Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Lyrica put her hands on her hips. “I don’t think you understand. If we pull that stake out, you could die, Vero Phoenix. You took it to the heart.”
Vero looked up, his face, at least the part that was working, in a frown. “What are you talking about?”
She pointed to the wood. “You’ve been staked through the heart.”
“Jesus.” He grabbed the edge of the stick with two fingers and started to pull.
“No,” she yelled, trying to grab his hand.
Before she could reach him, he yanked out the fragment. Blood spurted from his chest. Wincing, he tossed the offending wood onto the ground. “A stake to the heart doesn’t kill us, sweetheart. You need to stop believing movies made by humans.”
Embarrassment warred with panic inside her. She shook her head, walked slowly to the drawer, and brought out more gauze. “At least let me cover the wound.” Gently, she laid the white mesh over his heart, removing her hand before his blood could burn her. If they mated, his blood wouldn’t harm her. The thought came out of nowhere, and she shoved it away. “You can’t tell me that a stake to the heart doesn’t cause damage.”
“I’m not telling you that.” Vero closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the wall. “It takes a while to repair a heart, but the wood only nicked the edge of it. I’m okay.”
He didn’t sound like he was okay. Even so, with his eyes closed and his head back, his gun remained leveled evenly and unwaveringly at the doorway. The air shimmered around him. Not quite with glitter or anything too shiny, but somehow, the very oxygen appeared filled with a hint of magic. Healing cells at work.
With a gasp, Paxton sat straight up, sucking in air. His eyes had morphed to a shockingly electric green as he looked around and took in the entire area. “Hope?” Urgency rode the first word he said.
“I’m safe.” Hope leaned toward him and cupped the side of his face with her hand. “Are you all right? My gut feeling says you’re experiencing internal bleeding.”
As an empath, Lyrica could feel Hope’s concern. Had Hope allowed that since they were friends, or was Lyrica gaining more skills?
“I’m fine,” Paxton said shortly, turning to look at his brother, blood still sliding from a cut above his ear. “What were you doing trying to put your body between me and the bomb?”
Vero opened his eyelids almost lazily to focus on his brother. “I was doing my job. It’s to keep you safe at all costs.”
“Meaning even your own life?” Paxton spat, fury rolling off him in waves.
Lyrica took a step closer to Vero and away from the king of the Kurjans.
“Yes, dumbass,” Vero said.
Lyrica’s eyes widened and she let herself fall onto the chair next to him. She just couldn’t handle this right now.
“Did you just call me a dumbass?” Paxton growled, blood dripping from the side of his mouth.
“Only because you’re acting like one,” Vero muttered, shutting his eyes again and leaning his head back.
Even in the current bizarre circumstances, Lyrica had to hide a grin. They actually sounded like brothers. She looked over at Hope, who had a soft smile on her face, even as she fussed with the blanket over Paxton.
“What the fuck?” Liam sat bolt upright and bunched his fists as if ready to fight.
Vero sighed and opened his eyes. “You’re fine. There was an explosion. Everybody’s good. We’re fairly safe in this room, although I’m the only one with a gun.”
Liam frowned and looked over at his unconscious twin. “How long have we been out?”
“I don’t know. An hour maybe,” Paxton said.
“More like thirty minutes,” Vero corrected.
Liam leaned over and punched his brother in the shoulder. “Collin, wake up. We’re in trouble.”
His brother didn’t move. Lyrica expected panic or concern, but instead, Liam punched his brother harder. “Wake the hell up.”
Collin’s eyelids opened and he turned only his head to stare at his brother. “You hit me again and I’m ripping out your throat.”
An inappropriate giggle emerged from Lyrica.
Hope shook her head. “Now is not the time, you two.” It sounded like she’d repeated that mantra to her cousins more than once.
Groaning, Collin pushed himself to a seated position. “Did somebody try to blow us up?”
“Affirmative,” Vero said.
“We only have one weapon?” Paxton repeated, looking down at his damaged chest, then over at his brother.
Vero kicked out his legs and something loudly popped back into place. “This is the one gun.”
“What about guards?” Paxton asked.
“I assigned two, but they disappeared after the second explosion. My guess is they went to help.”
“Huh,” Paxton murmured.
The outside door opened again and Dr. Fizzlewick walked inside, followed by Jonathan. “Dear Lord,” the doctor said. “You all look terrible.”
Paxton cleared his throat. “We’re fine. Have you checked for injured outside?”