Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Not happening,” she grunts before plunging the blade in the zombie’s side.
It howls. Black sludge flows from its open wound.
Kari hops to her feet—only to be dragged down again by another hollow-eyed monster. Her scream chills my blood even more than the creatures’ icy clutches. She’s fought valiantly to save us both…
I’m desperate to rescue her, but I’m still immobile. My heart struggles to beat, and my defrosting hands tingle painfully. My energy is nearly nonexistent.
Raiden! I scream through my senses. Please. My mate…
A flood of resentment invades my consciousness, and suddenly, I understand: Raiden isn’t angry with me; he’s jealous that he has no mate of his own.
If I make it out of this battle alive, I’ll be a better brother. I’ll do whatever I can to help him secure the woman meant to be his.
A moment later, Raiden’s energy floods me, a wellspring of force and intensity. It couples with my determination and fills me with fresh vigor.
Wrenching the blade from Kari, I whirl and slice off the head of the robed figure attacking her in one clean sweep.
Together, we send three of the terrible things to hell. Around us, Bram and the rest of the Doomsday Brethren has nearly dispensed with the others.
Duke grabs at Rhea to trap her. She flicks her wand at him, releasing a nasty spell. I can only guess at its dark magic. Thankfully, the well-dressed wizard deflects the blow as if the threat was negligible and hurls it back at her, determination stamped across his chiseled face.
With a howl of frustration, Rhea dodges Duke’s cast and teleports away with Shock, leaving behind the fallen bodies of Mathias’s undead soldiers.
With the threat momentarily neutralized, I sever the link between Raiden and me. My energy drains again, and I collapse against the wall, breathing hard and fighting for consciousness. Kari hunches beside me, her hands clasped around my shoulders. “Are you all right?”
An instant later, my twin appears, his watchful gaze taking in my mate’s devotion. I feel Raiden’s envy. He doesn’t want Kari for himself…but he craves the happiness of a mate. Who is she? And why didn’t my brother tell me sooner?
“Raiden,” Bram greets, still catching his breath. “A bit late to join the fight.”
“But the perfect time to take care of my brother. And to witness the brutality Mathias plots to unleash on magickind.”
“I’m fine.” I manage to stumble upright and pull Kari close. “You saved my life, love.”
“And you ended those creatures. We stayed safe and alive together.”
Indeed, because she’s tough and tenacious, clever and strong. And because she refuses to be anyone’s victim.
“Together,” I murmur, kissing her softly.
“This is where I leave,” Duke mutters, grabbing a few of the bodies and disappearing.
Caden and Ice follow suit, each grabbing more of the fallen to haul them away. Marrok places one hand on Caden’s arm, while holding three bodies with the other. In the next moment, the small group teleports away.
Bram approaches Raiden and me, glancing between us before he settles his stare on me. “Not bad for a first effort and no training. Ready to join us permanently?”
The brewing war will be dangerous and filled with struggle. I know that. Does Kari understand, too? I turn to her.
She nods. “You should. Mathias can’t be allowed to prevail. There’s strength in numbers, and the only way to win is to fight back.”
“Precisely,” Bram seconds, then raises his brow at me. “So?”
Though I worry about our uncertain future, I nod. “The cause is worthy and the battle necessary. I will.”
“And you?” Bram regards Raiden.
My twin snorts. “Someone has to keep him out of trouble.”
“Our bond was invaluable today,” I tell him solemnly. “Thank you.”
Raiden sighs. “I might have wanted you to fuck off, but not forever. We’ve done most everything together all our lives, including joining this world. We’re leaving it together, too. If you intend to join this conflict, I’ll follow.”
Relief fills me as I bring my twin close for a brotherly hug. Raiden returns the gesture with a hearty slap on my back.
“Will she Bind to you now?” he asks softly in my ear.
“I hope. Will you accept her?”
“If she makes you happy, I’m happy for you.”
“She does. You should seek your own happiness, too.”
Raiden pulls away with a tight, empty smile. “I’m afraid my situation is rather hopeless. See to your woman. I’ll confer with Bram and inform you later.”
I hate that my brother can’t—or won’t—embrace his own happiness, but perhaps time and love will reveal the path for him. “Thank you.”
Bram and my twin collect the remaining bodies, then disappear.
“What was that about?” Kari asks, smoothing her askew hair back in place.
“An understanding.”
“Perhaps we can have one as well?” Tynan suggests. “If you’re going to be a member of the Doomsday Brethren, we must learn to accept and trust one another.”