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)
“Well, that depends, Devlin,” I say, eyeing him. “Are we allies or enemies?”
“Of course we’re fucking allies! Now toss me a sword.”
Killian tosses a sheathed sword to him and the several other Rippies who tagged along. We load our guns with Luxor ash bullets as quickly as possible, but the first creature strikes, clawing at one of Devlin’s men and sending him flying toward the tavern.
I withdraw my own sword just as one leaps into the air. Thrusting my blade upward, I slice him through the center, and he screeches before hitting the ground. Black liquid drips to the hilt of my sword, but I fling it off just as another creature comes for me.
Rowan swipes at his head and sends it scattering.
“They’re coming in fast,” Killian yells, shoving his blade into another.
“Oh, how I’ve missed slaying with a sword,” Rowan laughs, pivoting before stabbing one of the creatures in the back.
Devlin roars behind me as he strikes, taking down multiple creatures at once.
A growl erupts next to me, and when I look to find the familiar noise, Cerberus is leaping in the air to bite into the neck of one of the creatures. He snarls as he rips at its flesh then pounces on another.
The fight continues with some of Devlin’s men going down while my clan and I overlap to take them down. One moment we’re back-to-back, and the next we’re stabbing or shooting one of the creatures in unison.
I suppose all that forced training from my shit father paid off.
In the distance, I notice some of the civilians screaming and running. One of the creatures notices too and hisses as it turns away from the fight to chase after a woman.
I bring my fingers to my mouth and whistle. “Cerberus!”
Cerberus pulls away from the dead creature beneath him to eye me, black dripping from his mouth. When I point toward the one chasing the woman, he dashes off.
Incoming.
That familiar buzz crawls up my skin again, and a beam of lavender light blinds me. Along with it comes a gust of wind so strong it sends me stumbling backward and slamming into one of the Rippie’s motorbikes.
Black liquid flies everywhere, staining our clothes, the ground, the cars—everything.
When the bright light fades, Korah stands in the center, holding the wing of one of the larger creatures. The area around her is bathed in inky blood, flesh and guts, but she’s completely spotless as she radiates with energy.
Her lavender gaze snaps to mine, and she cocks her head. “Go. I’ve got this.”
Just as she says that, one of the creatures shrieks and soars above her. She raises a hand and wraps it in an invisible grip, ripping it in half mid-air.
I look from her to Hassha who is no longer holding the barrier but flying through the gap Selah created. Selah slams into her as soon as she makes it out, but Hassha doesn’t drift too far.
She returns the blow, slamming into Selah in a burst of blue before doing the same to the dragon still breathing fire. One blow from Hassha separates the dragon’s jaw from its head. The fire dies, and the dragon shrills as it flips sideways, sliding down the dome-like barrier surrounding Blackwater.
She’s coming. Defend yourself.
I realize what Selah just did with Hassha was only a distraction. She’s now made her way through the crack in the barrier and is flying directly toward me.
Her hands are raised, those claws of hers revealed like daggers. She closes them around my throat before I have time to raise my gun or my sword.
I choke as I reach for the blade attached to my thigh, but Selah hisses and withdraws the blade with her own magic to stab it into my leg. I roar in pain while she dons a devious grin.
“You’re nothing but a mere mortal,” she sneers, still choking me. “I can’t wait to end you and your precious little mate. It’ll all be mine, Seed of Yuri.” I claw at her hand, feeling the heat building in mine. My breath is trapped as she squeezes tighter.
In that moment, all I can think about is Willow.
The baby.
Our future. She’s safe at the manor now, but she won’t be if Selah kills me.
Is that what you want? the voice in my head asks. You’re all your mate has. Now fight!
A roar builds in my throat, and one of Selah’s brows inclines when I manage to press a hand to her chest. Though her skin is hotter than fire, it’s not enough to stop me.
I’m not sure where the power comes from, but I feel it brewing in my veins, bubbling like a pot of boiling water. I feel my own fire churning in my gut, and with a grunt, I shove Selah off me.
She ascends but doesn’t dare take her eyes away. As she steadies herself, she withdraws her sword of flames and growls as she aims for me again. Blue and lavender light smashes into her from both sides and sends her barreling to the ground.