Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
"What I should have done a long time ago. And I'm only one step away."
At his words, a tingling sensation burst across my feet and spread up through my legs as Foras let out a maniacal laugh. I didn't know what was happening, but time was running out.
"Kill him!" I begged Nigel. Those types of spells were usually forbidden, but given the circumstances, it was the only way to stop him.
"Yes, kill me, Nigel," Foras taunted. He stuck his head by my right ear, before gripping my shoulders and moving me in front of him, then repeated his actions on the left side, using me like a shield. Nigel's chest heaved as he glared ahead.
"Do it!" I shouted, but Nigel only stood still as Foras played his sick game of peek-a-boo.
Foras whispered in my ear, "See you soon," before he disappeared.
The moment he left, all strength left my legs and I crumpled to the ground. Nigel zoomed to my side to help me, but I pushed him away.
"What's wrong with you? Why didn't you take him out? Is that sick fuck your friend?"
"He's no friend of mine," Nigel assured, but it didn't cool my anger.
"Then why the hell didn't you kill him? You've seen what he's done! You promised to avenge Micah! That could've been our only chance to stop him! He was right in front of you!"
"And right behind you. I didn't have a clear shot at him for my spell."
"Then you should've taken us both out!" I insisted, and Nigel pressed his hand over his heart, like the suggestion caused him pain. "My life isn't worth the fate of the world."
"It is to me," Nigel argued. "You are worth everything to me." He slowly reached out and cupped my cheeks in his hands. Struck by the pain and sincerity in his eyes, I didn't push him away. "You are my beloved."
"I…" My mind spun, unable to grasp the words he said. "What?"
"You are my beloved," Nigel repeated. "The one Fate has chosen for me to love, protect, and cherish forever. I knew it from the moment I met you, and have fallen harder for you every moment since."
I suddenly understood the feelings I'd had towards Nigel, his lingering glances, the heat in his touch, and his sweetness that was geared only at me. But there was still so much I didn't understand.
Before I could ask any questions, I flinched at the sound of footsteps coming down the hallway, and again when additional officers burst into the room. The horrors I'd just witnessed, followed by Nigel's unexpected confession made me jumpy.
When our fellow officers entered, their eyes widened as they took in the sight. I realized what an odd scene it was, with Nigel intimately holding my face as we knelt next to a dead, brainless body. So I quickly leapt to my feet (which I could thankfully feel again), and Nigel followed suit.
"What the hell happened in here?" Robert, a senior officer, asked in shock.
We filled him and the other detectives in on the incantation and how it tied in to the other murders. Nigel gave them Foras's name, and the team called in the crime scene unit to document the room and victim. Robert said he would notify the lawyer's family. I believed he could tell how shaken up I was, as he told us we were free to return to the station, and said for me to take care of myself.
Nigel and I both thanked him, and the rest of the team, before Nigel took me in his arms and we disappeared.
Chapter Nine
Nigel
I clung to Milan as the precinct walls built around us. My heart was heavy from seeing him in Foras's grasp, and hearing him ask me to take his life. Yet I was also relieved to finally tell him about our fated bond, even though we hadn't gotten to speak about it yet. There was so much to say.
I kept my arms around him as I looked into his eyes, wondering what he was thinking about the information I'd given him. I didn't mean to pile on top of everything else going on at the moment, but I couldn't hold my secret any longer.
But before I could ask him anything, or learn of his feelings about our situation, Captain Mullins hurried down the hall towards us. When he was still several meters away, he pointed and told us, "You two; follow me."
I let Milan out of my hold, and hoped it was a good sign when he allowed me to keep my hand on the small of his back as we walked to the Captain's office. We each took a seat at his desk and he wasted no time with his point.
"I heard you discovered the perpetrator's identity." Considering that Milan and I teleported to the station, word traveled fast. When I nodded, Mullins added, "Tell me everything you know."