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)
“No,” she said slowly, like she was speaking to a moron. “But the closest and safest way out of this country is mainland Europe. On the off chance we decided to send them north to Norway, there are Norwegian kroner in this bag.”
“You’re lying.”
“Not lying.” She pulled out the kroner.
Elijah exhaled. “Your organizational skills are almost as scary as you are.”
“I’ve been dealing with psychotic assholes longer than you have.”
His dad snorted from the back seat, making Elijah smile.
Any amusement died, however, when they reached Dover. Echo had already bought their tickets via the tablet by connecting to the SUV’s Wi-Fi and data.
Sick to his stomach, Elijah tried to keep his senses open to danger as they escorted his parents toward the ticket office. He was trying not to think about the women he’d killed in his parents’ house or the way his abilities allowed him to cremate ten people. Echo had assumed control over after that, told him to take a breath while she swept up the ashes and emptied them outside where they blew away in the wind.
The only thing that got him through it was remembering the sheer helplessness he’d experienced as he watched his parents clutch their hearts, dying before his very eyes. Even now, they looked older than they had hours before. What had that bloody coven done to them?
“I’d leave you alone to say goodbye, but I don’t think that’s wise. I’m sorry.” Echo even looked apologetic. But Elijah understood. And his parents’ safety mattered most.
As people boarded the ferry for the night crossing, Elijah memorized his parents’ faces, terrified it might be the last time he saw them. As if reading his mind, his dad stepped forward and pulled him into a tight hug. “We’ll see each other again, son. Don’t you think otherwise.” He reluctantly pulled away to let his wife hold their boy.
His mum, tears rolling down her soft cheeks, buried her face against Elijah’s chest and held on like she never wanted to let go. He pressed his cheek to the top of her head and whispered he was sorry, that he never meant for any of this to happen.
“Don’t you ever apologize.” His mum pulled out of his hold to say fiercely. “We raised an extraordinary son who we are very proud of.” She reached up to cup his face in her hands. “I wouldn’t have wished for this kind of responsibility on your shoulders, my darling boy, but I have no doubt in my mind that you can protect us all from what’s coming.”
Emotion clogged his throat, but he gave her a tight nod.
“Look after yourself, son.” Bill Webb squeezed Elijah’s shoulder. “I know the choices you’ve had to make tonight will weigh on you … but tough choices must always be made in war. You didn’t want this war, Elijah, but they’ve brought it to your door, and you must do what it takes. That coven tonight was full of selfish, wicked intention that I think we all could sense. Grieve for what you had to do, but don’t let it consume you.”
“Compartmentalize,” he murmured.
His father nodded. “And when it’s over, we’ll be here to get you through the aftermath.”
Fuck, he loved his parents. He told them so.
“We love you too.” They hugged him tight again.
And then he watched them turn to Echo. Her face slackened with bafflement as she was drawn into their embraces and showered with their gratitude and affection.
Elijah studied the awkward way she hugged them back and wondered if she wasn’t used to such kindness. What was it like for her, being raised by a vampire whose sole intention was to destroy a race of beings?
Finally, they watched his parents ascend the ramp for the ferry and disappear on board.
“We need to leave, Elijah.”
“I want to make sure the ferry leaves.”
“We can’t stick around. We can’t let anyone know this is where we brought them.”
Frustrated but realizing she was right, Elijah bit out a curse and turned on his heel to march away. Echo fell easily into step with him, despite his longer strides. As the scent of her perfume blew past him on the wind, he turned to look down at her. She glanced around as they walked, ever watchful, on guard. An image of her blurring through the coven, killing them with supernatural efficiency, filled his mind. She’d done that to save his parents. Almost got cooked by the sun to do it.
And he realized that the act of saving his mum and dad, of putting herself in danger to protect them, made him trust her in a way he hadn’t before. Echo was as good as her word. Or at least she had been so far.
“I can feel you watching me.” She sounded slightly irritated.
He smirked. “Other than the fact that you’re rather nice to look at, I was thinking about what you did back at my parents’ house. I’ve seen vamps move at speed before … but I’ve never seen one move like you.”