Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Dante is weak. I can feel it. I remember how females during the hunt sometimes send their mates energy. I take a deep breath and send every spare bit of energy I have his way. My body sags down, unable to stand a moment further. I am done. If Dante falls, I will go with him. I hold tight to the invisible thread that binds us. If he goes down, he will take me with him, and we will be together.
“That won’t happen, baby.” Dante can read my thoughts. He stands tall, his skin practically glowing. “I’m taking you out of here.”
Palgrave runs, and Dante is with him. They meet in the middle, and there is a horrible crack as Dante punches at Palgrave’s chest. His fist meets flesh and does not stop. I manage to lift my head as Palgrave’s face takes on a horrified, blank look.
Dante pulls his hand out of his opponent’s chest. It does not come back empty. Palgrave’s heart is in Dante’s hand.
“That was for my consort.” Dante holds the heart as it turns to dust, and everything that is Chalen Palgrave becomes a pile of dirt on the floor.
Dante turns and races to me. He gets on his knees. “Baby. Gods, baby, tell me you’re all right.”
I am tired. So tired. I feel my body failing, but it is all right to go because Dante is safe. Dante is whole. The energy I sent him healed and saved him. I want to hold him with two hands. Using the very last bit of strength I have, I change. I bring my hands up to touch his beautiful face. He is my magnificent beast.
I hear Dante curse. When I look up, his eyes are still full green, but there is a sheen of tears in them. He clutches me with one hand but draws his other to his mouth. “Don’t you leave me, Kaj. This has to work both ways.”
He gouges at his own flesh, and his blood begins to flow. He puts his wrist to my mouth. “Drink, baby. I’m full of you. Your blood, your energy, your strength. Take it all back. Please. I need you.”
The blood fills my mouth. Immediately I feel the healing begin.
“That’s right, baby. Take it. I can handle it. Drink.” He presses his wrist to my mouth, cradling my head.
I fall back the instant I know I will be all right. I hear Roan groaning in the distance. My body is laid across Dante’s, and I can feel his soul reaching for mine, brushing and touching. Safe.
But he is still a vampire. He pulls out his phone. “Hey, Susie. Yeah. Start a hostile takeover of Palgrave. No. He won’t fight back. Why? Because I just pulled his heart out of his body. Yes, I’m serious. I want half.”
Dante tosses his phone away and cuddles me against him as he stands.
“You all right, Kaja?”
I manage to nod. I am whole and happy to be alive.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Dante
“It’s official.” My father lays his tablet down with an audible thud. The silence in the room is utterly oppressive.
Dante looks between his cousins as they stand in my father’s office.
Beck pales at the news. “We’re renegades?”
I force myself to speak. My cousins need to understand how deeply fucked they are. “Every mercenary on the plane will be after you.”
My heart seizes even though I was expecting the news since Julian told me what’s going on only hours before. I know I should be in bed, holding my wife while she recovers, but this can’t wait.
I’m surrounded by family. My mother and sister are crying. Colin looks grim but keeps holding Susan’s hand. Kaja places a hand on Meg’s shoulder. My wife looks tired but resolute.
Beck and Cian are silent for a long moment, something unspoken passing between them. Meg sits beside Kaja, her eyes tearing up, but her chin settles into a stubborn lift. She wears casual clothes, but there’s no mistaking who Megan Finn is. She is a queen.
“Can you get Meggie off this plane and back to the Earth plane?” Beck asks, his shoulders squaring as though he knows he’s in for a fight.
Meg appears ready to give him one. She stands and goes toe to toe with her warrior husband. “I’m not going anywhere, Beckett Finn. Do you hear me?”
Cian gets up and lends his strength to Beck. “Meggie, you can’t stay.”
“Try to get rid of me. I know the way home. You can dump me somewhere, but I’ll be back.” Meg grabs fistfuls of both her husbands’ shirts. “I won’t stop. I’ll fight. I’ll fight to my dying breath.”
Beck’s face is a mask of pain. It’s mirrored by his twin’s. “That’s what we’re afraid of, love. We can’t lose you.”
“Well, man up. This is war, and I won’t be left behind.” Meg lets go, her hands shaking.