Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 109477 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109477 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
But she already knew all that. In hushed, gleeful tones, he’d relayed all that over dinner. Over drinks a week ago. He enjoyed what he did to those Chesters, mutilating them, tying them up, and beating them until they stopped struggling. Worse, probably.
But she wasn’t normal, and she didn’t like her prey knowing they were being hunted. And so she smiled when she half fell against him. She laughed, pretending this was okay. Pretending these antics didn’t matter. And in her gut, her fire burned brightly. His time on this earth was drawing to an end.
“We’re just getting started,” he murmured. His breath smelled like fish, and his cologne was sickly sweet. “I want to show you my dungeon.”
She couldn’t help the shiver this time. How the fuck was this kid still alive, seriously? How had no one killed him before now?
Then again, she wouldn’t have known to manipulate a confession if it hadn’t been for that fae. She’d have almost certainly been blind to his “hobby” and ended up beating the shit out of him for manhandling her like he was currently doing.
He reached around her and squeezed her butt. He turned and pushed her against the car, trapping her body between it and him.
“You’re so fucking hot,” he groaned, smashing his groin against her hip.
Let’s just get this over with.
She angled her face up.
“Oh yeah,” he said, crashing his lips onto hers as he ground against her. His tongue shoved between her lips and did a strange sort of swirl in her mouth. His jaw opened and closed in a strange rhythm, and she wasn’t sure what was actually happening, just that she should’ve forced a breath mint on him beforehand.
“Come on,” he said, pulling back and trying to drag her with him. “Leave your car. You’re coming over.”
She smiled, batted her eyelashes, and did a twist-yank to get her arm out of his grasp. He stumbled backward in surprise.
“I have to go. I’ll call you. I promise.” She opened the door as he was regaining his balance, and slipped into the car as he started back toward her.
He stopped beside the closed door, leaning down to the window. His eyes cleared of their lust, but didn’t lose their determination. He nodded, grinned like this was a game, and lightly tapped the top of the door.
“Okay then, play hard to get.” He stepped away like it was no biggie, slipping his hands into his pockets. “You’ll be mine yet.”
“We’ll see,” she said, playing the game.
She’d repeat that back to him before lights out. If she got the chance…
Her mind raced as she drove home. She crept through the quiet neighborhood to the house near the dual-society zone. Strangely, cars lined the curbs and a few windows in both residences glowed their welcome.
What was everyone doing here? There weren’t any family dinners planned.
She glanced at her phone. No missed calls. There couldn’t be any emergencies.
The front door was unlocked. They were clearly expecting her home. Very presumptuous of them. She’d told Mordie she was going out on a date. Granted, she’d also told him it was with the Chester-hating bartender she’d met last week…
Ah, how stupid of her. Everyone was here because they were worried about her. Or worried she’d have a body on her hands and need help to make it disappear.
If it wasn’t for those questions she had…she would’ve. But she had to know. She had to know if that fae had been blowing smoke that other night in the hotel room…
He must have been, right? How would he even know when she kissed someone? The books said magic didn’t travel across the divide between the realms. It couldn’t. That was what kept humans safe from the wyld fae magic. If he wasn’t here, if he didn’t physically see, he couldn’t possibly know.
Right?
Shivers ran down her length, chilling her blood. She didn’t belong to anyone. No part of her did. She certainly didn’t belong to a fucking fae.
Did I unknowingly strike a deal? Without words?
Warm light and the familiar smells of home greeted her. Voices murmured softly in the kitchen, past the foyer. The door clicked softly when she closed it. The voices hushed.
Yup, they were here for her.
Bria sat at the island with a half-finished bottle of Jack Daniel’s beside her, her fingers wrapped around a glass of mostly ice. She swayed when she spied Daisy, and a smirk played across her lips.
“Well hello there, little masochist,” she said, slurring her words. “Hanging out with people who hate everything you are, I hear. How’d that go? More importantly, did you take Zorn’s teachings to heart and ensure not to leave any evidence at the crime scene?”
Thane sat at the table with his back to the window. A beer bottle was sweating in front of him. At the end of the table sat Dylan in a rumpled shirt he wore so well, with tousled hair and bedroom eyes. The guy did sexy without trying. He probably wished he could turn that facet of himself off, though. He certainly wasn’t ready to be touched by anyone other than supportive family members for a short hug. He’d had a tough past.