Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“I know.”
Alexander turned toward Brandon. “I’ll talk with Layla.”
“I haven’t heard back from Alaric. The Panthers have gone quiet. Even the witches and warlocks haven’t called,” Brandon said. “Everyone everywhere has gone quiet.”
He frowned. “For how long?”
“A couple of weeks now,” Brandon said.
He and Charles were the only two who had remained behind. Alexander had his reasons, but Charles didn’t have any reason other than fear.
In fact, it had been a couple of days since he’d last seen his relative. Glancing over at Layla, Alexander didn’t like the feeling in his gut.
“If you’ll excuse me,” he said.
Brandon didn’t say a word, but Alexander left, taking off into the forest, heading to the house where Raymond, Elle’s father, had given them residence. Alexander had removed the garlic and placed it in the kitchen. He liked a hint of the delicious bulb in his meal, and had been using it for his cooking.
He entered the house and he didn’t know why, but he instantly felt something evil in the house. Charles was there. He didn’t know if he was alone.
Alexander made his way through the house, and then stopped as he got to the basement door. Of course, Charles was full of clichés. The basement would be where he’d go. The moment he opened the door, he used his speed and closed the distance, grabbing Charles out of the five-pointed star he’d made.
Charles’s eyes were completely black. The magic he’d attempted to take over was nearly there. There was no mistaking the cult Charles was with. He didn’t even need to ask if he was with Disaster of the Otherworld. It was written all over his face.
“She will die,” Charles said.
“What did you do?” Alexander asked.
“They’re coming,” Charles said. “And they know how to find her. You will all bow before us. Death will bring a new light. A light for us.”
Alexander reached out, grabbing a piece of wood and ramming it into Charles’s heart. Much to his surprise, the stake didn’t do any damage. It was like there was a spell across Charles’s chest that stopped him from being killed.
Staring at him, Alexander knew this kill was going to be quite different. He knew he shouldn’t have brought Charles with him. From the moment he’d been turned into a vampire, he’d been a royal pain in his ass. He should have ended him decades ago.
All he wanted to do was find the easiest option. That was all he cared about. The easy route. All the freaking time. From kidnapping Crazy Lizzie, to now being part of the cult.
Charles reached for the stake and pulled it out of his chest. “Pitiful.”
Before Alexander could react, Charles had already thrown his fist out, and there was more power behind it than there should have been.
Alexander went flying back, crashing against the stairs, but he didn’t fall in a ball. Instead, he landed on his feet and glared right back at the man who was meant to be his family.
“She will die. Join us, Alexander. Remember who you are. You’re a vampire. You take life. We take life. We don’t help to save it.” Charles held out his hand.
“Never!”
The anger on Charles’s face was clear.
“Then you will die.”
Charles ran toward him, stake raised, but Alexander was ready. He was poised. This was the battle he was prepared to take. Disaster of the Otherworld didn’t pose a good future. Alexander might not be a big fan of the wolves, panthers, and other different factions of their paranormal family, but they all had a right to live.
Just as Charles was about to hit him, he was thrown back. Alexander didn’t even need to look behind him to know Layla was there. She had thrown him back with a swish of her hand. In the next breath, he saw a fireball in her hand, which she threw at Charles. It didn’t set him on fire, but it did shock him. Layla stepped beside Alexander, locking their fingers together.
“What do you want to do?” Layla asked.
“He has to die, but someone has put a protection spell on his chest.”
“You will all die. They will drain you, suck you dry like the vermin you are, and when we’re all done, you will be nothing. You are nothing. You will all fucking die.”
Layla swiped her hand across his face. “The protection spell is gone.”
Alexander didn’t question her. He grabbed the stake and thrust it deep into Charles’s heart. Unlike him, Charles was young.
“You will suffer for this,” Charles said.
But in the next breath, he was nothing more than dust.
The moment he was, Alexander caught Layla as she was about to pass out. He held her in his arms, as Crazy Lizzie walked downstairs, clapping her hands.
“See, I told you she was going to be pretty powerful one day.”
“Why has she passed out?” Alexander asked.