Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“I’m okay,” Hale whispered as he hugged him back. “We’re all okay.”
Hale smelled of sweat and his clothes were still wet, though the rain had stopped a while ago. Harrison didn’t care; he just pulled him closer, then turned toward the others as they gathered.
“We’re officially out of time,” Clay said as he waved everyone together. “We’ll camp here tonight, but we have to do the spell tomorrow. The whole damn town has been spelled, and the stink of pestilents is everywhere now. Wiley, can you refresh the cloaking spell and put up a protection spell so we can all rest up tonight?”
“Sure.” Wiley went to the rear of his SUV and started rummaging in the bags.
“We’ll also take guarding shifts.” Clay looked at Grey. “Will you do a weapons check? I’m going to scout around a little to make sure we’re in a safe area.”
Grey nodded.
“I’ll help him go through the weapons,” Harrison offered.
“Hale and I can fly ahead and see what we’re up against at the rift. It would be best to go in prepared.” Baer ran his hand over his beard. “You up for more flying?”
“I’m good,” Hale answered as he raked damp hair off his face. “Though from being up there, I can already tell you that there are pestilents everywhere like Clay said. Not only is the smell bad, but I could see them hiding along the trails. I would like to get a good look at the rift, though.”
“Then it’s settled. Would the rest of you mind setting up camp?” Clay walked to his vehicle and around to the open trunk. “I’m going to change into dry clothes first.”
“Clay’s gonna give us a show,” Baer teased but Clay just flipped him the bird.
Harrison turned to Hale. “You sure you’re up for more flying? You’ve got to be so tired.”
Hale placed a hand on his shoulder. “I really do want to get a good idea of what we’re up against. Don’t worry, I won’t be gone that long. And we’ll stay well away from the pestilents.”
Baer turned into an eagle and the two took off into the air. Harrison watched him until he couldn’t see him anymore, a lump in his throat. The last thing he wanted was to be separated from the man right now. He’d rather keep him safely in his sight at all times. But he wandered over to the vehicles where Grey was doing a weapons check and together, they made sure everything was loaded and ready.
Everyone else was setting up their makeshift camp. He doubted there were any park rangers who’d come along and complain they weren’t in an official camping site. All were probably under the spell of John, who’d frankly, looked bad. But despite his sickly pallor, his strength was obvious and probably all the more powerful this close to the rift.
He thought of whatever power he was supposed to get—which there’d been nothing so far. Then he remembered that the Heart stone had been blocking Grey from reading his mind or seeing the red ribbon between him and Hale.
“Grey, do you think if I took off this stone, you could help, I don’t know, trigger whatever power I’m supposed to get?”
The Soul Weaver arched one brow as he stared at him, seeming to consider the request. “I could certainly try.”
Harrison reached under his collar and pulled out the stone before slipping it over his head. He set it carefully down in the back of the vehicle and turned to Grey, who shut his eyes to concentrate.
But before Grey could say anything, Harrison was suddenly not seeing the area around them. He was instantly dizzy and slammed his eyes shut, but that didn’t help as his mind filled with a horrific scene.
The Weavers were gathered in front of a massive black hole hanging in the sky. It was like a yawning mouth, or a chasm of evil, and Harrison shivered looking into it. His attention returned to the Weavers. Clay had his hand out with the Heart stone hovering just above his palm. They said the words of the spell and one by one, each Weaver collapsed.
In the vision, Harrison ran up to Hale and kneeled on the ground next to him. Hale’s empty eyes stared up at the sky and he knew he was dead. Vision Harrison yelled along with the other mates as each one checked their Weaver.
They were all dead.
Harrison came out of the vision and staggered back to fall on the ground. He was vaguely aware of Grey doing the same. He must have been in his mind and seen what was going to happen.
He blinked at the Soul Weaver, his eyes wet with tears. “There’s nothing we can do, is there?” he whispered.
Grey buried his face in his hands as Cort ran up to them and dropped to the ground next to Grey.