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)
Killian places his brother on the ground, breathing hard through his nostrils and vibrating with rage. Korah calls for a few Mythics, and they come fast, lifting Rowan’s body without a touch.
“Take him off the warlands,” she commands. They nod and weave through the fighting soldiers to escape.
The farther they get with my cousin’s body, the more I feel the rage swelling in me like a beast. Before I can unleash it, Killian scoops up a sword and growls.
Full of anguish and rage, he shoves Devlin out of the way and tears through the creatures, swinging and slashing.
I burst into the sky, destroying creatures, dragons, and giants as I search for Selah.
I spot Hassha and Selah a short distance away, battling with swords and magic. It’s an even match, but I know Hassha is growing tired. I can tell by her sky warriors and how they’re losing their light. They’re fading, and they’ll be first to go.
“Selah!” I yell.
She scowls in my direction, but I fly fast enough to slam into her. We crash into a rocky red mountain, but she shoves me off.
I catch myself and unleash a sword, thrusting right at her. She dodges it, just barely. The blade cuts through the armor near her shoulder.
“You killed my cousin.” My lips pinch tight as she levels with me. When Hassha and Korah appear at my side, she raises her chin, and none of us hesitate to strike.
Selah is good though, blocking each blow, striking back, but she won’t stand against us. I think of my cousin, his blood still on my hands, his lifeless body, and I burn with fury.
I fly behind Selah, ripping off her helmet and sending it hurtling across the land.
She snarls, kicking Hassha off while raising a glowing hand at Korah. Korah sails through the air while Hassha hits the ground, but they return in a matter of seconds while I hold on tight, attempting to grip her head.
“Grab hold of her!” I shout.
Hassha catches her legs, and Korah seizes her arms.
Selah writhes and thrashes.
I circle her, staring into her eyes as I grip her head tight again. She glares back with flames for eyes and her teeth bared. I feel her energy sinking into my palms.
I hear her chaotic thoughts, her wishes for revenge and death. I hear the whisper of defeat cross her mind as she scans my face, and I swear I’m close to ending this once and for all.
Until she smirks, and flames ignite her entire body.
“THAT’S ENOUGH!” Selah burns brighter, and Korah and Hassha cry out when the flames sear their hands.
They snatch away from her, and when her limbs are freed, she shoves me against the chest so hard, I hear a crack in my chest and lose the breath in my lungs.
Korah wraps an invisible grip around my ankle to catch me before I can drift too far, and we both hit the ground so hard it crumbles.
“I told you to join me!” Selah’s voice is like a siren in the air. “I told you we could rule all this together, but you chose the wrong side.” She hovers above, glaring down at me and Korah. “And now, Seed of Yuri, you’ll feel nothing but pain for your choice.”
With a snap of a finger, Selah cackles, and I stagger to a stand as Korah rolls over, groaning. Hassha slams into Selah, and I dart up to join her—that is, until I feel another crack in my chest.
Only, this one isn’t from a blow.
This crack runs deeper, straight to my heart.
I gasp, feeling a hard yank in my chest that I can’t explain. All I know is that it hurts, and it pulls harder, harder. I cry out, clutching the heart of my chest as I descend.
Korah catches me and places me on my back on the ground, her eyes wide and panicked. I try to get up, try to move, but I feel paralyzed.
No. This can’t be. Yuri’s voice echoes.
I’ve never felt such pain before, but it’s taken over my entire body. It consumes me in a way that should be killing me.
And then I realize…
“It’s Willow,” I croak as blood fills my mouth. “She’s gotten to Willow.”
EIGHTY-SEVEN
WILLOW
Something slams into the door of the bunker.
I gasp, sitting up with the twins as the blue and purple waves of energy around the door flicker.
When another thud happens, I wake them up and rush them to a corner to hide. Juniper is already on her feet, her gun drawn and pointed at the door.
“What is that?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” she murmurs.
Maeve startles awake, peering around as the other women and children whisper loudly with terror swirling in their eyes.
The door thuds again, and this time the blue and purple energy floating around the door fades.
“Juniper,” I call.
“I see it.” She presses her thumb to the hammer of her gun. I move past her, grabbing a sword from the shelf. With one more thud, the door bursts open, and the women and children scream.