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)
Selah had completely bound herself to him, just as she did with Decius.
This child would live a hard life, not only because Selah had tainted him, but because he would now be used as her pawn. His head would be full of whispers he could not control when all he longed for was freedom.
“She’s wasted so much energy here,” Hassha murmured. “Why would she do that?”
“Because she needs him,” Yuri said, still staring at the crying child. “She heard our plans about the eternal slumber. She wants him to become just like Decius, but as a separate entity. One that will be able to wake her, no matter who he is reborn as.”
“We can’t spend the rest of our lives searching and killing a person whose only goal is to wake her.” Hassha gently shushed one of the little girls, but her heart was drumming faster.
“Yes, and that’s exactly what she wanted,” said Yuri. “But there is a way we can prevent it.” Yuri finally picked up the crying boy.
“How do you mean?” Korah lifted the twins and held each in one arm.
“We give him our blood.” Yuri pushed the boy’s dark hair away from his forehead as he rocked him in his arms to soothe him. “One single drop from each of us is all it will take. And to make sure he doesn’t become someone like Decius, I’ll give him all of my power and energy.”
“What?” Hassha gasped. “You’re willing to sacrifice all that you’re made of? Have you lost your head, Yuri?”
“You know that I cannot kill her myself, Hassha,” he said, meeting her eyes. “I cannot absorb her energy right now because it will kill both of you right away. Is that what you want? To die at this very moment with her?”
Hassha blinked at him, teary-eyed, while Korah’s chin dropped an inch.
“One day, you’ll have no choice but to let your energy go, but it won’t be now. You deserve to live, to create the life you want without constant threats.” He looked at the boy again, sighing. “I’ve stored my energy into many things, and I’m certain I can store all I have in him. If I do, there will be no room for her corruption because I am much stronger than she is. His blood may be the cure to waking her, but he will also be the very thing that will destroy her if she ever returns. By then, you’ll know it’s your time to prepare.”
“Yuri, no.” Hassha placed the baby down and walked to him, clasping his face in her hands. “You do this, and we’ll never see you again. It doesn’t matter what kind of life we create if you aren’t here.”
A smile swept across his lips. “I’ll always be here.” He gestured to the whimpering, dark-haired boy whose eyes were wide and wet. His cheeks were red, his bottom lip poked out. He looked so sad, so lost. He didn’t deserve his fate. His future lives didn’t deserve it either. He deserved safety.
“I’ll be in him,” Yuri went on. “You’ll know I’m there when the time comes. You’ll know which generation I’ve chosen. I’ll give you and Korah enough time to live a hundred lives if I must.”
Hassha’s eyes glistened as Yuri used his free hand to palm her cheek. He pressed his forehead to hers, and her tears dripped in streaks of silvery blue.
“Yuri, are you certain?” Korah asked, her eyes damp. “These children are not ours. We didn’t make them. We don’t owe them anything. We can leave them with good commoners, let them be raised by someone else. We can search for him and stop him before he ever has the chance to wake Selah.”
“I refuse to let you two waste your lives cleaning up her mess. Aiding the Olympians was always my plan, you just followed suit. I must now make this right. Selah may have spread her hatred, but this is our world, and I’m willing to sacrifice so Vakeeli remains alive.”
Yuri pulled his forehead from Hassha’s, kissed her cheek, and said, “This, I am certain. And as you said, Hassha, we do not want to be like the gods on Earth who kill the mortals and cause destruction. There are good people here, many of whom I believe will rinse out the evil that has plagued these lands. Regardless of whether these children are ours or not, we formed a bond with them. They are innocent and are counting on us, so we must do whatever it takes to protect them.”
“Yuri, please,” Hassha pleaded, her face stained with tears. “We can think of something else. It does not have to be this way.”
“This is the only way, Hassha. Selah will not stop wreaking havoc if she’s awake. She will set this whole world on fire if we don’t stop her. Would you rather be left with nothing?” he demanded.