Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
My fingers slip down his chest and I shake myself. Right. The burn on his arm. I pull the fabric down and look at it.
“You should put something on it so it doesn’t get infected.” I step back. “But it doesn't look horrible.”
“Thanks.” His eyes linger on mine and he slowly inhales as he buttons his shirt back up. “Good luck tonight. You at least look the part.” His lips twitch into a forced smile.
“Thanks, I think?”
“You’ll need it.” He winks and then leaves the room, closing the door behind him. I let out a shaky sigh and go into the bathroom, gripping the counter and leaning forward. I didn’t think I’d start to have feelings for anyone again after Ryder, so it’s on brand for the chaotic mess that is my life that the first person to give me butterflies is my brother-in-law.
“I…I don’t even know what’s going on tonight.”
He presses his lips together and shrugs. “Be glad you’re at least aware you don’t know what’s going on. Maybe?”
Our eyes lock and that same knowing feeling passes through me.
“Yeah, I guess,” I say and take in a slow breath. Devon lets his eyes linger on my face for a moment and then leaves. Letting out a sigh, I perch on the edge of my bed and close my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing.
Suck it up, buttercup.
Marco’s voice echoes in my head. Not showing emotions is a hallmark of a good hunter. We’re raised like warriors, little demon-killing machines who listen to what the Order says without question. But now Xavier’s voice is also echoing in my head, and I’m starting to look forward to actually having some time alone with my vampire husband.
“Husband,” I whisper and hold up my hand, looking at the rock on my finger that could sink a fucking ship. “Fuck, that sounds weird.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
I jump at the sound of Xavier’s voice coming from the open door.
“You need a fucking collar with bells,” I huff, shaking my head. A smile plays on his lips and I hate how handsome he is. It’s not fair how some people get everything in life: good looks, money, power, and in his case, immortality. And right now, dressed in a dark, expensive suit with his hair effortlessly swept back, he looks like a walking red flag that would break your back and your bed frame and leave you begging for more.
“Now where’s the fun in that?” He speeds into the room and extends his left hand. I notice he’s wearing a ring too. “You look stunningly beautiful, wife.”
“Thanks. You, uh, did a good job picking the dress. I was surprised.”
“Mabel helped,” he tells me. “Though I knew that color would look good on you. It brings out your eyes.”
“Most people would have put me in a green dress, then.” I take his hand and he effortlessly pulls me to my feet. His large hand is cool against mine, long fingers encasing my whole hand.
“Blue complements, not competes.”
“Yeah, that is true.” I’m standing right in front of him, breasts moving with each breath. And he’s completely still. I can’t sense any emotions coming off him like I can with humans. It’s unnerving as well as calming. Does the dark magic inside him cancel mine out?
“Before we go,” he starts and slides his hand down my arm, making me suppress a chill. Not just because his touch is cold, but because his fingertips brushing over my skin like that feels so damn good and I can’t help my mind from wondering what it would feel like if he brushed them over the rest of my body.
He takes his hand off me and reaches inside his suit jacket, pulling out a thumb drive. “Consider this a wedding present,” he says and sets it on my dresser.
“What is it?”
“Files,” he starts as he strides back over. “From the Order.” His large fingers close around my wrist once more and he gives me a gentle tug. I willingly let my body move closer to his. He’s tall and firm and, fuck, he smells good. “You thought they hadn’t been keeping records of you. Turns out they have.”
CHAPTER 15
“You need to stop dropping bombs like that when I don’t have time to seek shelter.” My eyes widen and I look from him to the USB on the dresser.
“I suppose that was poor timing,” he agrees. “We can look at it together when we get back.”
“You haven’t seen them yet?”
“No. I was told by my contact that it’s mostly medical records.”
My eyes fall shut as I shake my head. “I never went when everyone else got physicals.”
“Do you know why?”
“All the hunters in the same age group went at the same time and not everyone was happy I was a witch.” I shrug as I shake my head again. “It was like Vivian and Marco were worried I’d have a biological anomaly or something.”