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)
“Korah, please. We’ve gone over this, and it’s not the wise thing to do right now.”
“But she’s already lost so much, Hassha,” Korah counters. “Other than Caspian, she has no real family left, and prior to this, all she knew was life on Earth. If she knows her true history, maybe she’ll feel like she has a purpose outside of being someone’s mate.”
“It’s too risky,” Hassha declares. “And you and I both know she can’t gain anything from the truth unless you…” She can’t bring herself to say it. She won’t say it.
“Unless I die,” Korah fills in for her.
“Exactly. And you won’t be dying this soon, so it’s useless to tell her. I know you have an attachment to her, and I know dealing with Warren was hard, but it was that or we all would’ve been sacrificed.”
Korah nods with mild reluctance.
“Let her create her own life,” Hassha goes on, taking her sister’s hand. “She’s a smart girl. She’ll find her way out of the misery.”
“And if she doesn’t? If she winds up just like the sad boy she’s with?”
Hassha says nothing, though she’s thought about it. It’d be a shame for the last Cold Tethered couple to eliminate themselves…but it would spare a lot of their headaches.
“Hassha, once she’s gone, so is Caspian,” Korah says. “There is no replicating her or any more of the Cold Tethered children after their deaths. We agreed that when Yuri selected his chosen, this would be it. If Caspian dies before he’s prepared, Yuri will have sacrificed himself for nothing.”
Hassha contemplates that, purposely avoiding her sister’s eyes.
“I really don’t get how Mother did this on Earth. It’s an awful burden being in control of everyone and everything.”
“A burden we must protect,” Korah responds.
“If things get worse, you can tell Willow everything,” Hassha says.
A high-pitched scream splits the air.
Hassha gasps, turning to face the line of trees surrounding the village. Milandra is already running toward the sound.
She glances at Korah before both of them take off to the village.
But what they see is completely unexpected.
TWENTY-ONE
REGALS
Lilith, one of Hassha’s own, has murdered three women.
The handle of a bloody spear is locked in her hands, her eyes blood red, and foam dripping out of her mouth. Her skin has turned gray, black veins crawling up her arms and neck.
“No,” Hassha breathes, feeling a drop in her chest.
Lilith roars as she snatches out her sword and chases another woman, but Hassha is in front of her before she can reach her. With one twist of her hand, Lilith freezes. The redness in her eyes fades, and panic seizes her.
“Lilith, you must stop this!” Hassha commands.
“My queen, I don’t know what’s happening! I’m so sorry!” Lilith pleads. “The man in the cave—I was compelled to set him free, but I didn’t want to do it—”
A black creature glides past and clutches Lilith’s head with its talons, ripping it clean from her body. It screeches as it soars through the village.
Hassha sucks in a breath then points her attention to the frantic women. “KESSALA!” she shouts, letting Lilith’s body crash to the ground.
The warriors aim for it with their bow and arrows. Some thrust spears at it. All of them miss. The screeching grows louder, and the creature comes barreling toward Hassha.
With a quick hand, she wraps it in an electric blue grasp and slams it to the ground. The creature hisses and growls, thrashing. Just like Warren, its wings are black and waxy, but the face of it hasn’t changed. He’s only started to transition.
It’s the man she’s kept hostage in one of the caves.
Garrett.
She turns her attention to Lilith, noticing a deep gash on her forearm where blood leaks out. She was scratched. Infected. She drops to one knee to inspect it as Garrett remains locked in her shackles. The gash, she realizes, is lined with fire.
“Selah,” she growls.
As she stares at her lost soldier, anger takes hold of her. Her body vibrates with a rage she’s not felt in many, many years. Raising a shaking hand, she squeezes it into a tight fist.
Garrett chokes for breath, twitching as black liquid gushes from his mouth. When she finally drops her hand, Garrett’s head detaches from his body.
The noise ends.
The thrashing ceases.
“How is she doing this?” Hassha whispers.
As if the chaos that’s ensued on her island isn’t bad enough, a hollow feeling sinks in her chest, her eyes spark, and a vision emerges.
A large steel ship on rough waters.
Black sails with a silver wolf emblem flapping in the wind.
A familiar man dressed in black.
“Hassha!” Korah screams from across the field.
Hassha swings her attention to her sister.
“It’s Caspian!” Korah yells. “He’s sailing to Inferno Isle!”
TWENTY-TWO
WILLOW
Plop. Plop. Plop.
I stir awake with a groan as the dripping noise grows louder. My mouth is dry, and my eyes are tight like I’ve cried for a whole day. My head throbs, feeling like it’s been split in half.