Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
But not here.
Joffrey threw open the doors and mercilessly deposited me inside, leaving the chain around my neck like some macabre necklace. My skin sizzled and seared as it touched the wall, the Night Thistle-laced paint sucking the power right out of me.
“Please,” I said again, but the talem didn't even look at me as he closed and locked the doors.
I managed enough strength to sit up, to rip myself away from the poisonous wall, but being surrounded in it, breathing in the subtle hints of the very thing that could kill me made me feel like death was embracing me in a cruel, cold hug.
I tried to lift my arms to remove the iron chain, but the motion only made me fly backward. My face pressed against the wall, and the smell of my own searing flesh made me vomit up all the blood I’d drank prior.
Every beat of my heart made my body hurt, a searing sort of pain that made my bones feel brittle and my muscles liquid.
I tried to move but couldn't.
I tried to breathe, tried to scream, but couldn't.
Nothing.
I was nothing.
I was nothing more than that little vampire, scared and confused as her mother threw her in this closet over and over again any time she messed up.
I was worthless. Useless to my family. Useless to the king.
Untrustworthy to Talon.
I was worthless.
I was nothing.
I’d failed this mission. Three months and no useful information on the whereabouts of my brother. I had nothing to offer the king, Talon, or myself.
She’d won. She always won.
The darkness at the edge of my vision increased, vibrating and pulsing until it kicked me between the eyes, sending me spiraling backward into an abyss that had no end.
A lethal growl ripped me back to consciousness, my basic survival instincts snapping to life at whatever creature I was about to have to battle even in my weakened state.
A blinding light rushed over me as the double doors of the closet were clawed open. Shadow hissed and whimpered as she came inside, her silk snout sniffing me.
A terrifying growl roared so loud I swore it shook the closet walls.
But Shadow wasn't here.
My thoughts were erratic, thick and heavy, like walking through syrup.
Still, my panther maneuvered around me, sprawling down on its haunches and nuzzling its head beneath my stomach until I was draped over its back. Carefully, it walked through the estate, hurrying me to my chambers. The farther I got away from the Night Thistle walls, the littlest amount of strength came back to my limbs. Just enough to close the door behind me as my panther gently laid me down.
And then Talon was there instead of the panther, his fangs bared, his pupils completely blown out as he grabbed a sheet off of my bed, covering his hands before unwinding the chain as carefully as he could from around my neck.
The pain was blinding, and I screamed, thrashing before he tossed it across the room,
“Thank you,” I managed to whisper, the debilitating sharp sting of the iron and Night Thistle leaving my body so quickly that I almost passed out.
Talon fell to the floor at my side, gathering me in his arms and hauling me into his lap. His features were panicked, and he sank his fangs into his wrist before holding it up to my lips.
“Drink,” he commanded, no room for argument in his voice. “My blood is over a thousand years old, Cassandra. You have to drink it. It will heal you.”
As weak as I was, I couldn't punch my fangs out, but had enough strength to put my lips to the wounds he'd created and swallow weak mouthfuls.
Each one was restoring, knitting together the abrasions on my flesh, soothing every single fiery sting in my bones, my muscles.
I drank, leaning into his embrace as he held me there, feeling as if he alone was putting me back together.
I drew back, my mind clearing of all of the poisonous clouds, and I looked up into his eyes, and saw a thin ring of blue showing through his rage. Then I started crying.
He held me closer, his entire body shaking with fury as I cried.
“I'm going to murder every single being in this house,” he said with lethal quiet, his fingers so gentle as they stroked through my hair.
I backed away enough to look at him, his statement sobering enough to stop my tears. He wiped them away with his thumbs, and looked like he might stand up and deliver on what he just promised.
I clung to his shoulders, shaking my head. “You can't,” I said in a panic. “We haven't completed our mission. We can't. You can't—”
“You can’t expect me to forgive what she did to you. What they’ve all done to you. Cassandra, you could have died in there—”