Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 661(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 661(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
I don’t like the thought of how that happened. I felt her one minute, and she was gone the next.
Paige Harper paled a bit. “Witches are considered bad here. At least for the last few years. Anyone with psychic ability is labeled a witch, and Torin deals with them the same way he does non-sidhe.”
Rachel puts an arm around her daughter, obviously lending her strength. “He’s taken bondmates, especially the strong ones, and they disappear. We don’t know if they’re dead or if he’s got them held somewhere. We’ve been safe here because we’re so isolated, but we’ve lost a few when we leave the village.”
Dellacourt speaks up. “According to the sluagh, he’s trained a number of consorts to turn on their masters. He’s turning over a hundred consorts to the vampire ambassadors. They’re set to go off somewhere down the line, like bombs he’s planted.”
Paige puts a hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. She turns and runs back into the house. Rachel sends me an apologetic glance and then hurries after her daughter.
Rye sighs. “Paige’s best friend is a boy named Charlie. He’s the sheriff’s son. Well, Nathan was the sheriff until Torin took over. He sent another sheriff in. We killed that asshole, but Torin doesn’t know it. Two years ago, Charlie disappeared. Nathan and his partner Zane and their wife Calliope have been searching for their son ever since. He could bond. He was very strong. They tracked him to the palace, but they haven’t been able to get close.”
I don’t know what to say. I know what Torin will have to do to transform the bondmates into his own personal timebombs. He will torture them. He will use pain to warp.
We can’t get Bronwyn out of here fast enough.
“Do you think they’ll kill her?” Lach asks, his eyes tightening.
“She’s not dead.” I would feel it.
Rye leans forward, his weight on the porch railing. He watches his children play with a dead dog. “Did she take your power? I’ve heard it can happen with very strong broadcasters. Paige is a receiver. She’s the one who sent Charlie’s parents to the palace. She can still hear him every day. It sounds as though your Bron is a broadcaster. If she took your power and turned it on someone, then they could think she’s a witch. There will be a trial, if she’s lucky. If not, they’ll hold a public execution at sunset tomorrow.”
I close my eyes, searching for the connection to Bron.
“Can you feel her?” Lach asks, desperation creeping into his tone.
I shake my head. “No. She’s gone. She’s not conscious, and she’s not naturally asleep.”
“Most likely we can make it to her province by afternoon,” Roan offers. “If she’s being held in the town center, then at least we’ll know where she is.”
Lach shakes his head. “We need to go now.”
Roan sighs. “No, Your Highness. We still have to wait until dark. It’s far too dangerous.”
I look to my brother. This is a game we played a hundred times before. Despite being princes of the realm, we deal with the fact that everyone thinks we’re damaged goods. This isn’t the first time we’re overruled by a well-meaning protector. The truth is a prince’s life is rigid, and there isn’t much freedom to it all. What freedom we had, we’d taken.
Lach nods, obviously reading my mind.
I turn to Roan. “I understand. Just try to make it soon.”
Lach plays the part we designated for him long ago. “What are you talking about, Shim? We need to go now. She’s in danger.”
Roan watches us, his dark eyes taking in our argument. “Prince Lachlan, your brother is being reasonable.”
Dante gets in on the action. “We can’t risk the two of you by running around in broad daylight. We all agreed to this plan.”
He means our father agreed to this plan, and the Unseelie portion of this particular revolution depends on Lach’s and my survival. If they decide it’s too dangerous, I’m pretty sure Roan is ready to lock me and Lachlan up and they’ll go after Bronwyn without us. It would all be for our own good, but I’m not having it. I won’t trust anyone else with our mate.
I let my face fall into the perfectly amenable expression I wear every day. “They’re right, Lach. We would put Bron in more danger.”
Lach shakes his head. “You’re such a coward, Shim. When she dies, when we end up holding her corpse instead of her warm, living body, it’s going to be on you.”
Lach storms out, his boots ringing across the wood floor of the porch. He stalks toward the barn.
Dellacourt starts to go after him.
I put a hand out. “Don’t. I know my brother. He needs to be alone for a bit. Don’t worry. He’ll come around. He doesn’t have a choice.”