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)
“I love him,” I said.
Alek’s eyes turned to Zachariah. “Take your team and wend back to the island,” he said. “She's telling the truth. That's an order.”
“Jocelyn,” I said. “I'm going to need you to break the wards.”
“I'm in,” she said, and Benedict groaned.
“Me too,” Avi said, and both Alek and Hawke said no at the same time.
“We can't risk the princess,” Alek said, and Avi rolled her eyes. “You will stay here, and I will too. As much as I hate it,” Alek continued. “You and I are needed here. I have no doubt the hunters alongside Benedict and Hawke can handle the rest.”
“We don't have time for this,” I said, my patience running paper fucking thin.
Ajax slid a hand over Grace's cheek before joining Zachariah, who came toward me.
Dagon and Saint flanked either side, and Benedict and Hawk finished the intimidating little circle. Zachariah grabbed my arm, much more gentle this time, but Dagon was still spitting daggers at me.
“If he's dead,” he warned.
“He's my mate,” I said. “I would feel it if he was dead. Trust me, you're going to be the last thing I'm worried about if that happens.”
“Enough,” Alek said in a commanding tone. “Go.”
Zachariah didn't hesitate at the king's command, and I felt his power drench over me as we wended back to the edge of the Zorin island, him using the images in my mind that Alek no doubt projected into him in order to get us to wend just outside the wards.
Jocelyn brought them down with half a thought, and I took one second to be thankful that the powerful hybrid witch was on my side.
A second was all I allowed before I raced at vampire speeds, leaving the rest of them behind. I didn't care what the fuck they did, as long as they helped me take out the guards.
Ajax and Dagon flanked my sides, sticking with me as the rest used scent to propel them around the house where needed. I flew down the stairs, the two powerful hunters at my back as I skidded to a stop.
There were six guards in the basement, each raising weapons as they spotted us. But I couldn't care less, not when my eyes were on my mate who had been beaten and chained. My brother had his knife drawn, pulled back, and aimed at Talon’s heart.
CHAPTER 17
Talon
“I'm guessing the fact that I just felt the wards go down that your friends have gotten wind that I have you,” Edward said. “And since you haven't given me one bit of good information, I have no more time for you.”
I heard what he said but couldn't really register it. He’d tried to beat the information out of me, tried to torture it out of me, and had put more chains around me in an attempt to get me to tell him something useful.
I hadn't.
Instead using the pain as fuel to keep me silent.
It helped that I had the ultimate distraction while he beat the life out of me.
Cassandra.
I couldn't stop thinking about her. Couldn't stop analyzing what she’d said to Edward.
I didn't believe it.
I didn't believe she betrayed me.
I knew her better than that.
I knew there was no way that the king would compel her, either. I might’ve thought it in the moment, my own lack of trust in everyone after what Samuel did to me making me believe it, but no longer.
I hoped on some level she knew that. Especially as I was about to reach the end of my very long existence.
I was too weak to fight back, but proud that I hadn't given up anything that would help this piece of shit in his end game.
I could only hope that she knew I would die believing her. Trusting her.
“You're not even going to try to fight back? Some hunter legend you are.” He drew his knife back, the tip of it aimed perfectly at my chest.
Contrary to his words, I did try to fight back, but the iron had sucked the life out of me. I had barely any strength left in my muscles and no access to my power whatsoever.
Shots were fired outside the cell, but it didn't stop Edward’s knife from drawing closer to my chest—
He flew across the room, something crashing into him so hard it rattled the bars at the back of the cage.
“What the fuck are you doing, Cassandra?” Edward hissed, and my eyes cleared enough to see Cassandra atop her brother, looking absolutely feral as she unsheathed the dagger from her thigh.
The dagger I had given her so long ago.
She didn’t give him a chance to say anything else before she sank that dagger into his heart, twisting the blade to ensure that it would never heal. His eyes flared wide before the life leaked out of him, having been taken completely by surprise.