Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Go!” I shout at Lachlan, who’s gotten to his feet, holding a limp Valor in his arms. “I can’t hold it anymore.”
Lachlan nods, then disappears too quick for my eyes to follow. I hope he can get her to Gabriel in time. I hope she survives. I hope—
Shouts and thumps and groans erupt overhead. Talon and I both snap our focus toward the ceiling.
I look back at him. “The roof.”
It’s all I can do to keep up with him as he races up the stairs.
CHAPTER 19
Dagon
“Aurora!” Saint is screaming her name as I chase him throughout the residence, barely able to stay on his heels as I stop to slay bloodmads along the way. We leave a trail of carnage in our wake, adrenaline coursing through my veins and heightening every sense I possess.
“The roof,” he says, almost to himself, as he bolts up the stairs.
“Fuck,” I hiss, harnessing my power as I set the last two bloodmads on fire, turning their bodies to ash as we clear the roof.
“Miss me?”
We both skid to a stop at the sound of Samuel’s voice.
Samuel grins, looking immaculate in a crisp black suit, not a drop of battle blood on him as he holds Aurora with one hand, dangling her over the edge of the building.
“Let her go,” Saint demands.
Samuel smirks. “Is that really what you want me to do?” he asks, flinching as he lets Aurora drop an inch before catching her again.
Saint darts toward her, stopping when Samuel threatens to drop her again.
“I thought you’d like this little present,” Samuel says, gesturing to Auroa. “She has the darkest dreams. Maybe we can share her. We’ve always been so good at sharing.”
The house trembles, shaking the roof beneath our feet. The earth in my blood is rumbling. If I can shake him off his footing, we can get Aurora away from him.
“You’ve been playing hero long enough, don’t you think?” Samuel’s eyes are still on Saint, unphased at my attempt to rattle him. “It’s time you came home. To me. We were never meant to be on opposite sides. We can be unstoppable. The last thing I want is to have to kill you.” He shakes his head. “Why do you think I’ve taken it so easy on you?”
“Easy on him?” I growl.
“Put her down and let’s see who kills who.” Saint’s words are low and icy, more terrifying than any shout could ever be.
I shake the ground harder.
Samuel rolls his eyes. “Any harder and I’ll drop her, Dagon.”
“Stop,” Saint demands.
I let go of the power, my mind racing. I can’t send a blade or a bullet hurtling his way, not with Aurora’s life on the line.
She whimpers, tears lining her cheeks as she grips his hand at her throat. “Saint,” she whispers.
"Fucking let her go!"
Samuel’s grin deepens.
We need more help.
“Zachariah,” I whisper as quietly as I can, knowing he’ll hear me.
Samuel purses his lips, tilting his head. “Really, Dagon?”
Two seconds, and Zachariah races through the roof’s access doors, Alek right behind him.
Samuel’s eyes narrow at the sight of Zachariah and Talia close behind him. He’s outnumbered, but he’s still in control. As long as he holds Aurora, he has us.
“Join me.”
“Never.” Saint spits the word. “You made your choice the second you became the very monster we were built to destroy.”
Samuel lets out a long sigh, disappointment coloring his features. “I was worried you were going to say that.” He shakes his head, shrugging. “You can stop me from wending or save her. Your choice, brother,” he says, and lets go of Aurora.
She screams as she plummets out of sight.
Sammuel starts to wend.
I rush to the side of the wall, knowing Saint will grab Sammuel, either wending with him or stopping him. It’s all he’s wanted to do since he imprisoned him. I gather my wind power, readying to slow Aurora’s fall—
Saint is on the ground, having wended just in time as Aurora falls heavily into his arms, sending them both to the ground in a heap.
“Holy fucking shit.” I turn to Zachariah. “He went after her?”
“Not Sammuel?” Zachariah rushes to look over the wall, like he needs proof.
Silence slips between us save for our heaved breaths as we look at each other in confusion.
“Dagon?” Annika’s voice sounds behind me as she and Talon crash through the roof’s access doors.
“Annika? What the hell are you doing?” She’s covered in blood, but I can smell none of it is hers.
She’s in my arms in a blink. “Valor. She was in trouble. I had to help.” Tears line her eyes.
“What’s happened to Valor?” I ask, holding her tightly.
Talon shifts next to us. “She’s badly hurt. Killed Kyle Moorehouse, but took a vital injury of her own.”
“Shit.” I hiss.
“Your mate helped her,” Talon says. “Slowed her bleeding with the water in her blood.”
“I tried,” Annika says. “I don’t know if she’ll be okay.” Despair clings to her features as the adrenaline starts to wane.