Filed To Story: Chasing the Rejected Luna's Heart (Clara & Liam) Book PDF Free
Shock flashed across his face, but he didn’t deny it. Instead, he sighed and leaned forward on his knees. “So you know.””Alexander told me,” I answered. “He sends his regards.””I bet he does,” he scoffed. “If the bastard was doing his job, you never would have ended up back here. Now or then.””It’s not for a lack of trying on his part, trust me,” I muttered.
Joram stared at me for a few long moments before sighing. “I know this won’t mean much to you, but everything I did, I did to protect you and your mother. I loved her dearly, and I wanted a better life for her. We both wanted a better life for you.””You’re right,” I said, looking away. “It doesn’t mean much. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is the fact that the emperor is going to run this realm into the ground, and these people-your people-are suffering as a result.”
I could tell he wanted to argue with me, but there was a look of resignation in his eyes as he sighed. “I know. And I have every intention of putting things right now that I’m free, but it’s going to take time and resources-and an army. I’ve been imprisoned long enough that I’m only just now beginning to reach out to my old contacts, and that’s assuming he hasn’t imprisoned them by now, too.””But you do have an army?” I asked, feeling a twinge of hopefulness I hadn’t felt over this situation since everything in my old pack went to shit.”There are those who remained loyal,” he said quietly. “There was only so much I could do to remain in contact after my imprisonment, but yes. I know there are some.””And what if I could supplement those ranks?” I asked.
Joram frowned. “What do you mean?””My pack,” I answered. “And Alexander’s vampires. It wouldn’t be a legion, but if we combined with your loyalists, and you were willing to come forward… to let everyone know the true king of the fae is still alive… we might actually stand a chance.””There are a lot of ifs in that scenario,” Joram warned, but I could tell he was actually thinking about it. I had to get the crazy genes from somewhere.”You have a better plan?” I asked. “Because you’ve spent years not doing a thing. Now you have a chance to do something.”
I could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he mulled over my words. “This isn’t your world. Not anymore. Why is this so important to you?””Because the emperor is a monster,” I said, shivering, and I wasn’t sure if it was fear or the lingering cold in my bones or both. “He’s cruel and heartless, and if he wins, the world is going to be so much worse off than it is now. This world needs someone to stop him. And I’ll help you if you think you can take him.”
Joram looked at me for a long moment. “You are so much like her,” he murmured. There was no mistaking the nostalgia in his voice.”So I’ve heard,” I said. “And for what it’s worth, I take after you a bit, too. So what’s it going to be?”
He watched me closely. “This isn’t going to be easy. Or safe.””Obviously,” I muttered. “But I’m stuck here, so we might as well plan an insurrection while I’m at it.”
He chuckled. “Point taken. How do you plan to get this army of yours through, though?””I haven’t really planned that far,” I admitted. “But I got here in a dream, so I guess this whole key thing has more applications than we initially thought.””You think you can go back that way?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.”I don’t know. But it’s worth a shot. Convincing Alexander and the others to let me come back is going to be the hard part,” I replied. Especially now that they knew I was pregnant. I was going to have a hell of a time doing anything I wanted without the guys breathing down my neck.”It should be hard if he’s keeping his end of the bargain,” he said in a gruff tone.
I sighed. “Don’t start. I have enough men who think they’re in charge of me. I don’t need another one.””No,” he said, a faint hint of amusement in his gaze as he watched me. “I don’t suppose you do. And for the record, you get that from me. The defiance.””Good,” I said. “Because we’re going to need it in order to put that son of a bitch back in his place.””I guess I should show you to the guest room,” Joram said, standing up from the sofa. I got up, too, and followed him down the hall. “And you should get some rest.”
I stopped at the doorway, hesitating as I looked in on the comfortable looking room with a bed and a fireplace. “What if it doesn’t work and I can’t get back here?” I asked warily.
Joram turned to face me, smiling. “You know, Lavinia, it’s quite clear that no matter how much Alexander or I try to prevent it, this realm isn’t finished with you. Something guided you here. And I think when the time is right, it will guide you exactly to where you’re meant to be.””Yeah,” I murmured, smiling back. “Let’s hope so.”
LAVINIA
I wasn’t sure how long I had been asleep for, but when I found myself back in the forest, staring down another shimmering portal, I knew it had worked.
Now I just had to hope I could get back home, and then back to the fae realm. No big deal, right?
I took a deep breath, stifling my doubts as I stepped forward. The portal shimmered and pulsed around me like an inviting embrace, the light so bright I could barely make out what was on the other side. Taking in a deep breath, I closed my eyes and stepped through.
When I opened them again, I was laying in a large four-poster bed. I had woken up in Alexander’s mansion. The bed was empty, but I had found my way home after all. Relief washed over me, but when I got up, my head spun, so I decided to take it slow. Portal sickness was a real thing, even when I was traveling in my dreams, it seemed.
Now to find the guys.
I stepped out of the room, wondering what time it was, considering there were few windows in this part of the mansion. Vampires and sunlight really didn’t mix well.
I could hear voices downstairs and an array of unfamiliar scents hit my nostrils. When I followed the familiar cadence of Alexander’s voice into the grand hall and saw him, Cole, Marcus, and Liam surrounded by a whole host of vampire soldiers clad in leather with firearms strapped to their sides, I froze.
So did Alexander.”Lavinia?” he choked out in shock, turning to stare at me. When he moved, the soldiers in front of him parted to make room. He reached me first, but Cole and Marcus were soon to follow, and soon, I was swarmed with hugs, kisses, and alternating declarations of panic and relief.
Once the chaos calmed down enough for me to explain what had happened, I realized explaining that I had to go back was easier said than done.”It wasn’t on purpose,” I said, since I could tell they were all looking at me suspiciously. “It just happened. And I still don’t even knowwhat happened.””Yeah, join the club,” Cole said. “One minute, you were there, then you were gone.””I know.” I sighed, leaning in to hug him. “I’m sorry I scared you. But… what is all this?” I asked, looking around at the soldiers who were just standing around awkwardly, and Liam, who seemed like he wanted to approach but wasn’t sure how.”This is a rescue mission,” said Marcus, gesturing around the room at all the staring soldiers, who looked like they had no idea what to do with themselves.”You rallied the pack?” I asked in disbelief, staring at Liam.