Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Valen follows Theo in, his fangs and claws long as he stalks his brother.
“Valen, help!” I cry. “She’s bolted to—”
Fast as thought, Theo grabs my ankle and yanks.
I fall as he rises, pulling me into his arms and grabbing a handful of my hair.
“Stop!” he yells. “Stop or I’ll tear her fucking throat out!”
Valen stills.
Theo’s throat works, blood gurgling as he speaks. “She’s yours, isn’t she? Your mate?” He laughs, the sound like broken glass. “I should’ve known.”
“Let her go.” Valen’s voice is low, steady. “Let her go, Theo.”
“What a prize she’ll be for Father.” He giggles, his arm going around my ribs and squeezing. “He’ll rip and tear and feast.”
Valen snarls, but he doesn’t take a step.
Juno moans, and Theo reaches back and does something to her. I hear a crack, and she goes silent. Cold fear eddies inside me.
“Juno?” I call.
Theo continues as if I said nothing, “I’ve tasted her, your mate.” His cold tongue slides along my throat.
Valen’s claws curl.
“So sweet. Pretty, too. Though, I do wonder what she’ll look like once Father turns her inside out.”
I slowly ease my hand along my side.
Theo’s grip tightens, my ribs aching under the pressure.
“If you release her, I’ll do whatever you ask. I’ll kill Father for you, make you king. Isn’t that what you want?” Valen asks, worry twisted around his words like filigree.
“Already turning traitor?” Theo tsks. “Then again, you’ve always been a traitor, haven’t you?”
When I slide the syringe from my pocket, Valen’s eyes widen just a hair.
“Father has tolerated you for far too long. But I won’t. I’ll tell him you intended to usurp his throne, that you kept this human bitch hidden because she’s your true mate. He’ll destroy her while you watch.”
“Anything you want, Theo. Anything. It’s yours.”
“What I want is this bitch flayed alive and you dead,” Theo says matter-of-factly. “And I’m the only one who can give me that.” He takes a step toward the Oval Office, dragging me with him.
Valen moves closer.
Theo raises his hand to my throat, squeezing hard. “Now, now, dear brother. Don’t make me kill her right here. Step back.”
Valen obeys, his entire body practically vibrating with tension.
Theo minutely eases his grip.
I stab the syringe into the back of his hand and depress the plunger.
He hisses and throws me forward. I try to catch myself and feel something in my arm crack.
“The fuck?” Theo lifts his hand and stares at it.
Valen grabs me and pulls me behind him, his silver dagger at the ready.
“What did you do?” Theo thunders as his fingers begin to go black, his thumb turning to ash and the others following. The flakes float away, misting into shadow. “What did you do?”
Valen backs me up, one of his hands at my hip as he slowly moves away from his brother.
Theo’s wrist turns to ash, then more quickly now, his arm. He steps toward us, rage in his eyes, but his shoulder disintegrates, and he falls on his next step, his leg crumbling beneath him.
He screams, but the sound goes dry and raspy as his tongue turns to dust, the rest of his body following until nothing is left but ash.
“What the fuck was that?” Coal limps in, one of his wings torn almost off.
Valen spins, his gaze going to my neck. He uses a fang to rip open his wrist, and he swipes his blood across the wound. “Drink.” He presses it to my mouth, and I take a few swallows. When I pull away, he forces me to take more until my body goes warm and my blood hums with awareness.
“What did you do?” Valen asks, his hands cupping my face. “The injection. Tell me quickly.”
“It’s a combination of proteins used in cells—”
Juno groans.
“Holy fuck. She’s alive,” Coal says.
I try to push past Valen to get to Juno.
“No.” Valen holds me still. “You made this?”
“Yes. In the lab.” I grip his wrists. “I need to help Juno!”
“You know the formula for it?” he insists. “How to make it?”
“Yes!” I struggle against him.
“My mate, you truly are brilliant,” he says, awe in his voice.
The entire building shakes, a loud boom rattling the glass in the windows. Outside the world goes black, wind whistling along the eaves and debris smashing against the walls.
“He’s here,” Coal intones.
“Who’s here?” I ask.
“Gregor.” Valen looks at Coal. “Can you fly her?”
Coal looks over his shoulder at his ruined wing. “No.”
“Then leave now while you still can.” Valen turns back to me. “If he finds you here, you’re dead.” He says the words as if it’s acid on his tongue.
Coal gives me a sad look, then disappears into the Oval Office.
The building shakes again, and a wailing shriek invades my mind. I cover my ears, my head pounding from the force of it.
“Gregor knows his heir is dust. He felt the connection sever. He will eviscerate anyone who had a hand in it.” Valen’s eyes are stark. “You have to trust me, Georgia.”