Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
With them, vengeance would be extra sweet.
Around us, the wind started to howl from nowhere, strong gusts of wind that had the leaves rustling, branches swaying, the sounds mingling with the screams that came from traitorous panthers whose flesh I ripped apart with my hands.
They came at me like an endless mass, hatred and desperation making them wildly violent. But they had no chance. No chance. Not one bit.
And bit by bit, the land underneath my feet became soft and squishy with the strips of their flesh.
The fortress’ doors were barricaded, but it took me nothing to pry them out of the way.
Finally, I saw Raoul.
He was surrounded by a hundred shifters, paid assassins, and many of their faces were familiar. After tonight, I thought absently, The Den would find itself suffering from a sudden shortage of fighters.
Raoul was stupid as ever, and the proof of it was the absence of fear in his eyes. He thought he had numbers on his side, and he said as much. “More are coming this way, bitch. You can keep killing, but it will take you an entire day before you can reach me – long enough for me to have the entire race under my reign.”
Outside, the wind howled louder, making Raoul frown as he fought against the distraction it presented.
He really was an idiot.
“Just tell me,” I said softly. “That’s all I ask. Tell me who killed Father.”
He bared his fangs in a sneering smile. “I wish I could say it was me, but unfortunately I only played a small part of it.”
The words had my dark half stirring, but I made her wait, knowing that we had to keep Raoul alive long enough for the truth to be known.
“I told him the three of us should talk privately, that you were already waiting for him at the back of the inn.”
“And?” My entire body shook at the effort I had to exert to keep myself still and not make all my dreams come true. Since the time I had left the dungeon, I had counted a hundred and thirty-five ways to torment him, and more ideas still poured into the back of my mind.
“Venetto was old. He was nothing like he used to be, even if he does act like he’s still got it. My man had his sword in a second, and he never even got to defend himself.”
I bowed my head as the truth washed over me. It hurt to hear how Venetto had died, but somehow it was also liberating, and a part of me was grateful that he had not suffered.
“Nothing to say before I kill you?”
“I do.” Slowly, I looked up at him. “Did you really think you could get away with it?”
“I already did,” Raoul bragged. “Because at this very moment, my men are killing the entire Panthera, and it will all be blamed on you.”
“No.” I stepped forward, and despite having a hundred men with him, Raoul inched back. “They’re not.”
Consternation twisted his face. “You think you can make me believe your foolish words—-” He stopped speaking as a strange, loud sound interrupted him. It came from above, and unease wafted through his army of assassins as they saw the fortress’ heavy roof start to shake.
Outside, the wind howled louder than ever.
Raoul was staring at me. “You can’t be behind this,” he gasped.
I didn’t answer, knowing I didn’t have to.
A second later, the whole roof was smashed apart and dark shadows began to fall, hard and fast. And that was when they saw where the wind was coming from.
Oddly, I remembered the times Venetto would tuck me into bed and read my favorite superhero comics with me.
It’s not a bird...it’s not a plane...
Tears fell down my eyes as one after another, Souris flew down, and their large, strong wings were so powerful that together they had made it appear like a storm was approaching. In each of their arms was a passenger, a Lyccan or a member of the Panthera, and all of them had heard every word Raoul spoke, their presence undetected because they had come to the fortress from the skies, where no one was watching.
Raoul was shaking in fear as the realization that his defeat was imminent became clear to him. He looked at me. “Calys—-”
I shook my head slowly. “You. Will. Die.”
ALEJANDRO
The battle was a bloodbath, but it was evident from the very start which side would win. Even so, he fought his way to be close to Calys, needing to be sure that he would be there to protect her even if his help was unnecessary.
He found her with Raoul, and the younger man was on the ground, begging for his life. But one look at Calys’ face told him mercy would not be granted, and rightly so. She had gotten her father’s sword back and she slashed at the panther as she forced him to a corner.