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)
Hassha and Korah ignite in color, stepping back as they wait for what looms. Behind the columns of creatures snarling and gnashing their teeth are creatures even bigger than they are.
Towering like mountains with dagger like teeth, misshapen heads, and fists larger than castles, are giants. They roar at Hassha and Korah, revealing black tongues and hollow throats.
Then, with flaps of wings soaring past their heads and a burst of scarlet, a row of dragons appears, just like the one Selah created when she broke the barrier.
They surround Hassha and Korah, chuffing and growling. Hassha’s breath comes out thick as she glares at her wretched sister.
“And there are many more where they came from,” Selah says with a grin.
Hassha turns her attention to Korah who nods and bends down, stabbing her fingers into the ground. Roots appear, traveling along the red dirt and lava. She throws her head back as the roots take form, wrapping around each other and twisting like vines.
The body forms first, then the sharp-tipped wings. The slender belly drifts to a smooth wooden tail and claws for feet. Then another appears. And another.
One by one, the wooden dragons sprout from the ground, standing before Selah’s dragons and screeching in their faces.
Korah finally removes her claws, and Hassha steps forward, throwing her hands in the air and summoning what’s left of the sunlight.
Bursts of light plummet to the ground, burning through some of Selah’s creatures, and she hisses, grimacing, but Hassha doesn’t stop.
Each drop of sun morphs into a soldier on horseback, all wielding swords and shields. She makes as many as she can, enough to match the numbers of Selah’s, possibly more, and when the last is created, she lowers her hands.
“And don’t forget the moonlight,” Hassha says.
“Or the sea,” Korah adds.
Selah presses a precious hand to her chest and snickers. “My, how my sisters have grown. Tell me, how much energy did that cost you?”
“Trust me, Selah, that was nothing more than a whisper of it.”
Selah frowns at Hassha. Throwing a hand up, she shoots a beam of orange light at Hassha, but she floats above it. The fire causes an explosion on the ground.
Lava erupts, soaking the ground and puddling around The Regals’ feet. It bypasses them, running like fiery rivers outside their sandals.
“Get rid of the lava,” Hassha demands. “This war will be fair.”
Selah’s eyes flicker between her sisters, then she smiles and says, “Very well.”
With a snap, the lava disappears, leaving only red dirt and decay.
“When the stairs fall, sisters, it will be time. And if you don’t come up, I will come down.” Selah takes a step closer to them. “I do hope you and the Seed of Yuri are prepared.”
“He is,” Korah growls.
“Prepared for you to die,” Hassha seethes.
SEVENTY-NINE
CAZ
Hours have passed, but my heart doesn’t race any less. The Blackwater army is ready, dressed head to toe in black armor with their weapons strapped and faces solemn.
I stand in the front line with Killian and Rowan on either side of me. All of us stare at the hovering rock.
“Dragons are one thing, but how the fuck did she make giants?” Rowan hisses.
Hassha had explained to us what to expect on the battlefield. I knew the dragons would return as well as those creatures that attacked us the last time, but giants? That astounds me. One drop of their fists and it’ll take out dozens of us.
From a distance, I hear a rustle in the leaves. The sounds around me along with my sight have changed drastically. I sense someone running through the forest nearby, their breaths heavy and their heart booming.
“Something’s coming,” I say, conjuring a gun. Killian and Rowan whip theirs out to point in the direction I’m looking.
Three bodies tumble out of the forest, staggering across the field toward us. When I see who they are, I realize they’re no threat at all.
“Fuck,” I mutter, forcing my gun to disappear.
I march with my clan as one of the bodies collapses on the ground.
“Devlin?” Rowan calls. He jogs ahead as the two men with Devlin help him stand.
“What happened?” I ask as they haul him up. His head lolls to the side.
“Tried to…kill me…” Devlin grounds out. “Killed…everyone.” Devlin’s head falls, and I look from him to the two men holding him.
One is a Rippie. The other is clearly a Whisper Grovian based on his brighter attire. He’s familiar. I’ve seen him before.
“You are?” I ask the Whisper Grovian.
“Second in leadership of Whisper Grove,” the man answers. “My name is Hale. I saw Conan go off in the night to feed Ripple Hills, and then I heard screaming. The next thing I know, Conan has departed with the weapons and armor and most of the Rippies are dead.”
I clench my jaw, remembering the traitor that was in our midst.
“How did he survive it?” I ask, gesturing to Devlin.