Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“Your empire!” I scream. “He meant more than that. He meant more than your tarnished empire.”
“George was a casualty of war, and that war is between Michael and me. He knew what he was risking when he got involved.”
“You’re a monster.” As the words leave my mouth, I feel the familiar feeling of moisture starting to collect in my eyes, but I push them back.
I won’t let him see my tears.
George and I weren’t close, but he’s been with my father since the day he took me in. I can’t believe he’s gone. I can’t believe that Alaric—
I stop myself. Of course, I can believe it. As I said, he is a monster. A certifiable monster. If I thought there was a way off this island without him, I would kill him myself for what he’s done.
I feel helpless.
Nothing I do will change what’s happened, but it’s the feeling of the walls inside me closing up and no solution that makes the oxygen in my lungs feel depleted. Ever since I was a child, I have hated this feeling. I have tried everything to prevent it, and this man has stranded me in it.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Away from you.” It takes everything in me to hold back my sob as I hiss at him.
“Yeah, and where is that? We’re on a deserted island.”
“Anywhere but where you are sounds promising.”
Walking a few feet in the opposite direction, I head toward where the trees part, leading farther inland.
“I wouldn’t go that way if I were you. It’s about to get dark out. Who knows what lives in there. And seeing as I have the knife and you have no weapons, it wouldn’t be smart.”
I scoff at his comment and continue walking. I don’t go in, though. Instead, I find another palm tree to plop myself in front of, and in silence, I let my tears fall. Like wax slowly dripping down a candle until there is nothing left, I, too, fall apart.
21
Phoenix
My stomach won’t stop growling. It’s as if an animal is living inside me. Unfortunately, food isn’t an option. But as much as I know I can’t eat, it doesn’t stop the gnawing feeling of hunger from spreading inside me.
My vision is spotty, and my limbs shake. But I’m too stubborn to do anything about it; even if I’m so dizzy, I’m afraid I’ll fall over if I move too quickly.
Maybe if Alaric wasn’t a murdering asshole, I could bite my tongue and ask him for one of the protein bars in the safety pack he grabbed before we left.
But, alas, that won’t happen. I’d rather starve to death than speak to him now.
Which very well might happen.
Instead of eating, I stare out at the ocean.
The bastard was right. My SOS is no longer written on the beach. It’s long gone. Battered by the water.
The waves are stronger now than they were earlier in the day.
They crash against the shore like a storm might come. That would be just our luck: stranded on an island with no shelter when a hurricane hits. Behind me, I hear hammering. Alaric is building something, but I refuse to turn around and acknowledge whatever he’s doing.
The sea blurs after a time, and the sunlight fades into the horizon as night beckons.
My stomach screams at me to grow up, and I’m thankful he left a bottle of water with me.
At least I have that.
From across the sand, I can hear the crackling first, and then the smell hits me.
Fire. The bastard started a fire on the beach.
Great. Just freaking great.
Here I am freezing, and he’s probably roasting marshmallows.
No, not marshmallows, as those weren’t in his survival pack.
My eyes roll of their own accord. If I could gag over how annoying he is, I would. But seeing as I have no food in my stomach, vomiting won’t happen.
“Are you going to sulk over there all night?” he asks, and I’m still angry and hurt over what he told me earlier, so I respond, “Yes.”
“Suit yourself.” He goes back to whatever he’s doing.
“I will,” I mutter under my breath before I look up to the night sky and pretend I’m on this beach alone.
With the silence descending yet again, it grows nearly impossible not to look, so I do. I turn my body and glance at where he is sitting.
With his back against a palm tree, he’s tied the raft to a tree to keep it from moving. In front of him is a makeshift firepit. He’s even using the damn blanket.
From this angle, it looks like Alaric Prince is living his best life. Must be nice. He’s on vacation, relaxing, the only thing he needs is a drink with a little tiny umbrella in it. I turn away so he doesn’t catch me staring. Instead of looking at the endless ocean, I turn my gaze to the sky.