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)
“None of us are going to allow that,” Kane says.
“I’ll do it,” Ravana says, and Valen takes her arm.
“We should discuss this first,” he says in a low voice, but she ignores him.
“His men will know you,” Kane says, and he looks around the room. “They’ll know all of us.”
“Then what does it matter?” Ravana says, pushing again to be heard. “Let’s say we sneak in and we don’t get caught and we get Loren out of there. No problem, right?” She throws up her hands when no one agrees with her. “Scenario two is we sneak in and we get caught and we just blow shit up anyway and run out. I don’t see the problem.”
“She does have a point,” Valen says as he rubs his chin. “If this goes south, we can have the explosives in place to create the distraction. If we’re able to do it silently then it’s fewer casualties and less of a chance that something will happen to Loren.”
“I didn’t spend a lot of time with him, but I’m afraid of what he’s capable of,” Dove says, and a silence falls over all of us.
I steeple my fingers in front of me as I think over my options. I don’t like the idea of sending someone in alone to get Loren, but the thought of possibly hurting innocent people in a series of explosions is gut-wrenching. Why are these our only two options?
“I’ll do it,” I say as I gather my strength and stand from the chair.
“Are you crazy? You can hardly walk!” Ravana says as she rushes over to help me up.
“If this is my mate, all I have to do is get close enough to scent her and then all will be right.” I look around the room at everyone. “Wasn’t it the same for you? One scent and the mating took over and everything inside you came alive. I’ve studied parings for two centuries and this is the one constant. I will know the instant I’m with her if she’s the one.” I pause as I let the possibility of disappointment hit me. “And if she’s not, then it’s the end of my life anyway. I won’t risk any of you for this.”
“Bishop—” Ezra steps forward, but I hold my hand up.
“I want you all to stay behind and protect those that you love. If this goes wrong, then you’ll need to be ready to leave. You’ll have to get out of the city, get away as fast and as far as you can.”
“We’re not leaving,” Ravana says as she clenches her fists. “We can stay and fight.”
“But I’m ordering you not to,” I say, and I can see her shoulders drop. “I will die protecting my family and my sacrifice will be in vain if something happens to any one of you.” I let out a breath and look around at them. “Go home and get ready. I leave at dusk.”
It’s silent until I walk out of the room and I hear whispers behind me. I don’t pay them attention because I know in the end what I command will be done. They don’t have a choice because I’m their maker but also because they know that I’m right. None of them want to risk their mate’s safety. It’s not in their nature now that they’ve found one another, so even if the intent is there, they’ll be unable to go through with it.
I’d never ask them to do this task for me, because it’s mine to take on.
When I get to my room I walk over to the paintings and look around at them again. Some are better than others, but the eyes are always the same. The violet color stares back at me and the hope inside me rises. Could she be the one?
It takes me a long time to change into my suit because my movements are slow and lethargic, but when I look at myself in the mirror, nothing has changed. There, still, is the dark hair and dark eyes I’ve stared at for over two hundred years. My body is big and strong, and no matter what I feel right now, I know that if Gordon comes between me and what’s mine, I will end him once and for all.
There is more to us and our story, but right now my only focus is getting to Loren.
Chapter 5
Loren
I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. I smooth my dress down, making sure I don’t look as much of a mess on the outside as I feel on the inside. When I open my door, I smile when I see Marcus standing there. He gives his usual chin nod to me. He never says much. It’s welcome over Greg any day. He put me more on edge after his parting words. I’m good with being ignored by Marcus if it means he keeps his hands to himself, and vampires always do. At least the ones that I’ve met.