Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I feel us cross through a barrier before the front doors are torn open and wolves flood in, heading straight toward the cages. One transforms back into human form and manages to unlock John’s cage. John jumps free, his howl reverberating off the walls as he turns to my sister and breaks through her cage with little effort. As soon as she and the baby are free, my sister stands and leans down, her face burying in his fur. He lets out a soft huff as she touches his snout, then she kisses his head, and he shifts back. Her free arm wraps around his waist as she kisses him deeply.
One of the wolves approaches Cinitta and me. The minute she reaches us, I can see the barrier and know the wolf does as well. She puts up her hand to test it, and when she does, she yelps so loudly it pains my ears. When I look at her hand, I see half of it has been singed.
“Yes, neat little trick, wouldn’t you say?” Viper steps forward, bends down, and leans into my ear. “Not even they are stupid enough to try to get through.” I watch as my sister shifts toward us, the baby now safely tucked in John’s arms. She sees the barrier and looks at the wolf who attempted to touch it before she looks back at me.
Tatiana closes her eyes and starts to hum. She does this for a few seconds, and everyone just watches and waits to see what will happen. But it’s not that easy. Viper has a strong spell in place, probably created with the help of demons.
“You tried,” Viper taunts and walks off.
Tatiana stares at me helplessly as John steps up next to her. He whispers something in her ear, and she nods before looking back at me.
“We have to go to our daughter,” she quietly says, sadness lacing her voice.
There was a time when she would never have dreamed of leaving me. It’s funny how situations change, how people change, really. We are no longer the same girls who grew up in that small house. She has her own family now, while I am still trying to work out my life. I’m a little jealous of the person she is and what she has, but I’m also thankful she now has what she’s always deserved. Tatiana was made to be a mother.
It seems I am made for the complete opposite.
Max screams my name again, and I feel so helpless without him by my side. Alan grabs my arm and pulls me back toward the door, diverting my attention for what feels like just a second. But when I glance at where my sister was standing, I see that she and all the wolves have now left.
Will they come back for me? I’m not sure I should rely on them for help. I need to work out how to get out of here on my own.
Cinitta stands by as I’m dropped unceremoniously to the floor in front of the room where Max and Grim are being held. Max is at the door, drops to his knees, and then tries to reach me, but he can’t because of the invisible barrier. I see the stress coating his face, and mine would match if I felt more like myself. He isn’t used to not being in charge or having a way out of something. After all, he is a powerful Angel-demon and is used to having everything go his way.
“Are you okay?” he asks, desperate concern lacing his tone and making me want to cry.
Viper smiles down at me, answering before I can. “She is fine. Still breathing, as you can see…” He pauses just to be an ass. “For now.”
Over Max’s shoulder, I see Grim sitting against the wall, elbows on his knees and head dropped down low. What is he thinking?
“Grim?” I say his name, and he lifts his eyes. Those silver eyes that always search my face are now lost. He doesn’t know what to do, and he always does, apart from when it comes to me.
“So, you move for her,” Viper comments. “Well, maybe now you will listen.” Viper leans down and lifts my head as if I’m a ragdoll, and out of nowhere, I feel a knife at my throat. Grim shoots to his feet, and in the next second, he is at the door right next to Max. He locks eyes with me.
“This isn’t how you die,” he promises me.
“But it could be how she suffers,” Viper says, and I feel the blade dig in a little deeper.
“Fucking let her go,” Max shouts.
“Tell your friend to give me what I want,” Viper says.
What the hell? I have no idea what they’re talking about.
“I can’t,” Grim says as he stares at me. “I can’t.”