Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Rumbling under my grip, the golden giant conceded. “Run fast, you troublesome thing, because I will hunt you down in the streets, and you won’t be able to stop me a second time.”
The door wasn’t far, but I was not sure if I would make it once I pulled my claws from his thick neck. The longer I waited, the more of a head start Maeve might have, but knowing her, she was probably waiting in the shadows outside.
Terrified that she might have to come back in and fetch me.
More frenzied than before, the man fighting the restraint of his friends called out desperately, “What is your name?”
What was wrong with these men? They were all insane!
Dropping off the giant’s back, I kept my back to the door, tiptoeing backward, utterly terrified, and staring down a pack.
“WHAT IS YOUR NAME?”
Jumping, I caught my breath as the crazed man broke free of several strong soldiers working hard to restrain him. He rushed right for me.
The dark one shouted, “Run!” as I shot through the door, calling out for my friend.
Just as I hoped, Maeve was there, reaching for me from a nearby roof.
We had already learned the streets were nothing but an unworthy labyrinth, that to trust them was to get disoriented. Like a pair of thieves, we chose instead to run from rooftop to rooftop. Scurrying like rats, we leaped, mindless of what we broke or knocked down in our flight from the hunting mob.
Echoes of “Your name? Tell me your name!” over and over bounced off the walls, the sounds of men fighting, groans of pain. Even laughter—it chased us, confounded our senses, and left us with no understanding of how near or far the danger might be.
But the pair of us were fast, lighter than males, and capable of fitting through spaces in which they could not pursue. Our only advantages, since the city was beyond our comprehension and the men clearly knew where to go, more than once cutting off our escape and forcing us to alter course.
We ran until it hurt to breathe, and pushed further still until the sound of their rampage grew distant.
The academy was the only true shelter we would find, the only place such men could not reach us. For the first time in my life, I longed for its embrace and the twisted sort of safety it offered.
Such irony grated at what was left of my sorry nerves.
How could our plan have gone more wrong?
It was easier to get back in than it had been sneaking out, as we were not attempting to waste our time with stealth. When the door locked at our backs, we fell to the floor, gasping for air and dripping with sweat.
It was there, on the cold flagstones, that I looked at my dear friend.
She was a mess, hair fallen and tangled, dress destroyed in our flight.
No trace of victory in her expression to have made it home in one piece.
This was not a victory.
Our punishment would be very real, and most likely eternal.
At least one of us would be killed.
As it was the last time I might see my friend—one who had risked a great deal so we both might have a better future—I gave her a sorrowful smile.
“Maeve, he knows your name.” I hadn’t been thinking in my panic to set her free. I'd shouted it out, and now she was fully culpable for her part in my exploits. “I’m so sorry.”
“Did you see the size of him?” The glassy-eyed look was long gone from Maeve’s pale face. Stunned dread was all she had left. “I… let him kiss me. I don’t know why. One moment, I was scanning the crowd, and then this warm flush came over me. It was him. His big hands were everywhere. He put his tongue in my mouth, Lorieyn.” Green eyes wide as plates, she begged me to explain. “Why would he do that?”
I took her icy hands, panting from exertion. “He can’t reach you now that we're back inside. Okay?”
Maeve was shaking like a leaf, sitting up to hug her knees. “This is my fault. I pushed you into this. I wanted you out of the way so I could take top ranking.”
“It’s not like you lied about a secondary motivation. You didn’t push me into anything.” Shrugging, I offered a forced smirk. “I’m a lost cause anyway. Let me take the blame. I'll say I forced you.”
Scoffing, hand to her forehead, she squeezed her eyes shut. “How did you force me into a dress and makeup?”
That was a good point, but I was willing to lie through my teeth if I had to. “Then I’ll tell the truth… to a point. You were just trying to stop me. Understand? You went after me to stop me. What happened at the bar was my fault.”