Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
I want to cry. Aquarius desperately needs medical care, or… No, I won’t think the worst.
Suddenly, Bram hands the book back to me. I stare at him as I take it cautiously. Is he mad? Caden just pleaded with me to let Bram keep it.
“Give this to my sister.” His tone doesn’t invite argument.
I press the little book to my chest. “Why? You just told me I couldn’t handle it. Now you want me to give it to another woman who doesn’t look equipped for battle?”
“The book must pass from female to female. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner we can focus on helping your friend.”
Would Bram really be so ruthless? I don’t want to find out the hard way. I don’t understand his female-to-female comment. I don’t really care. I glare at the beautiful blonde as I slap the book into her hands.
“Happy?” I slide a cutting glare to Bram.
“Quite.”
Sabelle grips the tome tightly. “I will guard it with my life.”
“I hope that won’t be necessary,” Bram says grimly. “Just hide it until I say otherwise. Then call for Aunt Millie and have her meet you upstairs.”
Bram glances at Zain on the floor, then kicks him until the sodding prat rolls to his back. Another big bloke on the sofa—shrouded in sunglasses, leather, and bad attitude—glares at everyone with a mien that’s menacing as hell.
“Shock.” Bram sounds almost surprised to see him. “You’ve returned, then?”
What kind of name is that? He takes up the whole sofa.
“As of a few minutes ago. I have news.”
Bram nods. “Good. Will you take the injured woman upstairs? Ice, take Zain to our delightful barred accommodations below. And filch his wand.”
“Can’t we just kill him?” asks the menacing figure with intense green eyes and hair buzzed nearly to his skull.
Shock growls in response, taking a glowering step forward.
Bram raises a hand to ward off a fight. “No, Ice. We can’t. He has useful information.”
With a sigh, Ice hoists up the unconscious Zain as if he’s hauling a big pile of refuse, slams the body over his shoulder, then disappears.
The big man on the couch finally rises to his feet. Holy cow! Shock is enormous, easily topping every other man in the room, except perhaps the one with the goatee and sword. Gingerly, he takes Aquarius in his arms. He dwarfs my friend, but his gentle grip reassures me. The man’s gravelly voice doesn’t.
“I’ll do your bidding this once, but kick Zain again, and I’ll cut off your bloody stones.”
I don't care how big and bad Shock is. If he’s going to defend Zain, he’s going to hear from me. “Zain nearly murdered my friend and threatened to end me. A swift kick is the very least he deserves.”
Shock whips his glare around to me. I can’t see his eyes behind the dark sunglasses, but I’m certain he’s staring at me like I’m a gnat.
“He may be a shit, but he’s my brother. Who the hell are you?”
Caden comes to my rescue, looping his arm around my shoulder with a scowl. “She’s not to be harmed.”
Shock raises a questioning brow, black above the rim of his sunglasses. “Do you think you’re a big, bad wizard now that you transitioned all of ten minutes ago?”
Transitioned? From a man to a wizard? Is that why he needed so much energy? Why there were two of them afterward, his new and old self? What’s happened to the other Caden?
“You two.” Bram points to Caden and Shock. “Bury the animosity. We’ve no time for it.”
“You’re simply going to trust him and hope he doesn’t fuck you over?” Caden challenges.
“He’s my problem. Marrok has warned us repeatedly about these rows. If we’re too busy fighting one another, how will we ever unite against our common enemy?”
“Agreed.” Caden nods. “Focusing on Mathias, Zain, and the Anarki will better help me find Anka and keep Sydney safe.”
“That’s sorted, then. Good to know your loyalties haven’t changed.” Bram’s tone sounds biting. “Shock, take Aquarius upstairs. We haven’t much time to save her.” If it isn’t already too late.
The unspoken words hang in the air.
Shock nods. “As long as you remember I’m not your fucking errand boy.”
Bram sighs. “Duly noted. When that’s done, return here. Sabelle, follow and wait for Aunt Millie. Sydney, you’ll want to stay with your friend, I presume? Go with them.”
With that, I’m dismissed. I cast a gaze toward Caden, feeling lost in Wonderland without a map or any bleeding clue what to do next. He squeezes my hand and nods.
“I’ll find you soon. I promise.”
What choice do I have? Aquarius’s life hangs in the balance, and my friend will likely need love and support to pull through. But the reporter in me wants to stay behind. Something tells me the men are about to have a conversation I would kill to hear. But as the door to that museum-quality office closes behind me, it’s clear I won’t get that chance. At least not today.