Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Lucien threw him the finger and reached for the large red ribbon wrapped around the trunk of the tree—a splash of red for prosperity and protection. With a savage jerk, he ripped the ribbon off. The weathered satin fluttered in his hands—a quiet ward against misfortune that had clearly failed today.
Fisting it tight, he turned and made eye contact with Whisper where the panther sulked beside me. “Come here, you stupid beast.”
I choked on a sob at the pet name. At how much feeling and love echoed behind such derogatory words.
Whisper limped a little as if he’d been injured when Lucien shoved him out of the bullet’s path with unseen power. Lucien’s emotions poured down the bond as the barrier between his heart and mine blew wide open. Guilt crushed him for hurting his beloved cat. Violent hate for having to do it. Blistering rage for these men threatening everything.
Silent tears poured down my cheeks as the panther stopped before his master and raised his massive head.
Lucien’s jaw clenched so hard, my teeth ached along with his. Dropping to one knee, he scratched the sleek predator behind his velveteen ears and whispered something I couldn’t hear.
Whisper leaned forward and licked Lucien’s cheek.
The ache in my heart matched the ache in his, all wrapped up with terrible, tangible fury.
With shaking hands, Lucien carefully tied the red ribbon around the cat’s neck. Pressing his forehead to Whisper’s, he murmured, “You have to stay.”
Whisper hissed and tried to pull back but Lucien held him tight. “You will not follow me or go against my command.”
The bond flooded with emotions so sharp and painful, it stole what little breath I had left.
“I’m sorry,” Lucien whispered. “Stay safe and protect them. Wait for me.”
Whisper rumbled low, half a growl, half a whimper, bumping his head against Lucien’s chest.
Lucien’s throat worked. He pressed one last kiss between Whisper’s ears, then rose.
Turning, he offered up the other end of the ribbon to Auntie Mei’s blood-stained hands. “Please take good care of him.”
Auntie Mei burst into fresh tears, refusing to accept. “Xiao Lu...you can’t.”
Lucien grabbed her bloody hand, smacked the leash binding Whisper into it, and curled her fingers tight around it. “Take him.”
She shook her head. “You can’t go with them, Luxin. You can’t.”
Whisper struggled to get free. Dillon stepped toward us, and Uncle Wen shifted in a puddle of his blood.
Lucien balled his hands and glowered at everyone. “You will all stay and behave. We’re leaving, and you’re not going to do a damn thing to jeopardise that, got it?”
Whisper spat.
Lucien pointed at the beast. “If you make me watch them kill you, I will never forgive you.”
As if Whisper understood, he dropped to his haunches with a whine.
“We’ll see you soon, alright?” Lucien gave a fake smile to everyone, wrapped his arm around me, then led me limping out of the courtyard.
The last thing I saw was Dillon, his eyes full of worry...
Chapter Nine
EVERY STEP WAS WRONG.
Obeying my enemies clawed at my very soul. It made me want to turn inhuman because it shot me straight back to the nightmare of Cinderkeep, and no fucking way was I walking back into that cage, but...I had nothing.
No way of protecting Rook or Whisper and all those who lived in Ashfall Cliff.
I was worse off than I had been when I’d been trapped, and it made me want to fucking rage.
Hot hatred boiled inside my veins, pulsing in time with the heartbeats I could hear all around me. So much life. So much energy, but when I’d tried to steal it from the leader, I’d felt instantly nauseous.
The only energy that had helped was Rook’s.
The second I’d reached out and taken from her, I’d felt unbelievably good. The gnawing calmed for a moment. The shakes subsided. The weakness faded. But what if I irreparably damaged her? What if she never replenished what I stole? What if I ended up killing her?
Every step we took toward the main courtyard, I racked my brains on what to do.
I searched every part of my body for any inkling of the flames...
And nothing.
Another gush of fury coated my thoughts as I glanced at my hand. Rook’s awful black blood covered my fingers. No hint of the silver. Not even the usual red tint of mortality.
Yet another worry. Another question about what was happening to us.
Had we broken some unwritten rule?
Had the power abandoned us because we’d refused to die and now waited eagerly for that to come true?
“Lucien...” Rook murmured quietly, wincing with every step. “Your thoughts are giving me a headache.”
I was too deep in my temper to attempt a smile or an apology.
We continued walking in silence.
Rook squeezed my fingers as we headed down the covered corridors of Ashfall Cliff. Lucky cranes and protective phoenixes mocked us as we marched toward our death.