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)
Rather than answer his newest litany of queries, however, I returned my attention to him and gently told him, “First, you need to hear the rest.” I didn’t give him a chance to respond. “If I die, you’ll transform into your primordial form. You won’t be able to stop it. Valkara plans to add you to her collection, completing her own personal army. Deco intends to kill her and rule the menagerie.”
Viktor shook his head violently before I finished my speech. “I told you. I won’t kill you, not even to save the worlds,” he reiterated. “And I will not apologize for that.”
“If you don’t do it willingly,” I croaked, “Valkara will mess with your head.”
“Excuse me for breaking up such an adorable reunion, but what are we going to do besides not kill the firebrand?” Bodi asked. “We need a plan of our own.”
“My patience is gone,” Valkara bellowed. “I’d hate for your last moments alive to be filled with Juniper’s screams rather than tender words of love, but that is what’s about to happen. You have two minutes.”
Chapter
Twenty
When Three is a Crowd: Downsizing Without Bloodshed
–HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BERSERKER
By Elizabeth “Elle” Darcy-Bruce
Bile burned my throat. If I despised Deco, I positively detested the dreamseer who called herself my mother. But. Valkara had given me a clue about her downfall, at least.
I shifted my gaze to Juniper. Come on, come on. Look at me, sis.
A second passed–and she did. Triumph bloomed, and so did a new flare of heat in my hands. I noted the fear glazing her eyes and did my best to project a message: I know you’re scared, but try to keep Deco and Valkara occupied. Okay?
Maybe it was the twin thing, but I was almost certain she’d understood. She gave a slight nod before erupting, struggling against her bonds. The gag fell out of her mouth just enough to allow her to shout, “You will pay for this!”
Deco sighed and stood to reset her gag. “Must you always interrupt important business?”
Juniper gave him an exaggerated pout. “I’m thirsty. Give me a drink, and I’ll kiss you as you’ve so desperately wanted.”
Valkara pinched the bridge of her nose. “Deco, don’t you dare give her–”
“Water,” the shifter king called, snapping his fingers in the air.
While soldiers rushed to obey, everyone distracted, I took my shot. “Lure Deco to the cells,” I told my guys softly. “Viktor, you’re going to pretend to kill me. When someone enters to check, we strike.”
Viktor scowled at Bodi. “There would be no need for such theatrics if I had my key. It allowed for the primordials escape from any lock.”
The prince winced. “About that.” Radiating all kinds of guilt, the prince turned his back on our spectators and slashed a claw tip through his wrist. Crimson welled and flowed, dripping to the floor.
“What are you doing?” I gagged as he dug inside the wound.
To my shock, horror and admiration, he pulled out a thin, bloody hunk of metal that was notched at the bottom with an elongated shaft and vine-like alloy strips intertwining in an ornate loop at the top. “I’ve never trusted the Valkara, and I doubted the key did what she said. To prevent you from giving it to her, I hid it.”
“I don’t understand. If this key facilitates escape, you’d be free right now,” I said. “Why can’t you ghost out of the cage?”
“Because it must be used in a specific way, by a specific person.” Viktor stood in place, staring at his brother, anger draining, replaced by shame and regret. “All this time, I blamed you. And yet you protected me. Protected our people, despite the risk of my wrath.”
“You can ply me with thanks and apologies when we’re home. Until then, let’s win this war.” Bodi wiped off the metal as best he could, then extended his arm through the bars, handing the key to Viktor.
“Bodi, I will forever love you for this,” I exclaimed. “Like a brother,” I added when Viktor growled. “Always like a brother.”
The prince gave me a half smile. “Ja, I’ve grown somewhat fond of you too.” He inclined his head. “You are my soon to be queen. If you agree to wed my brother, of course.”
My cheeks heated as Viktor shifted the intensity of his focus to me. “When I told I was keeping you, love, I meant it. You might as well say yes.”
I smiled at him, probably as goofy as a golden retriever. “Yes.”
He smiled back. “Well then.” He pressed the key against his sternum–and it absorbed, soon resembling a tattoo. A slight glow framed the edges. He flicked it, and it began to spin like a dial on a clock.
A frowning Deco noticed our actions and scowled, while Valkara resettled Juniper’s gag in place. “What have you done?” he demanded.