Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
“They’ll try to contain him, but they’ll fail.” Dante’s mouth turns down. “They’ll die, too, and I’ll have to put Beck down. It’s stupid but I actually carry around something that will do the trick. That’s how serious this is. If he starts, he won’t stop until he’s dead, and then all is lost. Look, I owe my cousin everything. I’m going to beg you to help him.”
“Me? I can’t fight…” The connection. I’m the bridge. “How can it work if his brother isn’t here?”
“He is nothing but instinct right now,” Dante explains. “His instinct is to kill, but there are other instincts. You are very important to him. You have to get him to see you, to need you. He’ll want to protect you, but beyond that he’s going to want to claim you.”
“I thought that was what this whole thing is about. He has to win and then he gets to…” Does he mean what I think he means? “Are you talking claiming in a biblical sense?”
“I don’t know what that means,” Dante admits. “I’m talking about sex. There’s a ritual. Beck has to prove he can physically claim a mate or he can’t take you with him. Women and men who can form the bond are highly prized. If he doesn’t have at least a shot at making babies with you, you’ll be given to someone who does.”
“I’m a human being, you know.” I feel like I have to point out a few of this plane’s inequities.
“Yes,” Dante agrees. “It wouldn’t work if you weren’t. What’s it going to be? Because we’re minutes away from me having to take out my cousin. I’m begging you. You’re the only one who can save him.”
I look back to the arena, and Beck has the vampire against the wall. He’s going to do it. He’s going to kill the vampire who’s begging for his life.
But he doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to be this man, this rolling ball of pain and rage that will someday suck everyone into his hell.
I’m not sure how I know, but this isn’t Beck. He isn’t a killing machine. He’s a man trying to save his brother, and I’m the key.
Again, I feel his pull, and I have to follow the call. Dante goes first, gracefully jumping over the wall and then turning to offer assistance. I’m not so graceful, but there isn’t time for me to do anything beyond get over that railing by any means necessary. The vampire Beck is about to kill has nowhere else to run and is seconds away from being skewered.
Beck will never be able to forgive himself. Not if he kills someone like this.
“He asked for mercy, Beck. There’s no reason to kill him.” Strangely it feels right to be here. In the back of my mind I know I should be scared, but suddenly I’m certain I can handle him. Dante’s right. I’m the only one who can handle him.
For the first time since I woke up here, I realize I’m not without some power.
Beck stares at me long enough for the vampire to get away.
He shakes his head as though he has to force himself to look anywhere else. He turns to Dante, his mouth a flat line. He’s splattered with blood and points back toward the seats. “Get her out of here. How dare you allow her on the battlefield!”
Dante puts both his hands up as though trying to show Beck he doesn’t have any weapons. He also moves back a good five feet. “The battle is done, cos. It’s time for you to come down now.”
“Not until I’m finished.” Beck’s voice is rough, and his eyes narrow on Dante. “You should never have walked out here. Are you challenging me?”
I really am going to have to save them all. “Beck, Dante is not challenging you. No one is challenging you anymore. They’re all running away. You scared the crap out of them.”
Beck looks around, and I can plainly see that he’s angry the others are getting away. It’s time to step up my game or he’ll chase them all down. I move in and place my hand on his chest, his skin under my palm.
Dante stays where he is, but he holds a hand out as if to ask her to come to him. “Meg, he’s too far gone. You’ll have to…”
“I heard you in the stands.” It would be a terrible mistake to try to walk away now. I’m not afraid for myself. If Beck thinks for a second Dante is trying to take me away from him, things might take a bad turn. I soften my voice, trying to sound vulnerable even as I weirdly feel empowered. “Beck, I’m yours. Are you going to leave me alone to chase after the others? Shouldn’t you take care of me?”