Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Fury ripped through him, and he slammed back on his seat. “Of course bloody not.”
“There will be a vehicle waiting for us, anyway. Now, are we done with the twenty questions?”
Not by half. “Why do you want revenge on William?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
“I think I do. What if you’ve fallen out with Dear Old Dad over a lover he doesn’t approve of or some such nonsense, and as soon as he says sorry, you’re happy to dagger me through the heart?”
Echo glanced angrily around the plane and then hissed at him, “Will you shut up?”
He raised a palm and made a fist. Just like that, the surrounding noise deadened. Sensing the hum of the bubble of energy he’d created around them, Echo reached out and touched the electrically charged air. Wonder softened her face, unfortunately reminding him how fucking beautiful she was. “What is this? What are you doing?”
“No one can listen in on us now. If they try, they’ll hear us yammering about a party we went to in Rome.”
Her eyes widened. “You can do that?”
He gave an abrupt nod. “Among other things.”
“How did … you taught yourself all these things?”
Deciding he liked her like this, awed and more human rather than cold and businesslike, Elijah nodded again. “Trial and error over the years.”
Something dawned on her. “Your parents know about you, don’t they?”
“Of course. My abilities started showing up before I could even speak. They taught me to control it, allowed me to practice what I needed to, and pleaded with me to keep it hidden from everyone else.”
“They knew you’d be taken otherwise.” That cool frown of hers had returned. “You know human governments are aware of the underworld, and they’re not above using supernaturals for their own means. They don’t push it too far because they don’t want a war … but someone like you … they would absolutely have taken you from your parents.”
Hearing the grim truth, Elijah was thankful he’d listened to his mum and dad. “That’s what they thought.”
“They were smart to hide it.” She tilted her head, studying him. “Your parents must be unusual people … to have accepted a child who was so different.”
Thinking of his parents, vulnerable to threats, emotion thickened his throat. “They’re the best parents in the world.” Determination hardened his voice. “I won’t let anything happen to them because of me.”
Echo’s features turned to granite. “Nothing will happen to your parents, Elijah. We made a deal, and whatever you might think of me, I honor my promises. I’ll protect your parents with my life.”
Sensing her sincerity, he found himself softening a little toward her. “And in return, I’ll help you protect your sister—who’s apparently in Canada?”
Understanding there was more to his question, Echo said, “Odette is human. Only twelve years old. She lives in an all-girls’ boarding school in New Brunswick. Once we have her out of there and hidden in a safe place, we go after The Garm.”
“Yes, I know all that. What I don’t know is how you can have a human sister or how you came to be adopted by William.”
“You don’t need to know any of that. And you should get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us.” Abruptly, Echo closed her lovely jade eyes.
Irritated by her aloofness, Elijah scowled.
Her lashes were long and thick. She had high, rounded cheekbones, a perfect, straight nose, and bow-shaped lips. Her chin jutted in defiance; it suited her to a tee.
A stunning, symmetrical face.
The kind of face that could make a woman famous.
So beautiful, Elijah could look at her all day and probably write a million songs about her.
Dangerous, dangerous thoughts, considering who she was and what she was capable of.
“Stop staring at me,” she said without opening her eyes. “And go to fucking sleep.”
That made him laugh.
Echo’s eyes popped open, her gaze dropping to his mouth as he grinned at her. Before she could hide it, he saw the flash of heat in her eyes, and he had to admit it soothed his wounded ego. But then she frowned. “What is it?”
Chuckling at her snappish tone, he shook his head. “Nothing, love. You’re just funny, is all.”
“Oh yeah, I’m a barrel of laughs,” she deadpanned, which only made Elijah laugh harder.
When he finally stopped chuckling, he found Echo’s expression had turned wary. His lips twitched as he asked, “What now?”
“Nothing. You’re just very odd. Sleep.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted her and settled back against his seat. His knees banged against the row in front of him, and he sighed, instantly irritated by the claustrophobia of economy. “But next time, I’m booking the tickets.”
A sense of foreign amusement hit him, and he turned sharply to look at Echo whose eyes might have been closed but her lips quirked up at the corners.
Elijah’s pulse raced a little. Had he sensed her spark of humor?