Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Oh, fucking hell. “I’ll kill you.”
“You keep saying that,” he says. “I’m starting to think you have no real intention of even trying. Use this number when you’ve come to your senses.” He slips something in my pocket before rising to stand. “The lack of true effort is what gives me hope.” He looks down at me, his power waning. I don’t know if it’s because he believes what he’s saying or if it’s because he’s taking more steps away from me, but I take it. Gathering my power with each breath. “You’ll remember we’re brothers,” he continues. “Real brothers. Not like the flimsy bonds with the hunters. You and me, we shared a womb. You’ll remember your place at my side soon enough.” He grins down at me before looking off to the distance. “I remember the Somerhaul’s estate,” he says. “I’ll get there easily enough. I certainly would rather we go together though. As a team. Like we used to be—”
I wend.
It’s sloppy and chaotic, but it’s enough. I crash into the ground just outside the warded home. The distance from Samuel’s power restores my full abilities and health, and I race through the mansion at vampire speed.
“Saint?” Aurora squeaks my name as I throw her over my shoulder and wend us to the airport before she can get a question out. We’re on a plane within thirty minutes, our luggage all but forgotten at the mansion. I don’t take my eyes off her the entire flight, my mind flailing and broken as I try to regain control.
Samuel knows my weakness. I showed him when I saved Aurora the night he broke into the palace. And now he’s exploited me. Because as much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. If he pitted my life in exchange for Aurora’s vote, I’m certain she’d give it to him. She cares for me that deeply. It’s wholly unfair to her.
I can’t let him near her. I have to kill him first. But he’s bested me at every turn, and I’m starting to wonder if I’m strong enough to put an end to him at all.
CHAPTER 12
Aurora
“Will you talk to me now?” I ask after hours of silence on the plane and also on the car ride to the king’s residence. We’d made it just before sunrise, Saint having gotten us on the plane just after the sun set. The only thing he’d told me was that Samuel showed up. I understood merely from the look in his eyes and the gnawing feeling in my stomach that he couldn’t elaborate, so I gave him time and space to come to terms with it.
But that was hours ago, and at this point, I think I deserve some answers on why he wended and then flew us back to the states in a panic I’ve never seen him in before. Thank goodness I’d signed every legal document necessary for accepting my new inheritance, or the trip would’ve been in vain.
We’ll, not totally in vain, since Saint and I connected in a way I never thought possible, but still.
“Saint?” I ask, touching his arm as he stomps through the palace, hollering for Alek.
He pulls out of my touch, and I feel that move like a physical blow.
“Oh, okay,” I say, not holding the bite from my tone. “Are we back to this now?”
“We don’t have time for this,” he grumbles. “Alek!”
“Whoa, what’s going on?” Dagon asks as he comes out of the dining room, a half-eaten muffin in his hand.
“Where’s Alek?” Saint snaps.
“He’s in his study.”
Saint spares me a glance, hesitation lining his features. “Go to your rooms.”
“Fuck you!” I snap, anger bubbling up from my toes. “You don’t get to order me around.”
Dagon’s mouth falls open before he takes a small step in front of me.
“Oh, you can knock it off too. I’m not afraid of him.” I glare at Saint as I shove Dagon out of the way.
“Pretty sure I’m protecting him from you right now,” Dagon says. “Saint? Care to catch me up?”
“Only if you can keep up.” Saint tears his eyes off mine, then speeds down the hallway and out of sight.
“Sorry, Aurora,” Dagon says before he follows him.
“Hunters,” I snap, anger radiating from my very core. The shift in Saint stings. I know seeing Samuel messed him up emotionally, but damn.
Instead of heading to my room like I’ve been ordered, I make my way to Gabriel’s offices, needing to utilize the adrenaline flooding my body.
“You’re back sooner than expected,” Gabriel says by way of greeting. He wears a simple hoodie and sweatpants set, making him look way more youthful and disarming than his age and position as the top doctor demanded.
“Yeah, still trying to figure that one out.” I sigh. “Can we practice?”
Gabriel eyes me curiously. “Sure,” he says. “I was just finishing up looking at the queen’s scans.”