Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Are you doing that?” I ask, peering up at him.
“No.” He frowns, stepping away and studying our surroundings.
Cerberus and Silvera bark up at the sky, and Onyx snorts and whinnies in the distance, raising his front hooves before stomping them into the ground. When I look at Caz again, his irises flash red and his fists wrap in flames.
A shadow appears in the sky, spreading over the forest and erasing most of the sunlight. A deep, distant screech crackles in the air, causing Caz to grow rigid at my side.
“She’s here,” he mumbles, still staring up.
My heart thumps behind my ribcage as I watch something black with sharp edges appear in the sky, floating across like an oversized spaceship.
“What is that?” I gasp when the sunlight completely fades and we’re drowned in darkness.
Instead of answering, Caz takes my hand and runs with me to Onyx. When he helps me onto the horse’s back, he jumps behind me and grips the reins, shouting for Onyx to get us back to Blackwater.
SEVENTY-SEVEN
WILLOW
Onyx doesn’t stop until we’ve reached the manor.
In the middle of the field in front of our castle-like home is Hassha, Korah, the Blackwater Clan, and several of Hassha’s warriors. The Regals’ hands and eyes are ignited as they glare at the hovering mass in the sky.
“Why is she here already?” Caz asks as soon as he’s met up to Korah and Hassha.
“She shouldn’t be.” Hassha grimaces, her eyes never straying from the menacing rock. “Contact all territories and tell them to come to Blackwater as soon as possible. Tell them to be armed and ready.”
“Is it time already?” Juniper’s eyes flood with panic as she looks at everyone. My throat thickens as I look from her to the black mass in the sky again. Clumps of dirt and rocks fall from it, slamming into the barrier and causing it to rattle with lightning.
“It’s time to get ready,” Korah confirms. She and Hassha look at each other and nod. “We will take ourselves out of the barrier to see what her plans are and what we’re dealing with. She is not supposed to attack until the full five days have been completed.”
“But knowing her, she doesn’t want to wait any longer,” Hassha growls. She whips around, turning for a cluster of her warriors. “KESSALA!”
“KESSALA!” they shout back, slamming the bottom of their spear handles into the ground.
“It is now our time to fight,” Hassha declares. “Gather the other women and children and bring them to the manor for safety!”
The warriors waste no time running toward the forest to collect their tribe.
“Juniper, while Maeve is recovering, you are in charge of everyone in the bunker,” Caz says, gripping her by shoulders.
Her wet eyes expand as she looks him all over, taking in his new appearance. “Caz, what’s happened to you?” she asks.
Killian and Rowan turn to look at him too, their eyes going just as wide. They were all too stuck on the floating rock to fully notice him before.
“Brother,” Rowan breathes.
“Yuri,” he returns, shrugging. “Do you think you can do that, Jun?”
“Sure, but that is a lot to put on my shoulders. I’m not Mum, Caz. I don’t think as quickly as she does.”
“Of course you do,” he returns. “You’ve always been much quicker in thought than all of us. Why do you think you’ve always been such a pain in my ass?”
She huffs a laugh, but it does nothing to wash away the fear in her eyes.
“You’ll take Willow with you to the bunker along with Hassha’s tribe and their children. Hassha and Korah have agreed to keep it protected during the war so nothing should be able to get in or out until it’s over.”
“Love of Vakeeli.” She pulls away, looking from Caz to her brothers. “I can’t believe this is happening. Promise me all of you will stay alive. Promise to make it back to us.”
Killian and Rowan look between each other before their chins fall an inch.
Caz holds on to her gaze but doesn’t answer.
Juniper draws in a shuddering breath, and when a tear drifts down her cheek, she swipes it away. Then she’s slamming into Killian and Rowan, hugging them tight around the necks as she chokes on a breath.
They hold on to her, hugging her back just as tightly. Rowan’s face crumples, and Killian’s misty eyes close as he wraps his arms around his siblings.
“Come back to me,” Juniper whispers when she finally pulls away from them.
“I love you, sister.” Rowan plants a kiss on her forehead.
Killian ruffles her hair, but I don’t miss the tears collected in the corners of his eyes. “Keep ’em safe, Jun.”
“You should be safe in the bunker.” Caz stands in front of me, and I look up at him, feeling my heart beating a mile a minute. “There’s food, water, everything you need. When this is all over, I’ll be the first to come for you.”