Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 153544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
The source of the question that was asked as soon as I walked in was Ava. She’s dressed in fluffy pajamas and a robe with black and pink feathers. Her hair is pulled up in a messy bun, and a white mask covers her face.
Cecily peeks out from her room, black-framed glasses covering half her face, and she’s wearing a hoodie that says When I’m dead, bury me facedown so the world can kiss my ass. “You’re finally back. We were worried sick about you.”
I let my hand fall to my side and I rub my palm on my shorts. How am I supposed to tell them where I’ve been?
Well, guys, I’ve been kind of kidnapped by what I’m sure is a serial killer in the making, but I forgot about that as we sat and watched fireflies.
Oh, and he made me orgasm while speeding, in his damn car, and I liked it.
That sounds fucked up even in my head.
“I went for a ride to clear my mind,” I tell the girls, hoping they’ll buy it.
Ava narrows her eyes behind the mask and weighs me up and down. “Then why do you look all flushed and shit?”
“I took the stairs. You know, exercise.”
“Right.”
“Where’s Anni?” I attempt. “Is she okay?”
“She said she’s practicing, and you’re not changing the subject, Glyn,” Ava hikes a hand on her hip. “I’m waiting for a proper answer instead of some excuses.”
I chew on my bottom lip, then release it. Jeez. Even Cecily is watching me like a stern teacher which doesn’t mesh up with the pink bandana—definitely a gift from Ava—that holds her silver hair.
“I was really on a ride.” No lie there, so I definitely sound convincing.
“Really?” Ava circles me with the expression of a mama bear.
I nod, a bit too quickly.
“How could you leave right when Lan’s fight started? We almost crushed those King’s U wankers, but Nikolai won at the last second.” She sounds dejected like some fanatic fan.
I don’t say anything, because I simply couldn’t care less whether Lan lost or won. If I’d been there, I wouldn’t have stuck around for the fight anyway.
Seeing my brother in action is too nauseating for me to handle. I’m a coward like that.
“Even Bran came,” Ava continues. “Let me tell you, the crowd went wild. This year’s championship will draw a fortune in bets. I’m totally trying my hand at this one.”
“Wait. Go back.” My throat dries. “Bran came to the fighting ring?”
“Yeah.”
“While Lan was fighting?”
“Yup. He left during, though.”
My heart lunges at the thought of Bran witnessing all that violence—from Lan, no less.
I might not like violence, but Bran is downright squeamish about it.
Tapping my back pocket, I fish out my phone and start to text him when the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get that,” Cecily heads to open it.
“Not yet.” Ava runs back to her room, probably to remove her mask. She refuses to look anything less than perfect in front of outsiders.
Glyndon: Are you okay?
Bran: You can ask me that in person, little princess.
I turn around at the sound of a commotion, and sure enough, Remi is pushing in a poker-faced Creigh, who’s holding a case of beer while he carries a food container.
Brandon follows behind them with a sketchpad in hand.
“Ladies, your favorite lord has bestowed you with his god-level presence. No need to push, I have enough attention to divide equally between you all. Never mind these two, they begged to come along.”
“You made us come,” Creigh says point-blank.
“Now, hush, Cray Cray. Just because you beat up that lowlife doesn’t mean you’re up with me on the god level.”
Cecily crosses her arms and taps her foot on the floor. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Remi stares down at himself. “I’m looking as great as deities during their sacrificing days and just as dashing. I don’t think I forgot anything?”
“The fact that we have classes tomorrow, genius. Some of us actually take uni seriously.”
“Don’t be a bore, Ces. I swear to fucking fuck, you’re going to die in the middle of one your books one day. Don’t come asking for a spot in my joy corner in the afterlife.” He pushes past her, dumps the food container on the coffee table, and throws his weight on the sofa, making himself at home.
Creigh nods in our direction, a red bruise covering his jaw. I swallow at the reminder of who put it there and can’t help pointing at it. “Are you okay?”
My cousin doesn’t even touch it. “I’ve survived worse.”
“Do you have to keep fighting, Creigh? Aunt Elsa would be so worried.”
“She won’t be worried about something she doesn’t know.” His words are spoken casually, but I can hear the warning behind them. “Also, why was he looking at you?”
“W-who?”
“The younger Carson. He was looking at you during the fight.”
“You must have been imagining it.”