Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“Well, the first time it happened, I was thinking about you.”
He grins. “About me, eh?”
I playfully roll my eyes. “Don’t get a big head. I was just worried about you.”
“Couldn’t get me off your mind, could you?” I hear the humor in his voice. “Don’t worry. I couldn’t get you off my mind either.” He holds me tighter, stroking his thumb over the flesh on the back of my hand.
“Anyway, when I tapped in with Silvera, I felt this cool draft. And then my surroundings changed. I was back in Vakeeli, mentally but not physically.”
“Okay…”
“But the second time I did it, I went some place quieter, and I could control it. I just closed my eyes and thought of Silvera. Let’s just try it.”
“Okay.” He sits against the back of the seat, and I turn my head, watching him inhale and exhale with his eyes closed. His eyeballs move behind his eyelids, and then he’s cracking a smile.
“Hey, boy,” he murmurs. “It’s just me. You behaving yourself?”
“Can you see through him?” I whisper.
Caz nods, eyes still closed, then he grabs my hand. When he does, a coolness rushes through me, from my head to my toes. I close my eyes, and the first thing I feel is the cool air of Blackwater along with a light mist. I hear the sounds of the ocean, the rustling of the tree leaves, and the swishing of tall blades of grass. And through someone else’s eyes, I spot Blackwater Manor. The dark, pointed roof is hidden behind thick, gray clouds. Mist dampens the ivy that trails across the front and wraps around the corners. Normally, there are sconces burning outside the castle, but not today. The house simply sits there, muted and empty.
When I look down, there’s something bloody on the ground—a white rabbit with beady silver eyes. Two puncture wounds are on its bleeding neck, one of its hind legs mangled and broken. I look to my left, and Cerberus is right next to me, his snout in the air as he sniffs.
“I’m not there, boy, but I’m with ya.” Cerberus whines and sits on his hind. “Oi, don’t start your whining. You and Silvera been hunting? You better be sharing with her. I know how selfish you can be.”
I have the urge to open my eyes and look at Caz, but I don’t. I’m afraid I’ll lose this moment, but I admit it is cute hearing him speak to Cerberus like he’s his child. Perhaps he is. His little fur baby.
“That’s a good boy. Do me a favor, eh? Take me to the family.”
At that, Cerberus growls and rises to all fours again. He huffs and backs away, then he’s howling at the sky. Caz stiffens beneath me, as if he’s been struck by a bolt of lightning. Still, I keep my eyes closed.
“Go to them, boy. Show me where they are,” Caz commands.
Cerberus runs off, and Silvera is hot on his trail. They dash toward the castle, but as they approach, I notice the door is wide open and it’s completely dark inside. Cerberus stops, refusing to go in.
“Something’s not right,” Caz whispers. “What’s…what’s happened? Where is everyone?”
Another whine from Cerberus.
“Cerberus, I need you to take me in there, boy. Show me where everyone is.”
Cerberus grunts, backing away, and Silvera watches him turn his back to the door before focusing on it herself.
“Go, girl,” I tell her, and she does, but not without caution. She enters the mansion with her head tucked, taking slow steps through the foyer. She passes Caz’s office and it’s drowning in darkness, not a single candle burning. He’s right. Something isn’t right.
As Silvera goes deeper into the castle, I realize none of the lights are on, and it’s so cold I can see her breath. A noise sounds behind me, and Silvera looks back at Cerberus who has gathered some courage and is following her lead. Silvera keeps going until she’s rounded a corner and entered a large room. It’s the main area—where sofas, tables, and extra chairs are for seating. Juniper explained to me that it was where family was supposed to hang out, but they never spent much time in there because they were all so busy. There’s a fireplace ahead, smoke tendrils wafting out of it, like the fire died not too long ago.
Then, there’s a crackling noise. Silvera whips her gaze to the right, and what I see next causes my stomach to drop and my heart to pound so hard and fast it hurts.
Chapter 34
CAZ
It takes a few seconds for me to digest the scene before me. For just a moment, I imagine that I’m dreaming, or that Cerberus is making this all up in his head…but he’s not.
My clan floats in the air, wrapped in thick black vines with sharp points similar to barbed wire. Their eyes are closed, their skin gray, and their lips blue. Dark veins crawl up their skin, just like the veins I had, and my breath falters. All of them are here—Maeve, Juniper, Killian, Rowan. Even Della, my housemaiden.