Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
He stood, unable to sit any longer. “We are not having this argument again.”
She took a step toward him. Completely misunderstanding the moment, as usual. How did she not see the killer lurking beneath his black uniform? The animal, barely leashed, that heated his very soul?
“We are not arguing,” she said through gritted teeth. “We are discussing the situation.”
Discussing? The female had no right to smell like fresh juniper berries while challenging him with every movement. No right at all. “What do you want, Lyrica?” he asked, curling his fingers into fists and resting them on the innocuous desktop.
For the first time, she faltered. “I—I’m not sure. I guess I want to show her the world. The possibilities available to her.”
“Why?” He truly didn’t understand. Eudokia had mated a high-ranking Kurjan soldier, which gave her status. She’d given birth to three strong and able-bodied sons who adored her. She also routinely won the pie bake-off every autumn during the fall season, when life calmed down. What more could a female want?
Lyrica rolled her eyes this time. “How do you know what you’re missing if you have no clue what’s out there? These females who’ve lived with your people for eons? They’re like three-dimensional beings who’ve been forced to live in a two-dimensional world for centuries. They can’t remotely comprehend that third dimension…until they actually look up.”
If he shot himself, he’d just take too long to heal. The only way to truly end his torment was to cut off his head today…and fuck him. He couldn’t do it. His loyalty to a nation that had wronged him—to a brother who didn’t understand him—to a friend who’d betrayed him…was absolute. He didn’t make a bit of sense, and yet, he wouldn’t abandon those who’d abandoned him. For now. Every cell in his immortal body knew with certainty that his end would come bloody, and it would no doubt come soon.
Even immortality had its limits—a good beheading from an enemy lay in his future.
It was a pity he truly didn’t care.
Worse yet, this stubborn female, who courted danger she couldn’t even see, called to him. Who would protect her if he left? He couldn’t worry about that, nor could he think about that wide, three-dimensional world that kept tempting him. So much so that his dreams centered on blue oceans and worlds through portals that might finally be opening for him—if he’d been somebody else. Somebody destined to live after the current year. After Paxton consolidated power next week at the Convexus. If he didn’t get the powerful coalition of forty Cyst soldiers to join with them again during the night of the Kurjan Dark Solstice, they wouldn’t survive as a nation.
Phenomenal soldiers, the Cyst traditionally served as the spiritual leaders for the nation, and without them, this new world would never work. Most had left when Paxton had become their king. Vero needed to focus all his attention on securing them back with his people.
But this female. She tempted Vero—and failed to hear her own siren call. He cleared his throat but knew it wouldn’t make him sound any less Kurjan. While his vocal cords weren’t quite as mangled as a demon’s, but they were close. “You need to understand that some females want to stay here, with their mates.”
Her nostrils flared as she drew in air, obviously biting her tongue before speaking. “No female wants to live subjected to a male. Ever.”
His temper licked at the base of his neck. “Nobody is being subjected.” Not anymore, anyway. He crossed around the desk, allowing himself to enjoy the scent of berries—just for a moment. “Eudokia loves her mate, and if she feels submissive to him, it seems to work. They have a good union.” Her eyes widened, barely, as he approached her.
Her chin lowered. “He’s possessive.”
“Of course he’s possessive. She’s his mate.”
Lyrica instantly shoved him, both hands on his chest. He captured her wrists and pulled her body in closer, his head lowering, his blood thundering through his veins.
* * * *
Fire lanced through Lyrica, head to toe. Anger and something else. A breath-stealing sensation that winged wild flutters through her abdomen. “I really don’t like you,” she snapped through gritted teeth, ignoring those flutters.
Vero lowered his head even more, and shards of black cut through the unholy blue of his eyes. “I don’t like you, either.”
Her legs trembled. While Vero wasn’t as tall as some Kurjan soldiers, at only about six foot seven, he still stood a foot taller than her. And he was broader across the chest than most Kurjans. The Kurjans, who procreated only males, had black hair tipped with red. Not Vero. The pure black mass of his hair curled below his ears. His skin wasn’t as pale as most of his people’s, either. In fact, out in the real world, he could nearly pass for human. Almost. If he wore dark sunglasses to veil his eyes.