Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 140780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
I ran as fast as I could, following his scent of burning cedar and smouldering amber. The tether around my heart tugged, leading me through the labyrinth of corridors.
I glanced at Whisper who appeared beside me, keeping pace with a lazy lope. “You’re as much of a nightmare as he is.”
He just rolled his eyes as if I should’ve known better.
I mean...I knew introducing Lucien and Dillon wouldn’t come without its risks but...how had Dillon found me so fast? My phone was still dead because I’d left my rucksack behind and I didn’t have my charger—
A loud shout tore through the estate.
“LUCIEN!” I ran harder. “Don’t hurt him!”
Whisper shot forward, leaping through another round gateway leading toward the main courtyard. Memories of the staff all bowing to Lucien as the returning prince hovered like ghosts in my periphery.
Charging after the giant cat, I skidded to a stop and almost had a heart attack. Standing in the middle of the courtyard with its curved roofs, carved pillars, and glowing lanterns, the two most important men in my life prepared to go to war.
“Rook!” Dillon broke toward me the moment our eyes met. “You’re actually alive!”
All those wild goose chases I’d put him through. All the weeks where he’d catch me at some resort, only to lose me the moment his back was turned. It wasn’t that I went out of my way to make his life hell...just that whenever I was around him, I couldn’t stop suffering the guilt and sorrow of running away from everything.
“Did I say you could look at her?” Lucien grabbed Dillon by the front of his black jacket, hauling him off his feet.
Oh shit.
Smoke appeared from his shoulder blades, preparing to flare into those incredible fire-etched wings that appeared whenever we slept together. My heart squeezed in panic as I glanced around the empty courtyard.
If the staff saw.
If Lucien lost his temper—
“Put me down, you lunatic!” Dillon hooked his foot around Lucien’s knee and twisted in a karate-type move that sent Lucien buckling.
With a snarl, Lucien let him go, tripping backward and finding his balance.
It gave Dillon just enough time to dart away and curl his fists, ready for a fight.
The two men squared off against each other.
More smoke pulsed from Lucien’s back—not enough to be completely clear it was from him but enough that I rushed closer. “Okay, okay, how about everyone just calms down?”
Locking eyes with me, Lucien hissed, “Why does he think he has the right to take you away from me?”
“Because you’ve been keeping her hostage!” Dillon snapped.
“Leave,” Lucien spat, heat dancing around his body. “Before I make you.”
“You’re going to be sorry you threatened me, asshole.” Dillon smiled tightly then flicked his hand in a come-hither motion. “Go on then. Make me. I’d love to see you try.”
“Lucien, don’t. Dillon...” I shot him a scowl. “Also don’t.”
“He started it.” Dillon pointed at Lucien.
Lucien bared his teeth and Whisper joined in the fight with a pillar-rattling roar.
Great. If the staff had been sleeping, they weren’t anymore.
“Rook. Come here,” Dillon commanded in his best pissed-off voice. “Let me make sure this asshole hasn’t hurt you.”
“He hasn’t hurt me.” I stayed right next to Lucien as the fire grew hotter beneath his skin.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Dillon strode toward me and I wouldn’t put it past him to scoop me up like a bag of dirty laundry, toss me over his shoulder, and haul me out of Ashfall Cliff kicking and screaming.
Almost as if Lucien heard my thoughts, tiny flames gathered around his fingers. “I won’t tell you again,” he seethed. “Leave.”
“Let her come with me and I’ll leave right now.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Whisper snarled as if he agreed with his slightly deranged master.
“See? That just confirms what I think of you.” Dillon narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck do you want? Why did you kidnap her? Who are you working for?”
“Leave!” Lucien trembled as he fought for control. “I won’t ask again.”
“I told you. Let her leave with me and—”
“She’ll never go with you.”
“Ah see, that’s where you’re wrong.” Dillon smirked. “You’re playing with fire, asshole. I’ve already summoned backup and when they get here, they’ll—”
“You’re right.” Lucien cut in with a tight smile. “I am playing with fire. Want to find out what I can do without backup?” His smouldering fist came up. That scarlet ring of warning appeared around his pupils.
Okay, this had gone on long enough.
“Lucien.” Hugging his arm, I yanked his body toward me. “Calm down.”
He staggered a little, catching my eyes. “But he’s trying to take you away from me.” The scarlet ring around his pupils flickered and I saw what this was really about.
Fear.
Animalistic fear that’d rotted his soul, thanks to spending every day of the past two decades on his own.
His arm burned beneath my fingers as he whispered for my ears only. “I’ve finally found you. I finally have you, and I’ll kill him if he tries to take you away from me.” Fire ignited around his collar as if he’d kicked the furnace door down inside him. The marble pavers cracked beneath his feet.