Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“What a sweet baby girl. Daddy loves you, Carina.”
She smiled faintly as she listened to him talk from what seemed like a long distance away. The yummy formula slipped down her throat as she slowly swallowed it. When the nipple slid from her mouth, Carina fussed for a moment, but her Daddy reassured her.
“Daddy will make more later for his very good girl. Rest, Carina. Daddy’s got you.”
She wanted to open her eyes, but she was so happy where she was. Abandoning any idea of moving, Carina drifted to sleep in her Daddy’s strong arms.
Chapter
Fourteen
Marcus looked down at the Little girl in his arms. She would sleep for an hour or so as her body absorbed the nutrients he’d introduced into her. Building her health to a finely tuned level would help her feel better as well as prepare her to transition. In case she decided to accept his invitation, of course.
If she refused, he would be crushed. After waiting all these years to find her…. Surely, she should wish to live many years with him. Marcus studied her peaceful face. He could only hope she would love him enough to allow him to turn her.
His own change hadn’t been difficult to welcome. Defeated in the coliseum after he and two other fighters battled a dozen well-trained combatants, Marcus had fallen when five men came at him in a coordinated effort. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment attack. Someone had selected these men to take him out. News of his prowess with his favored sword had spread throughout the land. Opponents had hunted him before. This time, they’d overwhelmed him with dirty tricks.
Carried from the arena and discarded in a pile of the deceased, Marcus bled the last of his life’s essence, waiting for heart to stop beating. A mysterious fighter had appeared beside him. The stranger offered a choice. Unable to believe what he said, Marcus had accepted, expecting death to find him soon. It did not.
He rose from that battlefield and walked between the corpses and dying to disappear from the scene. His fellow soldiers didn’t appear to see him as they moved in slow motion. Weeks later, Marcus realized he had used his first new gift of rapid movement to remove himself from the skirmish.
The vampiric speed had increased his deadliness in battle and in more everyday tasks. His plan to dash out for a stuffed raccoon for his Little girl evaporated as she cozied up to him. He needed to stay here with her—even if he could be back seconds after selecting and paying for the stuffie.
Connecting with his clan, Marcus sent a mental request. Can anyone take a moment to get a raccoon stuffie for Carina?
On it, Alaric replied.
The corner of Marcus’s mouth twitched upward. Alaric’s otherworldly handsomeness always drew attention, while the aura of danger that he wore like a coat scared humans. In the toy department, he would stand out like a neon warning.
A tap on the door moments later told Marcus that Alaric’s shopping trip had been successful.
Thank you, Marcus sent.
You’d do the same for me.
I would and will without hesitation.
I’ll remember that if I am ever blessed as you are with a mate. Will you turn her soon? Alaric asked.
We have not discussed it yet. After the kidnapping, I think her conversion is urgent. I won’t leave her defenseless.
And if she says no?
I will love her until the day her bones have crumbled to dust and forever after that, Marcus replied honestly.
Alaric didn’t comment for a few seconds but finally said, Being alone is no longer your destiny. She will be difficult to convince but will voluntarily decide to join you fully.
Encouraged by his clan leader’s prediction, Marcus paused before saying honestly, Whenever she decides it is right, I will celebrate. Carina stirred in his arms, fighting sleep. Marcus sent her reassuring thoughts. Of course, his Little could pick up on his emotions.
Do your best to convince her sooner rather than later, Alaric said with a chuckle in his tone that broke the tension of their conversation.
Definitely.
Alaric’s mind became distant. Marcus knew Alaric now concentrated on something other than the need for a stuffie.
As minutes crept by, Marcus’s curiosity built. How cute would the stuffie be? Would Carina love it? When she finally roused from sleep, he couldn’t wait to see her reaction.
Yawning, Carina stretched and froze when she whacked Marcus in the jaw. She opened her eyelids wide and stared up at him. “Oops?”
“Hi, sweetheart. How are you?”
Relaxing now that he didn’t seem angry, Carina yawned again and pushed herself up on an arm. Her pointed elbow came close to unmanning him. Marcus helped her sit up.
“Hi, Daddy.” She blinked her eyes and raised her hands over her head, wiggling back and forth to flex her spine. Marcus enjoyed the show of her bare breasts swaying.