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)
“You don’t know that.” She matches my stare. “In this world, we have to take risks, Caz. Just like I risked going into your mind to stop Decius from overruling you. Just like I risked bringing you to Earth with me without knowing what could happen to you. I will take risks as many times as I have to if it means protecting the people I love. So just…don’t fight me on this. Please, Caz.” She rises, meeting up to me and cupping my face in her hands. “I need you to support me on this. I need you to trust that everything will be okay. We can’t think the worst will happen.”
Clenching my fists, I pull my face out of her hands.
She stares at me, flabbergasted.
“I will never be okay with you killing yourself,” I grumble.
“But I was supposed to be okay with you pointing guns at your own head?” she snaps back.
“That was different! That was before I realized what I was placed in this world to do. You saved my life, Willow. You washed away all those dark thoughts, all that murky water, and made my life clearer. You gave me a reason to live, and now you’re telling me that I have to let it all go? Because that’s what this is. You’re telling me that I have to accept the possibility of losing the one thing in my life that has restored me!”
I can’t even look at her. I’m so angry. I’ll break everything in this room if I don’t leave now. My hands are burning, my eyes too. I feel the energy inside me sparking, riding through my blood, daring to wake up.
“I have to go.” I turn for the door.
“Caz,” she pleads when I yank it open, but I don’t stop.
I can’t. And I’m glad I don’t because as soon as I’m in the corridor, I raise a hand and a burst of scarlet escapes my palm, melting the iron railing in front of me.
SIXTY-TWO
WILLOW
I have no idea where Caz is.
It’s been hours, and he hasn’t returned to our room. He’s angry, that I can feel. He’s not letting that rage go, and he wants me to know it.
I sigh, slipping into a robe and leaving our room. As I drift down the stairs (not without noticing the melted railing), I hear distant murmuring.
It isn’t until I’ve rounded the corner for one of the sitting rooms that I spot Caz and Killian standing near the fireplace, deep in conversation.
Caz hears—or feels—me before I even reveal myself. His head turns, and his eyes lock on mine. They’re cold, distant.
He looks away just as quickly, jaw ticking. The fire highlights half of his face, casting the other in shadows.
“Willow?” Killian calls, glancing between us. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah, Kill. Everything’s fine. Why aren’t you two sleeping?”
“Can’t,” is all Killian says.
Caz doesn’t respond at all.
“What are you two talking about?” I ask, stepping deeper into the room.
Killian cuts his eyes to Caz, who simply tosses up a hand in a whatever, just tell her motion.
“Caz was just telling me your plans,” Killian answers.
“And?” I note the way Killian’s shoulders soften.
“We can protect you, Willow. I don’t think you should go through with it. If it’s the baby you’re concerned about, we’ll look after him or her. We guarantee it.”
I huff. “Killian, you’ve protected me enough.”
“And I’ll continue doing it. You’re family now, Willow,” he says. “I don’t want to see you getting hurt.”
“Don’t bother, Kill,” Caz grumbles, eyeing me. “She has a death wish, and no one can stop her.”
I scoff. “It’s not a death wish, Caz. It’s hope.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself, Willow.”
I’ve never seen him like this—so angry with me. I’ve never felt him like this either, his chest tight and his feelings guarded.
“You shouldn’t do it.” A different voice fills the room just as tears accumulate in my eyes.
I whirl around as Caz instinctively moves closer to me. At least he’s still willing to protect me.
Korah steps into the room, donned in all black. Her hair has been braided into a halo, and for once, she isn’t glowing. She’s like a shadow in the night, blending into the dark corners and walls.
“See?” Caz says, frowning at me as he gestures to her. “Someone agrees.”
“Why not?” I ask, keeping my focus on her and ignoring him.
“Because when the time comes, we need you alive,” she replies.
“The time for what?” I ask, exasperated. “I hate all these vague answers, Korah! Just be transparent.”
She purses her lips. “Hassha will do whatever you ask because she owes you a debt. If that is the case, I owe you a debt too, and I will not be able to repay you if you are dead.”
“Still so fucking vague.” I cross my arms. “You told me the truth about my mother. Fine. I’ll accept it. But you can’t deny that it’s a good plan to charge myself up in order to protect the baby and others right now.”