Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
I like where the words are heading. It’s the way he’s saying it. There’s that hedging tone to his voice. The one that tells me there’s a but in here somewhere. “And what are the children like?”
“Mostly normal. The few female vampires we have are all from latent-companion pairings.”
I try not to wince. Something about vampire genetics makes the overwhelming majority of vampires male. From what I understand there are only two female vampires walking the night today. I’ve only met one of them and she was…odd, to say the least. But I can handle it. “I survived Lee’s childhood.” He’s silent for a moment and I prompt him. “What else did they tell you?”
I’m proud of myself for not asking the question I want to ask. Why haven’t you talked to me about this before now? Why wasn’t I in on that conference of yours? That’s another fight for another time.
“I’m a vampire king. You’re the equivalent when it comes to companions. I believe they are worried that we take more after our ancestors than the others. That our DNA is closer and stronger to what it used to be than a normal latent and companion.”
I know this one. “The Amazons? That’s who the companions were. Obviously she’ll have Amazon DNA.”
His head shakes. “No, baby. That’s what they called themselves years and years after the fall. I’m talking about who they were before they fell.”
“Angels.”
“Yes, the Amazons evolved from a group of fallen angels who did not turn demonic. They were warriors who took on the role of protecting humans and eventually became companions. But your ancestry is angelic. And mine is demonic. I’m considered an Earthly demon king who married an angelic queen.”
He seems to be trying to lead me somewhere. But I do not understand the road map he’s handed me. “And?”
He growls a little, and though I cannot see him I feel his eyeroll. “Harry didn’t teach you the crap he taught me. You know you were lucky you got to spend all your time in high school playing around with the yearbook staff.”
“Daniel.”
“Nephilim, Zoey. Myrddin thinks Harriet is a Nephilim, and if she is, we will have trouble from both Heaven and Hell. If she is, we might wish we let Myrddin close that gate because I fear they will come for her.”
Chapter Twenty
Sasha
Sasha entered the servant’s quarters deep in the bowels of the palace, feeling the moment the wards came into play. It prickled along his skin, little stings digging in and refusing to let go for a moment. He wanted to turn back into the tunnels, but he had to take a deep breath and banish the feeling. It wasn’t more than a moment before he could ignore it.
Naturally the wards were stronger down here in the servant’s lodgings. Couldn’t let the slaves get comfortable, after all.
He didn’t like this version of Devinshea one bit.
“Are you okay?” Fee asked, carefully shutting the door behind them. Like the one in the temple, the seam disappeared and was completely invisible the moment the door was closed. “The wards can make one sick.”
He shook his head. “I’m fine.” The need to run screaming through the palace, killing everything in sight until he got his hands on his wife, was almost overwhelming. “Tell me about Ostara.”
They seemed to be in a shared living space, though they were alone. There was a tiny kitchen, obviously meant to be used by the brownies. Sasha was forced to hunch over until he made it to what seemed to be a living room with ragged couches and chairs. He was pretty sure he would break them if he put his weight on one.
Fee remained in the kitchen area, pulling out a big kettle and filling it with water. “Ostara or her host?”
“You know them both?”
“Not as well as Ione.” She settled the kettle over the fire in the grate and moved to knock on a door across the room. “Ione, come out. Stop your crying. It’s time to go to work.” He heard sniffles from behind the door. “I brought someone you will want to meet.”
The door opened and Fee slid inside as though she had to coax whoever was behind there out.
“Sasha,” a familiar voice said.
He turned and Neil stood in a pair of pants that didn’t quite fit. The werewolf’s eyes were wide as he entered the room. “Can we talk now?”
There had been little time in the stables. The network wanted to move them quickly. He only had a few moments to update the king before they moved Daniel to Zoey’s room and Neil here. He’d been forced to wait because they couldn’t move them all at once.
How terrified must Neil be? “No. I chose to leave. The kids are in the temple. They’re safe there, and Lee is going to take them to his village in the morning. Cassie and Brendan are safe and uninjured.”