Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“That’s right,” Tad confirms, his attention shifting to me. “She was living with Chin’s ex-wife in China. But I found her.”
“Does Chin know?”
“Not only does he know,” Tad states, “he assures me he can get us Red Dart and a stock of serum, as well as both Creed and Addie, tonight. He’s even promised aid with the birth of your child. I want to be Creed’s replacement, your right arm.”
I study him and deem him distasteful to the eye and unworthy. Yet, he is resourceful at a time when I’ve been forced to avoid battle for fear an injury would affect Ava and my child. I’ll make use of Tad for now. When I have Red Dart, I’ll force my brother and Creed to follow me.
“Show me results.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Addie
By morning, Creed can see my normal eye color, even if the rest of the world cannot, and the tiny bit of sickness I felt has passed, most of which was drowned out by Creed’s mouth on various parts of my body.
We spent a lot of time after the blood exchange naked and talking. We’re both aware that my going back tomorrow is dangerous. And perhaps even illogical. But for me to disappear would ensure my father is on edge and that the Renegades will not have an upper hand in an attack.
My father will not hurt me.
It’s my and Creed’s belief in this statement that allows us both to decide I can do this.
And we’ve lucked out that the poor timing of our lifebonding hasn’t made me sick. That would have destroyed our plans for me to distract my father from the Renegades attack with my presence. Of course, if we tell Katie what’s happened, she’ll want to draw blood and study me, but there’s no time for that. Even if my father suspects I’m involved with Creed, I’ve assured Creed I can handle him. But I have to be at work, showing my devotion to my father, to make that possible.
And so, we talk through everything that could go wrong, plan out options, and then try to sleep a little while.
Near dawn, with Jensen, Maddox, Caleb, and about a dozen soldiers, we exit Sunrise City. Nerves are alive and jumping in my belly. I’m aiding in the process of imprisoning my father. It’s a rough agenda to follow, though the right one, I know. And then there was the windwalking.
Addie Lawrence—a used-to-be-normal, military girl—is going to windwalk. Or maybe I wasn’t ever, oh, so normal—at least not for a long time. I am, after all, the daughter of the man who’d created a new race and the lifebond of a GTECH who I’ll probably marry at some point. Though that feels irrelevant at this point.
We’re more bonded than any ceremony could ever make us.
The doors to the city slide shut behind us, and I turn and blink in astonishment. The mountain appears untouched, as if that door doesn’t exist.
“Not so sure about this whole windwalking thing,” I say anxiously, casting Creed a fervent look. “My first attempt wasn’t such a good one.”
“You’re different now,” Creed assures me. “It’s safe.”
“You complete him,” Jensen jokes, repeating a line from the movie Jerry Maguire and pressing his hand to his chest. They all knew the minute they saw me, though I have no idea how. “It’s addictive,” Jensen adds. “The windwalking, that is.” He inclines his head at Creed. “Not Creed. And if you disagree, Addie, I don’t want to hear about it.”
Creed ignores his jibe and pulls me close. “Ready?”
“No. But do it anyway.”
He doesn’t wait for me to change my mind. Suddenly, the most incredible force of energy lances through my body, and before I can fully process it and react, I’m standing on my back patio outside my condo.
A smile curves my lips. “Oh my God, that was so amazing. Can we do it again?”
Creed laughs and kisses me. “Many, many times,” he promises. “But not now. Let’s go inside before someone sees us.”
“I would, but the door’s locked.”
He holds up a hand, and I can feel the push of wind focused on the sliding glass door. Incredulously, the lock slides open and Creed pulls it wide. He’s powerful, far more so than he allows anyone to know, but maybe me now, which pleases me.
He steps inside and takes me with him, but sets me aside, holding a finger to his lips. It’s only then that I consider someone could be waiting on me inside. Creed draws his weapon and swiftly moves through the condo, scanning every inch.
When he finally returns, my shoulders slump in relief. “I can’t wait until this is over.”
“Soon, sweetheart,” he promises. “But I don’t like being here right now. Go get ready for work. I’ll follow you to the base, where you will be safe. Do not, under any circumstances, leave that base without calling me first. You go nowhere without me following.”