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)
In the present, I pressed a hand over my churning stomach. No. No, no, no. What had happened? Had he…was she…?
Vision Clover screamed in anguish. Then she–
No, I began to change. I grew a beak and wings. Sprouted feathers. I developed the hindquarters of a lion, complete with a tail. The largest talons extended from my nail beds, a grotesque monster-griffin taking my place.
The vision opened further, revealing the encampment beyond our little clearing. In it I saw Bodi and others I didn’t recognize, all going about their days.
The moment my transformation completed, I spread my wings, squawked–and Viktor transformed as well. He dropped Juniper and the two of us turned on each other. Fighting, raging. In the end, I won only because he hesitated to deliver a death blow. I ripped out his heart. When I finished with him, I flew into the campground, utterly wild now that I’d killed my firebrand. Though a multitude of berserkers erupted, attempting to fight me off, I killed everyone in my path. Down went Bodi, minus his head. Every single creature in my vicinity died. Men, women and children. Animals, too. And I wasn’t done. I stalked off, hunting for my next victims.
The vision faded, and I doubled over with nausea. This was the world’s fate if I didn’t convince Viktor to kill me? “That–that’s a lie,” I sputtered. It must be.
“I cannot weave lies, only truth. That’s the destiny awaiting each of you if you live today,” Valkara confirmed. “You are linked to Viktor and when you shift–and you will–you’ll become as strong as he is. Stronger, since you are flesh of my flesh. None of his berserkers will be able to stop you. You’ll rampage, leaving only destruction in your wake. But one simple sacrifice can stop such a catastrophe from occurring. Of course, Viktor will refuse to end you. We all know he’d rather die than harm his firebrand. But I can take care of that. Confuse him in the fog so that he lashes out without thought. All you must do is accept your fate without a fight.”
No. No! “If you can weave only truth, the vision you showed me throughout my life is the future, not what you’ve shown me today. I haven’t lived that moment yet.”
“What I showed you was the future, yes. If Juniper had ended up with Viktor. But the two of you traveled a different road, taking us to a new destination.”
No! “Then today’s vision proves we’ll all escape,” I croaked.
“Exactly. Unless you choose another path.” She tossed the dagger she held through the bars. It landed on the cot and bounced. “Let him kill you with this, rather than his claws. It’ll hurt less.”
So doomed if I did and doomed if I didn’t. “How do I know you’re telling the truth about showing only the truth?”
“You don’t,” she said, all but bubbling over with giddiness, sensing how close she was to victory. “You’ll have to take my word on it.” A pause. Then, “As soon as you’re dead, I’ll release Juniper. I vow it.”
No. No! She couldn’t be trusted. Look at how she’d tricked Viktor all these centuries. How she’d used Malachi. “When you have all the primordials in your control, what’s your plan?”
“Have no fear, my sweet Clover. We won’t be staying on this forsaken planet.” Intensity flashed in her eyes, hinting at sinister intentions. “No, I have other places to be. The only reason I’m still here is because patience is needed when dealing with primordials. Rush them, and pay the price.”
For the first time, I actually believed the words that came out of her mouth.
I sagged against the bars. This was bad. Very, very bad. What should I do, what should I do? I don’t think I had the emotional fortitude to unleash a berserker rage-out right now. Too much sadness welled, snuffing out the flames.
Satisfied that I’d finally accepted my fate, she sauntered off and eased onto a chair near the rack, obviously waiting for something. Or someone.
My thoughts drifted to Viktor, my love. The man who might kill me–an act so horrific that it would shatter him. He’d break and forever descend into his primordial self.
By following Valkara’s orders, I would condemn us both, but possibly save Juniper. Perhaps even a world. The greater good. I wracked my brain. There must be another way. An out that didn’t involve our deaths. My hands trembled, and my eyes brimmed with the tears I refused to shed in front of the tyrant who’d birthed me. If I died, my only regrets would be not receiving Viktor’s mark and never getting to know my twin.
And why weren’t we allowed to be together? There was a reason Valkara had separated us at birth. I’d sensed it before, and I knew it now.