Total pages in book: 193
Estimated words: 184001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 920(@200wpm)___ 736(@250wpm)___ 613(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 920(@200wpm)___ 736(@250wpm)___ 613(@300wpm)
Isaac is down to only six disciples out of the dozens he came with, but we’re still outnumbered two to one, and we’re also down one when Thorin is easily worth a dozen of them.
Don’t look at him. Don’t look at him.
“I’m here, Goldilocks.”
“Can we do this?” she whispers.
Isaac raises a brow, enjoying her doubt. I growl in response, and his grin spreads. Khalil inhales sharply, and we have the answer we need.
It’ll be close.
Aurelia is quick with her bow, but not quicker than their guns. She has one holstered to her thigh, but reaching for it is too risky.
“Seth.”
“Sunshine,” I answer.
“I need him. I need Bane.”
I swallow past the knot in my throat. I tamp down the possessive part of me that wants to say no. I don’t want to leave her. I want to be here to protect her.
But she doesn’t need me.
She needs Bane.
“Do it,” I say with tears in my eyes. “Call him.”
“Chrysalis,” she whispers without hesitation.
None of us are prepared for three of Isaac’s disciples lunging for her at the same time. Their hands grab at her and yank her forward while Khalil dives at another before the disciple can shoot. I growl, rushing forward for Aurelia and the dead men who dared touch what’s mine, but a step is as far as I get when the world suddenly tilts and shifts and I black the fuck out.
BANE
The fog that usually comes with an awakening doesn’t linger for long when I hear Mine scream. She’s swearing too—as viciously and colorfully as Zeke’s friends whenever I try and… regrettably fail to kill them.
If they’re hurting her, I won’t fail this time.
There’s gunfire and the crackle of wood giving way to the flames all around us, but the sounds dull to a silent roar when I hear Mine scream, “Bane!”
I shake my head to clear the last of the fog only for my vision to bleed red when I see some dead fucks with their hands on Mine. Khalil is fighting to get to her, but dodging bullets delays him too much to make him useful. He’s clutching a dead body in front of him as a shield while two other robed men fire rounds in a panic.
They don’t notice me, and I don’t hesitate to dismiss them all.
Khalil isn’t my concern.
Only Mine.
Currently, she’s being dragged away from the burning cabin while another robed man leads them, and I don’t hesitate to give chase. The sound of the gunfire mutes my footsteps so I’m able to get the drop on them before they get too far.
The one in the rear twists at the last moment and his eyes flare behind the mask, but it’s too late. I already have my hands around his neck and with a vicious twist and a sickening crack, he drops to the ground. I step over him to eliminate the other threats to Mine when I’m suddenly grabbed from behind. I don’t falter and drop my weight, becoming a tree rooted to the ground while my prey grunts in his desperate attempts to lift me. I thrust the back of my skull into his nose and ignore the signals that tell me to feel pain as I roll out of his hold before he can recover.
Sweeping his foot out from under him, I pounce and grip his hair in my hands as I lift his head. His scream is cut off when I slam it down onto the ground but I don’t stop even when the snow and charred ground is covered in his blood and occipital lobe. I can feel the flames from the cabin licking at my sweat-slicked skin, but I can’t stop making more red.
Zeke’s hands are covered in it.
My hands are covered in it.
We’re all covered in it. All of us.
Khalil, Thorin, Zeke, Seth…and Mine. She’s covered in it too, but she doesn’t have to be. She’s got me.
I rise slowly as I seek out my next prey. The two remaining disciples that have Aurelia are no longer rushing to escape. They’re standing with her between them, their hands that I plan to remove from their bodies clutching her arms as the four of them watch me. My chest burns with fury as I move toward them. “Mine.”
I don’t hear the word leave my lips until the leader reaches up to remove his mask and I’m greeted with the scarred face of the Savior. I growl and the Zeke’s brother smiles at the sound. “Interesting. Bane, was it?” My gaze narrows on the man responsible for causing Zeke so much pain. I’ll kill him first. “You must be one of Zeke’s, which means you must want to protect him. Something tells me you’re the only one who can. I have no doubt that you can kill me, Bane. Because I’m not the real threat, am I?” The bloodlust thickens as the Savior’s words feed the fervor. “There’s another predator trying to take what’s yours and you know who he is.”