will be. I deserve to be loved, to have my soul mate, to live life knowing that the person I’m with only has eyes for me.” Okay, maybe that first part wasn’t a lie. “So if I’m not your Anna, then it’s only fair you let me go and that you leave Leiper’s Fork. Because it’s clear to me you’ll never love anyone like you loved her.” That last part was also true.
Stark stared, his eyes softening. “That is exactly what my Anna would say. She demanded all or nothing.”
“Then she was a smart woman.”
“You are a smart woman.” He took my hand. “Masie?”
“Yes?”
“Whatever happens, I want you to know I have no regrets meeting you. You are truly a special woman. Full of fight, passion, and love, but mostly, I like your darkness masked in light. Perhaps, someday, you will share that darkness and tell me the origin.”
Something unexpectedly shifted. Maybe it was the way he looked at me—like I could do no wrong. Maybe it was because I’d spent most of my teen years and adult life hiding my sadness, and that maybe, just maybe, Stark wasn’t put off by it.
Of course, he called my sadness by another name, but he knew I carried the past and sudden death of my father with me—something I never revealed to anyone.
Or maybe it was that when I looked at Stark just now, I realized something about him that gave me a sick kind of comfort: He can’t die.
He would never grow old or get sick. He would always be there.
A dark shudder rolled through me. Suddenly, the thought of having this vampire in my life didn’t seem so crazy.
“Can we go now?” I asked.
He smiled wickedly.
“Stop that,” I snapped.
“What?”
“Please try to be less evil tonight. It’ll go a long way.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It didn’t take much effort to realize that the country club was really a community of blood-drinking, wealthy vampires, and Stark appeared to be the richest of them all. He lived two minutes from the restaurant, overlooking the ninth hole in a massive three-story mansion.
Maybe he was some sort of prince? Because if his mate had been the ruler once, it probably meant he was high up on the social ladder.
“So this entire community is filled with vampires?” I asked as we got out of the golf cart, which he’d driven. Yes, vampires drove golf carts, and no one was more shocked than me.
“Yes, though there are some who prefer to live outside the club. They must pay for their own staff, including security.”
“Security for what?” I asked.
“I do not wish to scare you. You need time to ease into this.”
“I appreciate you wanting to protect me, but don’t hold back, Stark. I want to know everything.”
“Why so curious all of a sudden?” He gestured toward the front door, which was a massive wooden rectangle with intricate carvings—vines with symbols where the leaves might be. Just like his tattoos.
“Did you just ask why I’m curious about a big group of vampires living in my town?”
He chuckled.
“How long have you all lived here?” I asked.
“Not long. A few years. And before you ask what brought us to Leiper’s Fork, I will say that it was the same thing that brings people to any community: the lifestyle. Most of us here are retired from political life and prefer a quieter atmosphere.”
“So you’re a bunch of old retirees.” I laughed.
He gave me a look. “Old is a subjective term, but yes. There comes a time in every vampire’s life when they wish to simply enjoy the fruits of their labor. We served our people and no longer wish to work.”
I didn’t believe he was retired. He’d just told the entire restaurant that I was Anna and the rightful ruler. There had to be a power play at the heart of all this.
We stopped in front of the door.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Probably not, but I agreed to your tests, so let’s do it.”
He opened the front door. “After you.”
I stepped inside the foyer and gasped. It was beyond beautiful, with a massive crystal chandelier hanging from the three-story ceiling. The polished black marble floor reflected the overhead light, making the tiles look like glass. On one side, pushed against the wall, was sleek, modern white furniture—two upholstered armchairs and a bench.
“Not what you expected?” he asked.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect anything, but now that I see this, I guess I’m surprised you like modern décor.” It almost felt like the entrance to some glamorous Vegas hotel—not that I’d ever been.
“Would you care for a tour?”
I would, but honestly, I felt more anxious about these tests. “Rain check? I’d like to get down to business, if it’s all the same to you.”