Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Her lips moved against his like silk. It was as if they’d touched a match to an incendiary device. She had wanted to see if they had chemistry. They detonated together. He had to pull back or lose control altogether. That wouldn’t be right. Very reluctantly, he lifted his head, grateful his lifemate chased after him with a little whimper. Definite chemistry. He was fairly certain there wasn’t going to be a complaint coming his way.
He smiled down into her upturned face, his thumb sliding gently over her slightly swollen lips. Her blue eyes looked a little dazed.
“What do you think? Good chemistry? We can work on it when we have more time.” He bent his head and tenderly brushed a kiss along her lower lip, the one that appeared to be pouting just a little bit. “We’ll practice, my lady, and get it right.”
She blinked as if coming out of a dream. “You think we need practice?”
He nodded solemnly and stole another kiss. A long, fiery one. When they needed air, he broke off. “Many, many long hours of practice to get it right.”
Vasilisa let him take all of her weight for just one moment. “I agree completely. I’ve always been a perfectionist. We wouldn’t want to do anything half-assed, as my brother would say. My mother raised me to do things right.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Vasilisa, you are already more than excellent at kissing. I hope you do not find me repulsive in this department.”
She shook her head, stepping back. His hands slipped to her arms to steady her. She still wore that dazed expression. He wanted to go back to kissing her, but Vitus was escaping justice. It didn’t do any good to have a master vampire on the loose. He could wreak havoc wherever he chose to go. He wouldn’t be happy that his followers were destroyed. Vitus was a vampire who believed in retribution. He would do his best to find a way to retaliate against Vasilisa, Garald and Afanasiv.
He would think Afanasiv would have to warn his friends using the common Carpathian pathway—which would include him. The ancients had their own pathway forged long ago. He used it now, reaching for Petru, Nicu and Benedek. The master vampire calling himself Prince Vitus is running. He is angry and looking for revenge. Do not allow him to use you for that purpose.
There was a short silence. Petru was the first to respond. He preferred fighting with weapons and was lightning fast with them. He didn’t need the weapons; he just enjoyed using them. He was also a master of strategy. Few could outthink him in a battle.
I am engaged with a master vampire, his underlings and several demons just east of you, Siv. They were in the process of attacking a number of households. The strange thing is he has one of the members of the house of royalty with him, not as a prisoner. This man betrayed his countrymen.
Vasilisa froze in place. “He is mistaken. That cannot be true. It is an impossibility for any of us to turn traitor.”
Afanasiv frowned. Is it possible this vampire is a master of illusion and has created an image of one of the members of the house?
It is impossible to fool me. You know that. This man, this Andros, is the real thing. A part of his brain is fighting against what he does, but he is cooperating with the vampires and demons, Petru assured him.
Siv reached out to wrap his arm around Vasilisa. At first, she stiffened and attempted to step away from him.
“Lifemate. We take this journey together. Whatever comes our way. We both know it will be a difficult one, and we face danger. Many battles. Adalasia read the cards for me. I asked her if you existed in this century. She told me we would face many battles, and we would have to surround ourselves with those we trusted in order to survive.”
“I trust my brothers.”
“Then we free him from whatever has a hold on him, but we do it together, Vasilisa. That is how we must go forward from now on.” He looked straight into her eyes, needing her to understand that point. He meant it. It mattered little that his voice was low. Soft. He meant every word. He was an ancient doing his best to fit into a modern world, but this was a command. She didn’t yet realize that with his claim, they were woven together. One couldn’t do without the other.
Vasilisa lifted her chin. For a moment, a blue flame burned in warning in the depths of her eyes as she regarded him steadily. They stared at each other. He could feel the turmoil raging in her. This was her beloved brother Petru had accused. The ancients didn’t know him. They knew nothing of her family, of the pact that existed in the house of royalty there. Her mind raced so fast, she didn’t believe he could follow her stream of thought.