Em
sky overhead, which seems to fit perfectly with the scene, though it's not raining-not yet anyway. Something tells me there's about to be a shift in the atmosphere
Lola clutches my hand more tightly and lets out a little whimper. "It's
nd her head rocks back and forth, but I know she doesn't belie
, ready to attack anyone and everyone who might seem a threat to him. The only problem is, he has yet to
thrown open for us. Castle Graystone is welcoming our party in the same way a shark invites its prey, with a smile, and even though this meeting has been arranged as a
eave us drained and writhing on the floor while our bodies, despe
down my spine
stle Graystone to meet with the Vampire King. He'd said it was time to find a way to peacefully solve our differences. Coi
oss of so many lives these past ten years or more, saying that we had reached the unp
has been worked out. I've seen loads of our natural resources being shipped out over the last few weeks, timber, coal, precious gemstones, even tankers of natural gas, items we need to survive, items we sell
sweaty hand in mine, I realize that I had
ke a sound. She is no warrior. She is crying even now. I know all of this has been so difficult for her
ess of the Moon Goddess that had brou
Darius. He is twenty-one. He should've met his mate by now, if she is old
it
six more months. Then, may
our stature in the pack. I will be Alpha one day soo
ringing me out of my head
he life out of other creatures-mostly humans or creatures in their human forms-but occasionally, one of the massive portraits on the wall shows something else, like a vampire with their three-inch-long barred fangs sunk i
hair flowing down her back in soft curls, her emerald eyes looking directly at the painter, her face prist
but wearing black pants. It is clear they are in a bedroom, and I have to wonder if perhaps she isn't afraid because she knows he will not kill her-no
s woman i
mo
nd he wants to make sure that I am paying attention. I lock eyes with him and nod. If this goes badly, my warrior trai
o my father, and he turns ba
y staring straight ahead, their light blue eyes focused on the wall across from
mind-link that allows us to communicate mentally with family members and other members of our own pack, but vampires can all communicate with one another via their telepathy, whet
"related by blood"
e throne now was given such immense power is because he has never been a human. He comes from a long line of blood-born vampires a
since I've never actually met a w
re covered with gold leaf as intricate trim divides every surface into large twelve by twelve bl
red eyes and blonde hair. Many of them wear outfits from hundreds of years ago, but then vampires even today tend to wear old-fashioned clothing. Even their military uniforms are dated-tight black pants a
en we shift. Some of us are over six feet tall at the shoulde
what has led us to b
to me. Where is the Vampire King? He must've known we wer
on her hand. I know she is terrified. I want to hold her and t
protect her to the ends of the earth, but I am only one
with the woman, a chill shoots down my spine. A few others accompany him, but my eyes are locked on his bl
raditional white button-down with puffy sleeves, black pants, and a regal gold and white chec
I'm glad you've come and we can be done with this. You h
doesn't have that kind of money. In fact, as far as I
but in fairness, he hadn't given us much of a chance to show proper etiquette since he'd begun to spea
almost as if he has expected this to be the case. "Then why have you come?" His v
... I am hoping you will settle fo
be better than the remaining money you owe me, Alpha Bernard?" A bit of amusement see
cracks as he say
ther's words register in my mind. What? Coul
peats, just as taken aback as
as he says, "I want to sell her to you for the remaining