Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 141492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
“The most Lilith has is her demons during the day, and they can’t penetrate the farm,” Petru added. “They could wreak havoc in parts of the city, but she isn’t certain Safia has been converted. She won’t want to risk losing any more of the forms she has to her.”
Safia found it interesting that not only did Petru speak with complete confidence, but it was there in his mind. He had studied his enemy, gathered information over the centuries and filed it away. In particular, he had learned a lot about Lilith in the last few months while being in Siberia. He’d had numerous encounters with her demons and armies. His brethren, also battling them with the demon fighter there, had shared information. Petru seemed to soak up knowledge of his enemies the way a sea sponge might soak up water.
He stood up and once more took her hand, pulling her into him. There was no mistaking the claiming gesture. He added a few more details about the lines of defense for her family to follow but then indicated that they should return to the main farmhouse.
“I believe we have a marriage to celebrate.”
Her father, grandfather and oldest brother turned their heads to regard her with love in their eyes. “We do,” Amastan agreed.
CHAPTER
19
The moment she awakened, Safia felt the difference in Petru. He was all business. He had shifted from the man who wore an aura of danger to the knight the moon had sent down to defend its chosen people.
She was in the company of Aghzen n wayur. In the stories and songs told or sung about Petru, he was sometimes called “moon monster.” This was the monster of all monsters. The one the moon had sent to defeat the terrible monsters cruelly destroying the Imazighen.
Usually, the stories were about the fierce knight of the moon. Night after night growing up, she had eagerly waited to hear the story of the battles between the demons, vampires and her people fighting so valiantly to survive. Then came the mysterious people who were able to fight the vampires when the Imazighen had no way of knowing how. Why they took the side of the free people, no one knew, but they were grateful. Still, it didn’t save them, and all could see the war would be lost.
They called to the moon to send them aid. They needed a fierce knight. More than a knight. As a child, Safia had sat with the other children, her heart beating fast even though she’d heard the story hundreds of times. Like the other children, she’d waited, holding her breath until Amastan had delivered her favorite part of the story.
Ayur uzend aghzen addigh imagh. Moon sends the monster to fight with us. She gasped as all the other children had. Petru, the monster sent by the moon. Her monster. The ancestors had named him so to Amastan, and they’d been misunderstood. That side of Petru was very much needed in this war, and she was grateful she was looking at him now, even though just doing so sent shivers creeping down her spine. Petru was always dangerous, but this version of him was cold, calculating and every bit as cruelly brutal and merciless as those they would be fighting.
Petru had risen before her, seeking blood for both of them as he did each rising. He’d scouted for signs of the enemy and consulted with his brethren before returning to her. The sun had barely set when he’d parted the soil to rouse and feed her. The risings before, he had made slow beautiful love to her, cuddling her and focusing his entire attention on her. Now he was remote, his demeanor completely different. Even his mind was different, so she might not have known him had she not been so familiar with every aspect of him.
He was closed off to everything but the coming battle. Lilith had already begun her opening moves. She saw those clearly in his mind. It was as if he were orchestrating a battle on a field already, his brain countering her.
Petru suddenly turned and framed Safia’s face. His large hands felt rough against her skin yet so gentle when he touched her. His eyes were pure silver staring directly into hers. This wasn’t her loving partner; this was the monster the moon sent. Their commander.
“There will be no sacrifices this time, Safia. If you die, it is over. We will have lost. Everyone dies. There can be no bargaining with Lilith. If she takes your father or grandfather. If she takes the children or your sister and tortures them in front of you, there is no exchange. If she has me, you cannot exchange your life for mine. You believe the outcome of this war depends on me, but in truth, it depends on you. You must stay alive. No matter what else happens, what pretty lies she tells you, you hold to the course. Do you understand?”