Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Her nose scrunched the way hers did. “What?”
“The Dark Lord,” he said, and Kieran’s upper lip curled, “over there, as you called him, can kill Revenants.”
Her gaze shot back to mine. “Oh.”
I smiled at her, baring my fangs.
“Shit,” she whispered.
“We need Callum,” Kieran stated, drawing my attention back to him. “We need him alive for however long it takes for him to break.”
“It won’t take long,” I said.
“Maybe it won’t.” Kieran held my stare. “But I’m not willing to take that risk.”
Irritation flared, cold and biting. “And what exactly are you willing to risk, wolfie-boy?”
His eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch.
“In case anyone is wondering, I agree with the wolf.” Millicent chimed in, having slipped both arms free of Malik’s hold and the cloak she’d been wearing. “We need Callie alive.”
“Callie?” Kieran repeated.
“That’s what I call him.” Her head snapped down, mouth latching onto Malik’s arm.
“Motherfucker,” he growled, releasing her.
“Good gods,” Jasper said under his breath as blood stained the sleeve of Malik’s white shirt.
“Thank you.” Millicent popped to her feet with a blood-smeared smile. She spun toward me. “Do you know how long it took me to find his annoying ass?”
I didn’t.
I also didn’t care.
“Weeks. It took weeks,” she went on as Malik rose behind her, shaking his arm. “And do you know where I found his trick-ass?”
I frowned, having no idea what trick-ass meant. “You need to wipe your face.”
She ignored that. “Where I had to go? He was in a cave full of fucking spiders in the fucking Blood Forest.” She shuddered, causing the silver chains around her waist to jingle. “And do you know what it’s like traveling with him?” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “With Callie?”
“I imagine it’s only slightly more annoying than this right here,” I replied.
Kieran pressed his lips together as Malik’s head swung in my direction.
“Oh, you have no idea,” Millicent shot back as she planted herself in front of Callum. “He’s a talker. Unfortunately, he doesn’t like to talk about anything useful. So, I’m going to be real pissed if you kill him before we get something useful from him.”
“And I’m about to be real pissed if you all don’t get the fuck out of my way,” I warned, jaw throbbing as Malik decided he wanted to join the party of fools.
“Not going to happen.”
My stare shot back to Kieran. “You need to move.” Essence pulsed, and I let it surface. Shadows spilled out of me as my flesh started to thin, the inky darkness pooling on the floor by my feet. A tremor ran up my spine, but I kept the wings back. “Now.”
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Until Millicent. “I don’t know why,” she said, gaze lingering on my left cheek where I knew the bone was visible. “But you’re really kind of hot”—she waved her hand in my direction—“like this.”
Malik stiffened. “For fuck’s sake, Millie.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Just being honest.”
“Have you met Seraphena yet?” Attes asked.
The damnedest thing happened. Millicent fell silent, her face paling. She shook her head.
“She’s going to absolutely love you,” he said.
I had no idea if he was being sarcastic or not, but knowing my luck, she probably would enjoy her granddaughter’s…unique personality.
“I’m not going to ask again,” I said to Kieran, each word carrying frost.
Attes’s gaze snapped back to me, sharpening. I felt the rise of essence in him.
“Good.” Kieran’s chin lifted. “Because I don’t feel like repeating myself.”
Anger sparked, igniting a cold fire in my veins and loosening the restraints on the urge I’d kept leashed until then. The mist thickened and rose. I lowered my chin. From the churning mist, shapes began to take form. Small bodies, sleek and feathered. Ravens flew out, the beat of their wings silent. They circled above as a darker, stronger essence pulsed within me. Thin strands of crimson appeared in the mist as the air turned stale.
I knew the moment they saw it. The urge. The chaotic promise of violence. Attes’s features hardened. Jasper’s eyes widened and then narrowed. His flesh thinned as the shadow of fur began to appear. Malik had moved to block Millicent, hands fisted at his sides, and Kieran…
The golden essence whirled through his eyes and slid over the skin of his hands. Faint mist blurred the edges of his fingers as I took a step toward him. He didn’t budge; our stares locked.
Don’t, I willed. Don’t make me do this.
Kieran didn’t blink. Tendrils of gold-tinged silver mist swirled along his hands, and—
And then he inhaled deeply.
The mist at his fingertips evaporated. The golden threads vanished from his eyes and retreated from his flesh. His shoulders loosened. There was a flash of relief, so quick I almost didn’t see it, but I tasted it. It was refreshing, like a cool drink on a hot day. And then I felt nothing as his expression settled. He stared at me like he was…