Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Hmm. I don’t know yet,” he admitted, circling me. “But I promise you this, Volana, until I figure it out, I’m going to ruin everything you do here. I don’t care if you institute Ice Cream Party Fridays. I’ll unplug the fucking fridge and dump that ice cream in the lake.
“I’ll destroy everything you touch. I’ll do the opposite of everything you say. I’ll bring this tiny, pathetic little kingdom you’ve created crashing down around you.” He grinned, backing away. “We’ll see who the dainty bawling princess is then.”
I let him get as far as the door.
“Odin Hayes.”
Orion pulled up so fast, his boots cut an ear-piercing squeak off the floor.
“I knew the name, but since I was cut off from the outside world for most of my life, I couldn’t make the connection until I looked him up,” I said lightly. “Would it surprise you to hear, Orion, that your father came into my temple... and confessed?”
He stood rigid—his back to me. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not. It was rare for someone to pull back my curtain and confront me directly, so of course I remember the faces of the people who did, and your father’s face, it’s not one I would ever forget. How could a ten-year-old forget the man who got in her face and threatened her, demanding to know what would happen if I ever repeated his confession, and promising he’d do even worse if I did.” I closed the distance, circling him just like he did me. Orion tracked me like the moving eyes from behind a painting. “If you were wondering too, I’ll tell you. Luame would strike me down dead if I ever betrayed the trust between her and her people.
“No, I can’t repeat confessions, but”—I smiled—“I can use them to my advantage. Turns out she’s absolutely fine with that loophole.”
He snarled. “If you’ve got a fucking point—”
“You never did find out what happened to your mom, did you?”
That silenced Orion quicker than a sneeze.
I tsked. “Daddy Odin really was a cruel bastard, forcing you to live in uncertainty instead of telling you the truth about her. As it happens,” I sang, trailing my fingers across his shoulders as I passed around. “He told me the truth about your mother, Orion, and if you want to know it too, you’ll behave yourself. Maybe do a little bit of that groveling I hear so much about.
“I’d cream my panties to see you on your knees, and no, that is not my wolf talking.”
Orion breathed hard, nostrils flaring. Every muscle in his body was wound tighter than a bowstring. “Your blackmail game is weakening, Volana. If you wanted this to work, you shouldn’t have just fucking admitted that you can’t tell me the truth.”
“Oh, no,” I cried. “That wasn’t for you. That was for her.” I pointed up. “I’m just reassuring her that I remember and respect the rules so that she doesn’t turn me into a human torch. No, Hayes, I’m not going to come right out and tell you, but you’re a smart guy. You should know that words aren’t the only way to communicate.
“I mean, it’s not like your precious daddy had to go around telling everyone he was a serial killer. They got the hint real fucking quick when they found all those severed body parts in his basement deep freeze.”
He growled—wolf eyes lighting and claws lengthening.
My smile went nowhere. “I can give you a few hints about Mommy too, but not if you piss me off. Because here’s the thing, soulmate”—I dropped my voice, whispering in his ear—“this is my kingdom, and I always have the power. Remember that the next time a middle-aged vice principal drops bullshit in your ear.”
I sidestepped him, heading for the door. I couldn’t resist one last look at his long, stricken face. “Aww, I know,” I moaned, pushing my lips up. “It sucks when a ruthless wolf uses your own mom against you. Seriously,” I said, glaring right back into his red, glittering eyes. “What kind of a person does that?”
I slammed the door in his face before I punched it.
“Harsh.”
“Ahh!” Jerking, I whirled around—coming face to face with Nyx. “What the fucking hell! Is this some kind of hot-guy kink? You all get off on lurking behind doors, scaring the crap out of people!”
He laughed. “You’re yelling at me, but you’re also complimenting me. So I’m going to take that as a good sign.”
Rolling my eyes, I made to get around him.
“I heard what you said to Orion.”
That stopped me dead in my tracks.
Nyx moved in front of me, his long hair tickling my shoulder as he passed, and sharing its peppery vanilla sweetness. “It’s interesting learning all these little things about you, fated mate. Like how much you love revenge and retribution.”
“I don’t love it, Nyx,” I snapped. “Trust me, I’d much rather people didn’t betray or hurt me in the first place.”