Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
“Noooo,” I groan as I pry my eyes open.
There’s no sign of Raighne as I sit up and rub the sleep out of my eyes.
“Come, Alchera,” Roark calls from where he’s standing with Blair, Storm, and Lucius.
I get up and suppress a yawn as I walk with Luna toward the others.
“You’ll head into the desert as a group,” Roark orders, “and you’ll spend the day out there, learning to work together.”
Silence meets him.
“If you have a guardian, you’ll be separated so you can focus on your telepathic bonds.”
A whole day out in the hot sun. Just great.
“Get some water. You have five minutes before you move out.”
I glance around and see Raighne jogging toward me with a flask in his hand. He gives it to me, then says, “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“Mentally,” I mutter. “What if something happens and you can’t get to me in time?”
“The others in your group can protect you.”
“Come closer,” Roark orders.
My eyes dart back to Raighne’s. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
Lifting his hand, he wraps his fingers around the back of my neck, and I’m stunned when he presses a kiss to my forehead.
He doesn’t say anything as he lets go of me, and with a sigh, I join the others.
“You’ll take full responsibility for each other.” Roark gives us a serious look. “May Awo guide you and good fortunes meet you on your way.”
“Come, Alchera,” Storm says to my right, and I don’t hesitate to stick close to him as we head out into the darkness.
Soon, the sun starts to rise, and although it’s a beautiful sight, it quickly gets hot. Sweating like crazy, I wipe my hand over my forehead as I stare at the miles and miles of sand.
“How are you doing?” Raighne’s voice echoes in my mind, almost giving me a heart attack.
“Next time, knock,” I joke. “I’m doing okay. It’s just hot.”
“Drink plenty of water and catch up to the others. You’re lagging. You need to walk with your group, not behind them.”
“Yes, sir.”
I start picking up my pace, and we walk for what feels like hours when an eerie silence descends all around me. A chill creeps down my spine, and I glance around me.
“Raighne, something’s wrong.”
He doesn’t answer me, and I stop walking, my eyes searching for any sign of a threat.
“Raighne?”
A chilling voice sweeps through my mind. “No, not Raighne.”
I gasp, and my heart almost explodes from my chest as it starts to beat at a crazy pace.
“Ares.”
I break out into a run, screaming, “Storm!”
He swings around. “What?”
Panic burns hot through my lungs, and I don’t even make it halfway to Storm when I’m yanked backward. I fly away from him before slamming into the scorching hot sand.
Jesus.
“Alchera!” Blair screams, and as I lift my head, I see her running toward me.
An arm comes from out of nowhere and grabs me forcefully around my neck, yanking me up into the air.
Unable to suck in a full breath, my heart is pounding wildly, my skin clammy with fear.
It’s happening.
“Alchera!” Luna cries, and I watch as Lucius draws light from the sun before blasting it my way.
Ares easily deflects it with a wave of his hand, dark smoke curling around his fingers. Then he hisses, “Stop, or I'll kill her right here.”
They all freeze in their tracks.
No!
Fear soaks into my bones, and with every bit of training Roark has given me over the past few months, I start to fight to free myself from Ares’ brutal hold.
“Please, let her go,” Luna begs, her face torn with horror.
A sickening feeling comes over me, and the group starts to blur in front of my eyes.
“Nooo!” I hear Blair scream before everything turns black.
An icy chill spreads deep into my body, and when we materialize again, we’re back at camp.
I’m shivering even though we’re still in the desert. Ares’ grip is so tight on me that his icy, dark aura coats my skin.
“Ares, finally, you’re here, and I see you’ve brought me a gift,” My eyes snap to Adeth, and intense horror fills every inch of me. “My dear Alchera, how kind of you to join us.”
My eyes dart to the others, and when they lock with Brenna’s, and I see the same horror in her gaze that’s gripping my heart, I just know I’m good as dead.
When I see Raighne, I whimper, “Raighne.”
Raighne makes a move toward me, but then Adeth shouts, “Any closer and Ares will rip her head from her body, nephew.”
Raighne stops dead in his tracks and glares in the woman’s direction. “You won’t get away with this,” he growls.
She lets out an evil chuckle. “We’ll see about that.” She walks closer to me then smirks at Raighne, “I just wanted to see your face when I take her from you.”
My eyes dart back to Raighne, and it sinks in there’s nothing he can do to save me.