Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
It steps forward anyway. I pull the trigger. The bullet pierces it in the chest. It doesn’t flinch, nor does it bleed.
“Another step, and it’s your head.”
It steps.
I shoot a bullet through its forehead.
It collapses on its back, and I draw in a breath, staring at the body as it lies on the ground. But it doesn’t lie there for long. It begins to shake, as if having a seizure, and then the body shoots from the ground to the sky. It floats there, eyes red like hot coals, teeth bared, talons out, staring down at me.
“Did that satisfy you?” it screeches.
I raise my gun, shoot at it, but the bullet passes right through it, like it’s a ghost.
“This,” it moans, sneering. “Will satisfy me.”
It flies toward me, knocking me into the nearest tree. All the wind leaves my body as the bark scratches my back before I crumple to the ground. When I look up, the figure is floating above me.
Caz! Wake up, please! Willow’s voice rings in my head.
“Willow!” I shout, my voice cracking. “Willow, can you hear me?”
“She can’t hear you.” The figure drops to the ground. “She’ll never hear you again, I’m afraid.”
I expect to see that wicked version of myself staring back. Instead, I see the face of someone I know. Someone I trust…or so I thought.
“Oh, Caspian,” Manx sighs, and my heart drops to my stomach. “You were so close.”
“Why?” I croak. “Manx, how could you?”
“You shouldn’t trust everything a Mythic gives you.”
What? I stare at him until a realization dawns on me. Something Calista said rings loudly in my head: Nothing can breakthrough this bubble of our energy unless you allow it.
Unless you allow it. I allowed this. The protection morsels he gave me in Luxor…I ate one at Alora’s palace and even gave one to Willow. What he gave us, it wasn’t to protect us. It was to break through The Council’s protection. Fuck. I let him right in to sabotage us.
“I tried to resist, I really did,” Manx goes on. “But you must understand, Caspian. This hunger has become unbearable for me, and the moment you fell for her, the scent of your Tether grew even sweeter. I could only resist for so long. Now that I know you were going to wake Selah, well, it’s best I get this over with now. No use in prolonging the inevitable.”
“You fucking backstabber,” I growl through clenched teeth.
“Don’t worry,” he murmurs, stepping closer and clasping my head in his hands. “I like you, so I’ll make this quick.”
Those are the last words I hear before my body is chained in ice and my vision turns black.