Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
She widened her eyes. “Y-you will not be showing me anything.”
The moons will soon leave the sky. Let us not waste this night fighting when we can do other things.
“Never.” With a sudden surge of strength, she raised her hands fast and worked them frantically to construct some kind of magical defense.
But I was too quick for her, I lashed my hands out at the air and smashed through her feeble attempt at protection.
She stumbled backwards, her face twisted in shock and fear.
Stop it. I hissed in her head. You are using up all of your energy.
Stubborn, she lifted her hand. Her fingers splayed. Her eyes gleamed dangerously.
She could barely stand up as she violently twirled her hands around.
This is stupid and—
The ground beneath me shifted, and I found myself hurtling skywards, my body weightless. Panic gripped me. My heart pounded in my chest, but my surprise was swallowed by the rushing wind.
Frowning, I hovered high above her.
Well. . .not bad, little mage.
She jabbed her finger towards the ground.
No! No!
My body fell through the air and crashed into the unforgiving forest floor, knocking the breath out of me.
I caught her thoughts. Dear Ambi! I can move him around too.
I sneered and growled into her mind. Yes, you can move me! But, it will also tire you out.
Still laying on the ground, I thrust my hand forward.
She was thrown back with a powerful force, her body spinning like a ragdoll in the moons’ light.
“Ah!” She plummeted towards the ground with a sickening thud.
Worry hit me as I rose.
Did I use too much force?
I blurred to her.
She lay sprawled on the ground. Her breaths came out in ragged gasps. The glow of her eyes had faded back to brown.
I whispered in her mind. Are you okay, little blood mage?
Seraphine answered back. No.
What hurts? How can I help? I leaned forward. Tell me. What is wrong?
Can you help me?
Yes. What is it?
A psychotic vampire has trapped me to him, and will not let me go.
I glared.
Panting, she closed her eyes.
I kneeled next to her. Seraphine?
She did not respond.
I shoved against her mind. Seraphine? Seraphine?
Nothing.
While I could still hear her heart beating steady, my nerves still flared.
Please be okay. Now that I found you, I will not lose you.
I rummaged through her mind and only witnessed a surreal landscape of forest where she ran fast in some nightmare as a monster charged behind her.
She is dreaming.
I shook my head.
I told her that she would exhaust herself.
I studied the monster racing after her. It was a huge blond vampire with a crown on his head, a thick leather cloak on his shoulders, and a massive erection pushing out of his pants.
I frowned.
Is that supposed to be me?
I left her mind and picked her up.
I look much better than that, Seraphine.
Chapter 11
The Gilded Cage
Seraphine
I stirred from slumber.
My heart still raced, catching in my chest as the remnants of a vivid dream clung to my thoughts.
A mysterious and captivating creature in the depths of an ancient forest chased me.
Somehow, our paths had intertwined, and against all reason, our lips had met in a heated kiss.
I could still taste the tantalizing sweetness that lingered on my lips.
Closing my eyes again, I lay there still immersed in the echoes of that dream. I couldn’t help but wonder if such a love existed in real life.
Would that ever happen to me?
My mind retraced the contours of that dream, and my heart yearned for more.
A sense of longing washed over my body, and I couldn’t help but wish that the dream had not ended.
In that ephemeral embrace, I had glimpsed a love that defied logic and boundaries.
The allure of the monster was magnetic. His fangs were. . .
I blinked.
His fangs?
A shiver of terror surged through me.
Wait. No.
I opened my eyes and shook my head.
No. No. Something odd is happening to me.
This haunting craving vibrated in my veins.
Damn it.
I slowly emerged from the depths of unconsciousness and pushed the addicting sensations of the blood bond aside.
Those blasted fangs! What is in them? Some drug-like venom. They have me dreaming about being bit.
My eyes fluttered back open. I rubbed them.
And where am I?
Birds chirped off in the distance.
It must be daylight.
Yawning, I noticed the bed I was lying on. It was small enough to only fit me.
The Quiet King did not lay next to me.
I sighed in relief.
Thank you, Ambi.
Then as my groggy mind began to regain clarity, a chilling realization crept in.
Am I wearing a gown? Who dressed me?
I looked down at what I had on. The dark red gown fit me perfectly, exposing my shoulders in the style of an upper-class woman in Capitol City. Black lace lined the edges. The fabric had a faint smell of lilacs.
Did he do this? He is insane. Why would he dress me up like this?