Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Someone else wanted Julien dead in the worst possible way.
He didn’t bother trying to talk to it. Instead, he shot up into the air and aimed a powerful kick to its head that sent it staggering back a few steps. He didn’t wait for it to get steady, using his mind to send the lawn chairs to slam into it one by one. It crashed to the ground and let out a loud growl.
Emory’s wings fluttered as he hovered above it. He needed a fucking sword to run it through. All he had were the chairs and a few potted plants. He had no choice but to kill this thing because the thought of it getting Julien absolutely terrified him.
He knew right then that his hunch about Julien being his soulmate had been true.
A world without Julien was no world he wanted a part of.
He spotted a lantern on a steel pole, and he threw out his hand and called it to him. It ripped from the earth, the lantern falling off with the force he used. He caught it midair and dove toward the rakshasa, sending the sharp end of the pole into its belly.
It swiped out long claws, catching Emory across the chest. He managed to pull the pole out as he flapped his wings and took himself out of the reach of those claws. His chest burned, blood trickling down his stomach. He hefted the pole, tempted to throw it but not wanting the creature to turn it into a weapon for him. Instead, he used it like a bat, swooping down to slam it into the side of the rakshasa’s head. He hit it hard enough to knock it off its feet again.
He didn’t wait for it to get up, this time diving and aiming the pole right through its throat, pinning it to the ground. Blood poured from its mouth as it gurgled and choked. He yanked out the pole then stabbed it through its chest.
The rakshasa went still.
He stood over the massive, dead creature, his chest on fire, and knew he needed to call Xavier for a clean-up crew and possibly Alaric for his wounds. He could tell they were deep.
The door opened behind him.
“Emory?”
“Can you grab my phone?” he asked as he flapped his wings and rose to look into the backyards around them. If anyone had heard or worse, seen, the fight, he’d also need that clean-up crew to haze the neighbors’ memories. But all was dark in the other houses, thank goodness.
Julien brought him his phone. “You’re hurt! We need to clean those cuts.”
“We will. I just need to get the wizards out here to get rid of the body.”
“What the fuck is that thing?”
“It’s a rakshasa, and there’s no way this was sent by William.” He tightened his lips as he looked at Julien. “Someone else wanted you dead. This thing wasn’t after your fear. It wasn’t sent to make you look crazy and discredit you. It was sent to kill.” He didn’t bother telling Julien what else it would have done with his body. Didn’t want to give the man nightmares. “I’m taking you to a safe house. No arguments.”
He called Xavier and filled him in, then gave in when Julien insisted he go inside to clean the wounds. Since Xavier was sending Alaric, he didn’t need it, but he acquiesced because Julien was visibly upset.
Not as upset as Emory, though.
There was no way a low-level wizard like William had contact with such a powerful creature and that meant that whoever had sent it here was indeed immensely powerful.
And out to kill the man who Emory was now sure was his soulmate.
Chapter Eighteen
Julien
The safe house was on a private drive that backed a park. It was a one-story house, smaller than his own, with a cheery white exterior and a wide front porch.
“The wards are freshly renewed, so nothing can get past them,” Emory said as they carried their bags through the open front door. He set his bag down in the wide entryway and turned to Julien. “I know you didn’t want to leave your house but until we figure out who’s after you, I do feel this is the safest place for you to be outside of in our office directly. I was positive you didn’t want to stay there.”
“No, you’re right. This is fine.” Julien set his own bag down and looked around. The entryway spilled into a square living room with matching navy blue furniture and several shelves of books and DVDs. A wide television hung on one wall over a table that held various electronics. He had no interest in the game stations, but watching a movie could be nice. Mostly, he planned to go through his files. He still had access to the documents, though they’d slowed considerably since all this had started. Maybe they knew he was onto them. Maybe that’s why they’d sent that last creature. William must have told them.