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)
“I’ve got you,” I grunted, pathetically out of breath. “But if you feel like opening your eyes any time soon and walking yourself...I wouldn’t say no.”
I studied her face, every step heavier than the last. The world tilted and swayed as my heart struggled to keep me standing.
One step.
Two steps.
My legs gave out.
I hit the ground hard, pain exploding through my kneecaps as I curled around her instinctively, shielding her body with mine.
“Well, fuck...”
My vision tunnelled, darkness creeping over the edges.
I tried to push up, to move—but I had nothing left.
This broken, stupid body turned out to be utterly useless without the fire. And as unconsciousness came for me, a familiar growl cut through the slushy silence.
A streak of midnight bolted out of the mangled forest and pure gratitude crushed me.
“Whisp...” Guilt was a horrible, terrible thing as the giant panther skidded to a stop, hackles bristled and fangs glinting. “Fuck, it’s good to see you.”
I’d worried I’d stolen his life when I’d snatched up the lives of other dying creatures.
I hated myself that I hadn’t thought about it before I’d done it...or that it wouldn’t have stopped me even if I had.
Monster.
I’m a monster.
My heart ached as he towered over me, his eyes glowing in the gloom.
I wanted to beg for his forgiveness. I needed to check I hadn’t hurt him, but he merely huffed as if he knew how close I was to breaking and nudged Rook in my arms.
He growled softly when she didn’t move. Sniffing her, he sneezed, his gaze filling with worry.
“She’ll be okay,” I whispered. “I’ll make sure of it.”
He growled again, pacing in a tight circle before nudging Rook harder.
“I know.” I shrugged sadly. “I know you want me to get up, but...I can’t.”
He huffed and headbutted my shoulder.
A rush of weakness came for me. Shooting pains arrowed through my chest.
Darkness swooped over my vision, and I didn’t know if it was a heart attack or I’d merely reached my limit, but I fought to stay awake just long enough to slur, “Keep her safe, okay?” My tongue tied into knots. “Don’t let anyone take her. Please—”
Everything went black.
Chapter Four
THIRTY-TWO HOURS SINCE ARMAGEDDON, and I still hadn’t found them.
I’d ordered half of the Snowflake Corp guards to return to Ashfall Cliff to rest while the others kept searching. However, they’d all refused and kept hunting. None of us wanted to stop until we found our little heiress, but...time had officially run out.
For hours, the peak of the mountain had been crawling with officials. Helicopters flew in with supplies, men, and cameras, and only luck—or the rough terrain—had prevented them from exploring the valley where I’d been searching.
But as the sky lightened with a second dawn, I feared I wouldn’t find them before the government officials did.
“Rook?” My voice didn’t work anymore from all the yelling, coming out like a frog’s croak. “Where the goddamn hell are you?”
Ignoring the blisters on my toes, I picked my way over more ruin. My nose stung with smoke and death. Everywhere I looked, the flames of hell had scorched the earth, only for the wrath of winter to smother it. Ash mixed with snow. Steam curled with thick white plumes as if the very souls of the trees escaped their ashy trunks. Magma had spilled and cooled, burying the forest with huge rivers of black tar.
All those experiments I’d seen at Snowflake Corp—the fish that could suddenly fly, and mammals that could suddenly breathe water...those chilled me to the core.
But this?
Fuck this...?
This was on an entirely different level.
And if Lucien and Rook were the cause...then they were officially the most dangerous people alive—
Enough.
Balling my hands, I kept searching. “ROOK!” I deliberately used the name she hated. “Elara Snowflake, where the hell are you?!”
“Sir...”
One of the Snowflake Corp guards appeared from the gloom. “We’re running out of time. The government officials are heading this way. Journalists and media have also been cleared to visit this morning.”
The comms in my ear crackled, adding to the conversation. “We’ve secured the western ridge. No movement. No sightings.”
“Same on the north.”
“Thermal scanners are useless,” another man muttered in my ear. “Everything’s still too hot—or too cold.”
“Keep looking,” I commanded. “We need to find them and get the fuck out of here.”
“Copy.”
“Copy.” The man vanished back into the charred forest, and I pushed onward.
Exhaustion settled like glue, but Rook had trained me well.
I’d chased after her over countless countries; I could chase after her over a stupid mountain range.
Brushing aside yet another scorched branch, I froze.
Fucking finally.
The panther snarled the moment I tripped into the small clearing, but I flat out ignored him in favour of the two people he guarded.
Lucien lay on his side, his entire body spooning Rook who looked so small and fragile in his embrace. Neither of them looked up, and I risked getting bitten as I tripped forward, needing to see—