Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Bottling had helped. Something I was a little too raw to do at the moment. In fact, many of the bottles I’d buried in the past threatened to crack.
Maybe I stiffened atop the mount. Maybe I didn’t. Either way, Viktor wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my crown, enveloping me with his heat and scent. His incredible strength. Though I shouldn’t, I relaxed against him. For being such a chaotic guy, he’d been pretty calming lately. Our sizzling sensual tension notwithstanding, obviously.
Here, now, I didn’t care if the bottles broke. He’d already expressed his interest in dealing with the complications. Why not let him?
Something to consider.
But not yet. The rhythmic clatters of horse hooves tapped against the forest floor, soothing me further. Despite my rawness, I couldn’t remember a time I’d been so at ease, even with Benjamin.
The longer I leaned against Viktor, breathing in crisp air scented by wildflowers, the faster a sense of invigoration bloomed. I began to feel as if I hovered in some kind of timeless moment that had taken place a thousand years ago while simultaneously happening in the present.
I opened my mouth to launch a new conversation, but Bodi trotted over, his horse remaining beside ours.
“No turul-shifters have ambushed us,” he announced, as if it were some great surprise.
“What’s your point?” Viktor demanded, keeping his arms wrapped around me.
The prince darted his gaze to mine. “Have you considered the possibility the woman is part of the trap?”
You’ve got to be kidding me. Oh, I got why he might suspect me of lying and working with Deco. But come on! As if I would really put myself into that kind of danger while my twin needed me.
“Ja,” Viktor repeated, still totally at ease. “I’ve considered it. And I will be the one to handle her if so. Me and me alone.” A warning dripped from each syllable. “Tell me you understand.”
I preened over his possessiveness–Wait. He suspected me of foul play, too, but he was helping me anyway, just in case? Intending to change my mind and win me over to his side? That might explain last night’s charm, which must have been more potent than I’d realized, creating some kind of unconscious softening inside me. Look how quickly I’d settled against him, unaware of his dangerous musings.
Well. I straightened with a snap. From now on, I’d be more careful. More guarded. Coming to like and depend upon such an unstable guy wasn’t in this year’s bingo card. The very reason I should stop thinking about kissing him! I mean, he hoped to keep me glued to his side for the rest of my life, even if he married Valkara. An idea I intended to nip in the bud after Juniper’s rescue. My sister and I could forget this other world existed. No more berserker obsession. I’d had my fill. We’d just have to ensure Deco never found us.
Fake our deaths, possibly? Kill the shifter king?
Whoa. Where had that thought come from?
“I understand.” The prince gave a terse nod and retreated.
“I’m not, you know,” I said and sighed. Except Malachi. His offer.
“Perhaps not wittingly,” Viktor replied.
Silence accompanied us the rest of the trip. As the sun descended, the stream of light that filtered through the overhead canopy thinned. Finally, though, we reached our destination. And oh, wow. What a destination it was. People would pay big money to use this area as a wedding venue. Not me, of course, but others. Anyway.
A large circular clearing surrounded a smaller circle marked by ten massive stones reminiscent of Stonehenge, each positioned to resemble a doorway. Flecks of gold and silver glittered in the air, while a dusting of diamond powder coated the outside of every rock. Precious gems rimmed the edges. Rubies. Sapphires. Emeralds. Plus jewels I didn’t recognize.
“Anything I should know about these traveling stones?” I asked as Viktor dismounted and helped me do the same.
“Yes. Humans usually die going through them. And if they survive, they often wish they’d died.”
What! “I’m human!” And already backing away.
He reached out to clasp my wrist. “Not fully. You are of sentinel blood. Fully griffin with a beast of your own. Which makes sense, since Malachi recruited you.”
Wait. I had a lion-eagle hybrid inside me? I mean, yes, Malachi had told me I hailed from his line, but I hadn’t considered this. The moisture in my mouth dried. “How do you know that for sure?”
“There are many indicators.” Viktor moved fast, leaning down to put his face at the base of my throat. My pulse leaped as he dragged his nose up, inhaling deeply. “Your scent is one,” he rasped, straightening. Gold rings flashed in his eyes. He released his grip on my arm, but there I stayed, close enough to lean into him. “Though yours is a perfume sweeter than most.” His voice dipped. “Deliciously sweet.”