Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 100953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 505(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 505(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
My hand goes there at the thought and I swear I can still feel some sort of phantom ache. Bishop found me bleeding out in an alley that night. Jarrod left me there like a piece of trash to die alone. Not that I wasn't used to being alone. I lost my parents when I was young, and I was too scared to get close to someone else after that. But in that moment, when I thought I was going to die, I’d never felt so alone in my life.
I don’t know why Bishop chose to turn me, but when he did, he gave me a family. One that isn't easy to kill. I don’t have to be so scared about losing them like I did others in my life. It may not be the kind of family I’d dreamed about all those years, but it’s still more than I thought possible. Maybe that’s why I’m so protective of them.
It’s still a shock to me that Kane found his mate. Our family is growing, but for some reason it feels as if I’ve lost something. Kane was always the one who needed me the most. He was like a little brother that I took care of, even if he was decades older than me. But I know a mate is better for him. She’ll give him everything he ever needs, and I can see it in the way he looks at her—he’s finally happy. She makes him smile and even laugh. It’s something I never heard come from Kane before.
I’m so happy for him, but I can’t help the bitterness and jealousy I feel about him getting his mate pregnant. He’s going to have a baby and that’s something I’ll never be able to do. Female vampires aren’t able to get pregnant. The ache in my stomach starts to throb and I feel tears on my cheek. I angrily brush them away because I can’t cry about this anymore. I’ve cried too many tears and I should be thankful I’m even alive.
I stand up because I need to get out of here. I shouldn't even be out alone, but my house was starting to suffocate me. I’m not sure how a house as big as mine could do that, but sometimes I think the size of it only makes it that much lonelier. It’s just another reminder that I’ll never be able to fill it.
I slip into the shadows and go the back way home. I don’t make it more than a few feet when I pause as a tingling sensation hits the back of my neck. Turning around, I look behind me, but I don't see anything. I stand there for a moment, but all I can hear is the sounds of the children. I knew I shouldn't have come out here tonight. I don’t even listen to myself.
I nearly jump when my phone vibrates in my back pocket, catching me off-guard. I take a deep breath to get myself together. I already know who it is without even having to look.
“Bishop,” I say calmly as I answer the phone.
“You’re not home.” I can hear a hint of anger in his voice.
“I went out for a walk,” I respond, unable to think of a good reason why. Damn it. “Are you tracking me?” I don’t know why I ask. Bishop takes the role of my maker a little too far at times. I’ve noticed he’s stricter with me than the others, and it’s starting to ride my nerves.
“Of course, and you weren't supposed to go anywhere unless you had someone with you.”
“I’m not a child,” I snap as I begin to walk. “And I won’t let you treat me differently because I’m a female.”
“You’re the youngest and you’re not as strong as the rest of us.” I can tell he’s trying to contain his anger because Bishop doesn't like to be disobeyed.
“I can take care of myself. I was doing it before—”
“Before you were killed.” He cuts me off and I almost stumble over my own feet.
“I can’t believe you said that.”
“Goddamn it, Ravana. There is a slayer out there right now. I can’t believe you went against my orders. You’re the last one I thought would do this.”
That’s because I always do as I’m told, but tonight I needed out. I needed to breathe for a moment. “I’ll be home soon.” I hang up and turn the phone off. I know he’s right and I shouldn't be out with a slayer running around. Two vampires are already missing and they’re not far from where our coven lives.
I slide the phone back into my pocket and keep walking. I leap the pavement letting my anger fuel my stride as I go home. It’s fully dark now and I’m walking through the trees when I have that feeling of someone watching me again. I come to a stop and jerk around, but there’s no one there. I inhale and I can smell maple syrup. It’s so odd. The sweet smell reminds me of warm pancakes and I love it. I’m anxious as I look around and my eyes dart everywhere. I don’t see anyone, but I decide that I need to get home as quickly as possible. I take off running as fast as I can.