Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 99935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“Why don’t you give me a hint?” I whispered, rising up on tiptoe. “Because something tells me I want to do those things with you too.”
The air charged with snapping, crackling electricity. I felt that giddy rush of nerves and excitement that came with my first kiss, and my first time. The feeling that I was about to create a memory that would stay with me forever, and instead of the awkward, unsatisfying fumble that was my first time, I knew that what I was about to do with Tristan... I would enjoy.
Closing the distance, our lips—
“Ow!” I hollered, ripping away. A vicious, sharp pain bloomed in my ankle and rocketed up my leg.
“What happened?” Tristan cried, stumbling over his feet as he shot away from me. “Did I hurt you?”
“I told you to stop that caterwauling,” Sabrina snapped—her fangs glistening with my blood. “I’m not venomous!”
“Sabrina!” I fell over grabbing my ankle. I would’ve broken something hitting the ground if Tristan hadn’t moved in a flash to catch me. “I’m so sorry, Tristan. It wasn’t you. It was this evil reptile who—”
“I will not hear your insults, human,” Sabrina sliced in. “Not when it is you who tried to mate with an enemy just because he wooed you with your human words! Knock some sense into your head, you geriatric cow! He only tempts you to keep you close!”
“—lie? Charlie?” Tristan called. “Are you okay? Do you want me to kill that rabid snake?”
“No,” I gritted, even though the only thing that tempted me right then was the urge to say yes. “It’s fine. She was just reminding me to feed her. She gets pretty testy when I drag my feet during mealtime.” I tried to give him a smile and winced. That bite really hurt! “Why don’t you go back to the mess hall and grab something to eat while there’s still time? I’ll take care of Sabrina, and then be right there.”
“Oh, uh... are you sure? Because we...” The blush suddenly returned to his cheeks. “I mean, yes, of course. I’ll save you something, so take your time.”
“Thanks.”
My pained smile held until the door closed.
“Dammit, Sabrina, what is your problem! I told you I’m going to trust my judgement, and my judgement says that Tristan is a good guy!”
“Your judgement is worthless. It evaporated with your youth.” She turned her back on me with a soundless harrumph. “You just spoke of a world where males use emotional manipulation to bend females to their will, and then you throw yourself at a suspicious man you’ve known for less than a week.”
“But—”
“If you will not exercise caution for yourself, do it for your nestmate!”
I fell silent—choking on my heated reply.
“I told you that werewolves live an even harder life down here. They are separated from their own kind, but even if they weren’t, mating and offspring are a struggle. As such, only the strongest and most worthy alphas are even allowed to attempt it.
“And because of his failure, Tristan No-Name is no longer either. His entire life he has never known the touch of a woman, and now that he’s been thrown out of the pack, he never will. Not with a werewolf woman at least,” she hissed. “So what is a young, virile wolf facing a lifetime of forced celibacy to do? Mate with the red-eyed demonesses who disgusts him just as much as he disgusts them? Or does he partake in the sweet, supple flesh of a weak and captured mortal maiden?”
“Stop.”
“How many times do you think your Tristan has shoved her screams back down her throat with his tongue? Or do you think he doesn’t bother with such frivolities? It’s much easier to choke her throat—strangling the screams where they lie as he forces her legs apart and—”
“Stop it!” I screamed. “Just stop it, Sabrina!”
She hissed, staring me down with slitted eyes that held nothing close to remorse. “I was sent to you to be your guide, but you will not listen to me, so what exactly is it that you wish me to cease doing, human? Do you wish me to stop warning you when you’re walking headlong into danger? Or do you wish me to leave altogether?”
I took a deep breath, willing my body to stop shaking. The images Sabrina planted in my head were so horrible, I felt my mind would break under their weight. “Neither,” I croaked when I trusted myself to speak. “You don’t need to leave, Sabrina. You made your point. I need to hold my cards much closer to my chest, but not for my sake. For Dora’s.”
Rising to my feet, I held my hand out for her to slither up. “Forget Tristan for now. You stayed in the vampire wing after I was escorted—forced—out by Professor Santino. What were they saying after I left?”