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)
“Fuck you.”
“Ah-ah, I wasn’t finished.” He scowled. “That’s the ‘where’. As for the ‘how’—you were both brought here with utmost secrecy from China and, as you can clearly see, have not been hurt in any way—apart from what you self-inflicted. You were the one to destroy your own headquarters. You were the one who used far too much power. Have we taken retribution? No. Do we look angry? No. We’re very happy to finally have you back, Lucien, and as long as you obey and do what we say, we won’t do a thing to harm you—minus the quick sting of a needle, of course. However...” His voice turned black. “If you show any sign of disobeying. If you attempt to use your unique pyro ability, I’ll be more than happy to install a new frequency emitter in both of you that’ll deliver a constant dissonant dose, ensuring you’re both as weak as newborn kittens.”
“You said you wouldn’t do that,” Rook cut in.
“If you can lie, so can I.” He flicked her a smile.
“You’re going to do that anyway,” I snapped. “The moment you’re finished doing whatever it is you’re about to do, you’ll insert another vitalsync core and enslave us.”
“So cynical.” He frowned.
“I won’t let that happen.” I forced a savage smile. “I’ll kill you all.”
“I will admit I enjoy talking, but when it comes to ridiculous threats, I’m unamused.”
“Oh, it’s not a threat.” I leaned forward, fighting agony and the straps. “I promise you...I will kill you.”
He clucked his tongue as if I’d merely refused a cup of tea. “Going back to the word ‘enslave.’ That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? Is it really enslavement when you’ve spent most of your life in a palatial palace?”
“It is when you’re draining me like a fucking vampire.”
“We all have to make sacrifices.” He shrugged. “You were blessed with power that we would like for our own. It’s only fair you share those powers and give the rest of us the chance to evolve with you.”
“By drinking my blood, you mean.”
“Correct.” He nodded with no shame. “Your blood is the key to becoming better than the rest of the idiots on this planet. We want to become immortal. Like you.”
“Like me?” I laughed coldly. “Hate to burst that bubble but...I’m dying. Are you blind?”
“If you were dying, you would already be dead. You have numerous broken bones yet you’re spitting and hissing with fire. Look...” Strolling around the room, his gaze strayed from me to Rook and back again. “Obviously your temper is getting the better of you like it always did in the past, so instead of talking let’s just get started, shall we?”
“Like I said. Fuck you. You’re not taking anything.”
“That’s nice.” Brushing down his lapels, he stopped by the door, sandwiched between other men I vaguely recognised. “Is that everything? Got all your curses and questions off your chest? If so, I’ll step aside and let my colleagues get to work.”
If I could access the fire, he’d be a pillar of ash.
I sank inside myself, hunting, begging—
But Rook met my eyes, giving me a quick shake of her head as if urging me to stay calm.
I reached out with my heart, hoping to sense her arctic coolness. To feed off her energy like I had back at Ashfall Cliff but...she was just as ruined as I was.
No frost. No snow. Not even a cool breeze.
I couldn’t even tap into her heartbeat.
I couldn’t hear any of their heartbeats, leaving me completely useless.
Sagging in the binds, I held her stare. Can you access anything? Anything at all?
She sucked in a breath and shook her head just a little. Nothing. Not even a snowflake.
Well, fuck.
We could bluff all we wanted but if we couldn’t follow through, we didn’t stand a chance.
God, what was going on with us?
Why could we access the ice and fire before, yet now it felt as if it never existed? Why did every ticking minute make nausea settle heavier and my fractured bones throb as if they were moments away from dissolving?
Gritting my teeth, I tore my eyes off Rook and locked them on the man.
I might recognise him, but I couldn’t remember his name.
Almost as if he saw the question in my eyes, he grinned. “The name you’re looking for is Dr. Swift. But...seeing as I’ve taken over for Marcus and we’ll be spending a lot of time together going forward, you can call me Roy.”
Swift...
That name dredged up Cinderkeep. Memories where those bitches, Lydia and Evelyn, had bullied Rook. The night where I’d ripped the throat out of one and Whisper slaughtered the other—
Swift!
A cold chuckle escaped me as Roy leaned against the wall, giving the white-coated scientists space to park themselves on either side of me and Rook and rip open a few sterile packages, getting needles and siphon tubes ready.