Series: The Sacrifice Series by Natasha Knight
Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Not long now,” I tell Bec, helping her out the door as I clutch Fi’s crate in my other hand.
My phone chimes, and I stop to look at it. Raven sent me a message informing me she arrived and asking if she should come inside. I pause to read her question in confusion before calling her and wedging the phone against my ear.
“Yeah?” she answers.
“The gate is locked from the inside,” I tell her. “You’ll have to wait for us down there.”
“It’s open,” she says.
The hair on the back of my neck prickles with alarm as I consider that. I know they don’t leave the gate open. Does that mean Azrael is on his way back, or did they just forget?
“Do you see anyone?” I ask Raven.
“No, it’s all clear.”
Her words should reassure me, but something about this feels too easy. Regardless, there isn’t anything I can do about it. I just have to focus on getting us out of here.
“Walk down to meet us,” I tell my sister. “You can help us back to the car. I don’t want Salomé to hear you pull up.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
The line goes dead, and Bec’s breathing becomes strained as we continue, even with me supporting her. She doesn’t weigh much, but the journey is taking a toll on both of us.
When we finally see Raven, I feel the weight of relief as she takes over without question, helping Bec along while I carry Fi.
None of us talk, but Raven and I glance at each other, both of us worried. I don’t know if we’re actually going to make it out of here. I still have that terrible feeling Azrael will show up at any moment if Salomé doesn’t find us first. To make things worse, Elizabeth’s voice is notably absent to warn me like she usually does.
Regardless, I can still rely on my senses, and as we approach Raven’s purple Volkswagen Beetle, I can’t ignore the sludgy feeling in my gut. Something isn’t right.
“We have to get out of here,” I tell the girls as I shove Fi’s crate into the backseat. “Hurry.”
A scream behind me pierces the night air, and I whip around to see Raven being yanked back by her hair and Bec crashing to the ground. Two dark figures emerge from behind them, followed by three more from the other side of the road. It isn’t until I feel the blade of a knife against my throat and smell the sickly cloying scent of a man I’ll never forget that true terror settles over me.
“Hi, Willow.” Caleb drags his nose along my neck, inhaling me. “Did you miss me?”
My body quakes, knees nearly buckling as I turn to meet his gaze. The scar slashed across his face, right through his eye, is confirmation that my mind isn’t playing tricks on me. He’s back with the disfigurement I gave him, and I have no doubt he’ll kill me this time.
He’s going to kill us all.
“I can smell your fear,” he growls, his lips hovering over my ear. “And I can’t tell you how long I’ve thought about this. You and I are going to have so much fun together, baby.”
“Leave them,” I croak. “Please. They have nothing to do with this.”
A dark chuckle blows across my cheek as he shakes his head behind me. “Load them all into the van. It’s time for the Wildbloods to learn about the wages of sin.”