Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
“—following accusations of their former CEO’s corporate espionage, insider trading, and sexual assault, Archer Industries stock falls by over thirty percent—”
I watch opened-mouth as Adam Archer is led down a street lined with reporters. Adam himself is flanked by two police officers. His hands are cuffed behind his back.
“What happened?”
“A group of women stepped forward and brought Adam Archer’s sins to light. He’s been removed as CEO, of course, but it seems he’s run from the many charges filed against him. The police are looking for him.”
St. James is studying my face but I can’t tear my gaze from the screen. The reporter is talking over images of the press conference that broke the news of Adam’s deceit. A vaguely familiar blonde woman is speaking. The camera pans and—yes, there’s Daphne in her wheelchair, watching. My brave girl.
“Quite a woman,” St. James murmurs.
I snap my attention from the screen.
He raises his hands. “No need to glare. I understand she’s now your wife.”
“Do they really call you the devil?”
“Yes,” he says simply. “Mostly in New Rome, my city. Not here. In New Olympus there are other, older powers.”
“But you can help me.”
“Oh yes.” And he smiles.
“Well, then. Let’s make a deal.”
Twenty-One
Daphne
My mother is beautiful as she walks beside me. Long flowing hair, healthy and shining in the bright summer sunshine.
She reaches out and takes my hand. “It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you so much.”
I stop her in front of the garden, roses blooming all around us. “Mama,” I cry, a rush of emotion hitting me, I don’t even know why. For some reason it feels like I haven’t seen her in a long time.
I pull her into a hug, squeezing her close.
“What’s got into you?” she asks, chuckling. She rubs my back anyway, just like she used to do when I was sick as a kid.
“I’ve missed you, too,” I say, tears bursting out of my eyes and running down my cheeks, even though I’m not certain where she’s been or why we’ve been separated, or why it’s so good to see her right now. To feel her solid in my arms.
She pulls back from me and cups my face, swiping some stray hairs behind my ear. “You listen to me, Daphne Laurel, you are strong and beautiful and you can do anything in this life you set your mind to.”
I nod, tears still streaking my cheeks. I hear what she’s saying and for the first time, deep in my bones, I believe it.
Just then, the sun starts to set and Mom looks over her shoulder. Then she smiles gently back at me. “It’s almost time for me to go.”
“No.” I shake my head and clutch onto her forearms. “I’m not ready. Just a little longer.”
But her smile only gentles further as she pulls away from me. “My wonderful girl,” she whispers, giving my hand one last squeeze. “I always wished a love like no other for you, and that you’d live a beautiful life. With someone who could match your beautiful soul.”
She beams at me. “I couldn’t have left you and been at peace knowing you’d be all alone in the world. But now I can.”
“Mama,” I call, reaching for her as she backs away, but no matter what I do, she begins to vanish into sudden twilight, while I’m frozen in place.
But it’s not scary or sad. It’s like what she said. She’s leaving now because she’s at peace and…
It comes back to me like a whisper on the wind—it’s not your time yet. And I feel it in my bones. It’s not my time now. Maybe not for a long while yet. Maybe not for a whole lifetime.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”
I jerk awake with a start. To Logan hovering above me on the bed.
I screech and throw my arms around him. “How? How did you get out?”
I wrap my legs around him too, for good measure. “Armand said he’d talk to Marcus but I didn’t think they could work this fast—”
“It wasn’t Marcus or Armand. It’s a long story and I’ll tell you later. What’s important is,” his eyes are shining as he drags me up to a sitting position. “We got a lab. We can mass produce the Battleman’s serum.”
I blink as he explicitly spells it out for me. “Daph, we have the cure. You’ll be cured. Not just of this latest relapse, but completely. We found the cure and we can manufacture it.”
It’s not your time yet.
Holy shit, Mom knew.
Wait, that’s ridiculous, it was just a dream.
But it felt so real.
“Why aren’t you celebrating?” Logan’s exuberance immediately turns to concern. “You should be celebrating. Are you not feeling okay today? Did something happen while I was away? Fuck, have you not been keeping up with the recovery protocols? Dammit, Daph, you promised you wouldn’t slip no matter what happened to me—”