Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“I love you most ardently,” he said.
I couldn’t believe him. The audacity! “Jane? You’re taking credit for Jane?” This man needed to go. “Okay, Stark. Well, here’s a quote for you. Say hello to my little friend.” I held up my middle finger.
His pale blue eyes went wide. “You put that away right now, woman, or so help me, I will—”
“Help? You’re beyond help. Quote by Masie Kicklighter.” I turned to leave.
“Do not dare walk out on me,” he snarled.
“Oh, I’m walkin’, buddy. Because unlike you, I don’t just sit around spewing fancy lies to get what I want. I’m a woman of action, and this gal is leavin’.” I would swim home if I had to.
“As you wish!”
Princess Bride? I seethed out a breath. Last straw, mister! I marched through the atrium, outside toward the night beach, my heels clacking against the paved walkway. How dare he lie to me. The nerve of that man! I’d been all in, ready to trust and spend eternity with him. “Fucking Stark.”
“Hello there.” A dark figure stepped out in front of me.
My eyes pushed to focus on the face of that greasy-haired man.
Uh-oh. “What do you want?” I asked.
“I remember you. You’re the chick from the Flaming Rooster. The one who threatened to put us in a woodchipper.”
I sure had. I’d known what they were and wanted them to leave. “And I remember how you tore a hole in my uncle’s neck. Nice to see you’re still alive,” I said sarcastically.
“I threw myself on the mercy of Montgomery Stark.”
“And?”
“And now I’m forever his slave.” He shrugged.
Was that what Stark had been alluding to just now? “So he couldn’t kill you.”
“You really don’t know our laws, do you?” He snickered.
“Boo-hoo. Guess not,” I sassed back. I never felt shame over ignorance when it came to things I’d had no opportunity to learn. For example, I didn’t know how to drive a race car nor do brain surgery. I couldn’t bake a chocolate souffle or build a skyscraper either. In the case of vampire law, I was still learning. So what?
He stepped in closer. “You can’t kill a vampire who offers total submission and allegiance in exchange for their life.”
“Well, that’s too bad because Stark should’ve turned you into a sad bag of duck dicks to match your twisted ugly face.”
“You know,” he stepped closer again, “I’d watch my mouth if I were you. You’re still easy pickings. Weak and hu—”
“I don’t give an owl’s boney turd what you think of me, Duck Dick, and neither does Stark. He’ll make you suffer if you lay one finger on me.” Or not. After all, we were in the midst of a breakup.
“I think you do not understand Montgomery Stark,” he said. “Or why you’re really here.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Enough!” Stark came up behind us and stepped between me and Duck Dick. “I will deal with you later, Herman. Go back to your cottage.”
Herman? That was a goofy name for a biker vampire.
“No,” I said. “I want to know what he meant.”
“Leave!” Stark yelled at Herman, who scurried off down the path.
“What was he talking about?” I asked Stark. “And you’d better be honest, because I will not tolerate a man who lies, even if he is a powerful vampire I am—was—madly in love with.”
“Am or was?” Stark’s shoulders dropped.
Honestly, I was beginning to question my feelings. Maybe because he couldn’t seem to tell the truth. Not even about the little things. It was making me feel like a second-class citizen in his world, in his life. I didn’t like it.
“The one I choose is up to you.” I shook a finger at him. “I’ve been patient with this whole secret-island situation, the elusive turning process, and the marriage ritual you just sprang on me, but finding out that you lied to my face about killing that Herman guy has burned my fuse down to the nub, so do not lie to me. No more sugarcoating. What did Herman mean? And why’d you tell me he was dead?”
“Very well.” Stark huffed, knowing I had him cornered. “I lied about killing Herman because at the time you were already distraught, and discovering he was still alive would only augment your emotions. I felt it was my role to protect you. I still feel that way.”
Okay, but that didn’t give him the right to lie. “Why did he say I’m here for another reason?”
“Obviously, he is unhappy about his situation and wishes to undermine our relationship. A little payback. But I did not force him into serving me. He could have died like a real man.” Stark sighed with a grumble. “Honestly, I wish he would’ve. Herman cannot be trusted. Also, he is messy and does not clean up after himself. My other slaves will not stop complaining.”