Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
A beam of blue light surrounds Nuvos as the sisters remain in the air above us. We’re all so engrossed in the sight before us we are taken by surprise when intruders enter the temple.
Quickly, I surround the sisters in a tornado of wind to protect them. Bradan follows with a wall of fire and Ardan with a wall of ice. I expect Reilly to throw up a defense as well.
That’s when I see he’s encased in the center of some type of chained sphere. Immediately, I know it’s made of blessed iron. I go to release, so my knights will cover Ray as I fight, but I’m blown back. Chains pin me against the wall. I go to blow my way out, but I’m electrocuted instead.
I growl and look around for Bradan and Ardan. They, too, are pinned to the walls by the same chains. I resign myself to defeat. Something I’ve never done before in my life.
I think of the play I made earlier. I’m glad I followed my gut. Kings always rise.
Don’t let me down.
Ray
I’m thrown back in time once again. This time I know I’m in the heavens and this isn’t Venus’s life. This life belongs to someone else. Someone with way more power.
However, I’m not in their body. I’m in their thoughts. As if I’m watching this from their mind.
Tanrı, the name comes to mind as I see him appear. A phoenix and a male siren stand before him. The siren has a basket in his hands as if an offering to the alpha god. Tanrı has a smile on his face.
The phoenix transforms before my eyes and a chocolate-skinned woman appears. She’s absolutely gorgeous. She looks lovingly toward the siren. He takes the form of a man. He, too, has flawless brown skin.
Tanrı reaches into the basket and lifts up a small child. He beams up at the baby as he holds her over his head. He kisses her cheek and brings her to his side.
“We are gathered here to bless these four—”
Tanrı is cut off as all chaos ensues. The rage that comes to his face speaks volumes. I turn away as the siren is struck down. The scream that follows breaks something inside me.
I turn to find the blazing phoenix flapping her wings. Then she, Tanrı, the baby in his arms and the basket with the other three babies disappear.
I gasp as I’m snapped back to the present. Once again, I’m hovering above the room with my sisters. I can feel their power as if it were my own.
“Now you understand?” Lee Ann says in my head.
“Yes, this isn’t just about them. This is about us.”
“It’s about you. The first child blessed before the fall. Tanrı had plans for you from the beginning of time.
“This was our destiny. The Council of the Phoenix and the fire sirens will rise again. Born of ash, risen through song.”
I release a roar that comes from deep within. As I do, I absorb the wall of wind surrounding us. The other two barriers disappear as well. I land in a crouch with my head down and my arm with my bow held out.
My power pulses through me. The bow in my hand sparks with an electrical current that makes a zapping sound. My other hand sparks with a purple glow as an arrow forms.
Looking up through my lashes, I glare at the hunter before me. I stare into his green eyes and bare my teeth. Quickly, I dart my gaze around. I see our mates are trapped.
“They are strong, but this is our house. Bring them down,” Lee Ann says in my head.
“The fire bitch is mine,” Taylor snarls.
“I will get our mates free,” Billy says.
I’m ready. I can feel it in my bones. I won’t allow him to defeat me. This is for my father.
“Let’s go,” I growl.
Suddenly, the room begins to shake. Debris from the ceiling starts to fall. I whip my head around, trying to figure out what’s going on. Then, a bloodcurdling cross between a growl and a grunt fills the air.
“It’s him,” Venus says.
“I know.”