Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
He wheezed out a cough before he said, “The boss is going to be a bit surprised that the rumors are true.” He spat blood to the side. “You got the power. That much power, and they’ll use you up good and proper, filthy creature ’n’ all—”
This time, it wasn’t me who lost control.
The mage’s eyes widened as Austin stormed toward him. The man’s feet scrabbled for purchase, and he tried to back-pedal even though there was a wall behind him.
Austin wrapped his large hand around the man’s throat and hoisted him clean off the ground. Rage and menace and pain ate at my mate. I knew he was reacting to the images that must’ve rushed through his mind when the mage spoke of what they would do to me.
The man’s face turned red, as his air supply was effectively cut off. He shook his bound hands behind him and kicked his legs. Austin didn’t show any sign of strain.
“Niamh, I need your chair,” I said through my teeth, still struggling for my own self-control.
“O’course.” She dragged it over, beer in hand, and set it between me and the wall.
“Austin, don’t kill him,” I said. “Put him down.”
My mate walked the man over before dropping him onto the seat.
The man hit the edge and nearly fell. He got his toes onto the ground and shoved himself fully on, coughing.
“I don’t think he was expecting that,” Nessa said, tilting her head toward Sebastian.
He wore that strange, lopsided grin. “I don’t think so, no. He’s been bombarded with magic before, sure. But an out-of-control alpha shifter? I don’t think that’s in his vocabulary. He looks a little shaken.”
The man yelled curses at the two, obviously starting to fray. That was a good thing. We were making an impact.
“That wasn’t out of control,” I started, but Edgar had drifted over again. He stood like he had before, with his hands draped in that strange way, and bent a little to whisper in the man’s ear.
“If we get time, I’ll tell you all about doily making.”
The man flinched away. His weight shifted on the seat, which overturned, sending him crashing to the ground.
“What kind of a circus is this?” he hollered, flailing. It wasn’t clear if he was trying to right himself or if he was having a stress-induced tantrum.
Nessa crouched next to the guy, and Austin glanced at Broken Sue. Taking the unspoken command, Broken Sue stepped forward and planted his feet right next to Nessa. He didn’t crouch, just loomed dangerously. It was enough.
“Get away!” The man’s flailing turned into a strange sort of scooting, half-rolling attempt to escape.
Nessa pointed at Broken Sue. “Terrifying, right? You never really get used to their presence. It’s unsettling in a very thrilling way. I love the danger of it. But then, I’m on their side. See what I’m saying?”
“I don’t think he does, Captain.” Sebastian picked up the Ivy House spell book Edgar had brought in and stashed in the corner. He handed it to me.
“Captain?” The man’s gaze ripped from Broken Sue and fastened on Nessa. He obviously knew it was the notorious nickname of Elliot Graves’s companion in crime. “Captain?” His gaze darted around the room; he was probably looking to see if one of them was Graves.
“Oops, I outed you,” Sebastian told Nessa. “Do you think he knows who I am? Disguises only work so well. Ask Mr. Tom there, by the door. Plain as day in his getup, delusional as all get out.”
“Getup, get out…” Edgar chuckled and did a weird sort of crab walk closer to the mage. “Don’t you just love word play?” His simpering smile showed his large canines. “I find it marvelous.”
“What the…” the man said in a strangled voice, bending backward away from Edgar but clearly not wanting to retreat far enough to bump into Broken Sue.
“Usually, we like to dangle our captives by their feet from hooks and torture information out of them.” Sebastian glanced at the ceiling. “But this room doesn’t have a hook.”
“Thankfully, it does have a gargoyle.” Nessa winked at the man. “You know the drill, right? Tell us what we want to know, and it won’t get ugly. Bonus—you’ll get to walk away from here! Isn’t that something? You’ll get to keep your balls, too, probably. I’m just guessing, there. We aren’t allowed to really hurt you. Boss’s orders.”
The man looked in confusion at Sebastian.
“Nope. Not that boss.” She pointed at me. “I’ve got a lady boss now. Cool, right? Girl power.” She made a fist. “So, here we go. A super-easy one first. Who do you work for?”
The man went to spit at her again.
Nessa didn’t get a chance to move out of the way.
Broken Sue reached down almost lazily, grabbed the guy by his black T-shirt, and heaved him. The man struck the back wall hard, shaking the room. After making a sound like a cross between a whimper and a shout, he crumpled to the ground. He didn’t flail this time—he just curled up into a ball, probably hoping the vampire wouldn’t be back for more idle chatter about odd things.