Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“I promise to stay safe and find you. I will always find my way back to you. No one can keep us apart.”
The words had barely left his lips when Haru’s mouth crashed into his in a brutal kiss that seemed to touch his soul. The dragon had claimed him in the most basic sense, and there was something inside Adrian that was so very relieved by it. He wanted this all to be done so he could escape with the dragon and forget about the world for a while.
Not that such a thing was an actual option, but hey, a guy could pretend.
As Adrian lost himself to that very thorough kiss, he heard Tyche snicker. “Not even trying to put up a fight anymore. You’re just—”
His words were cut off, and Adrian pulled away from Haru to see what had happened and almost fell over. Shey had captured Tyche and shut up the minor god with his own all-consuming kiss. Tyche didn’t appear to be doing all that much fighting either, considering how he’d melted into the prince.
Adrian snorted.
Jules stood between the two couples, his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide enough to roll out of his head. “But…you’re…dating?”
Haru wrapped one arm around Adrian’s waist, cuddling his mate close, while patting Jules on the shoulder. “Things became complicated recently.”
“Uh…yeah.”
They had been careful to hide certain facts from Jules, since they had yet to determine whether he was trustworthy. Namely, that Haru was a dragon and Tyche was a god. There was no hiding that Shey was the crown prince of Caspagir. And right then, there seemed to be no benefit in keeping their relationships from the young man. Shey had been particularly grumpy considering Jules had established a fast friendship with Tyche.
Shey released Tyche, a small smirk playing on his lips. Yeah, the prince had staked his claim.
Tyche cleared his throat and glared at Adrian. “Shut up.” The God of Luck’s face was bright red, but he was also leaning into Shey as if he didn’t want the prince to release him either.
“If we’ve all said our good-byes?” Shey prompted.
Adrian stepped out of Haru’s arms and wiped all worry from his expression as he gazed at the dragon. “Protect them. I’ll see you soon.”
Haru returned his gaze with a steely one of his own. “Be safe…or else.”
Yeah. He got it. If anything happened to Adrian while they were apart, what happened in Sirelis would pale in comparison to what Haru would do to get him back. There would be nothing left of Bellcairn.
Adrian and Shey waited at the white SUV, watching as Haru, Jules, and Tyche hurried away. A minute later, the trio disappeared around a corner, heading deeper into the quiet town that was situated more than a mile from the city limits of Bellcairn. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the city while lights popped on here and there, doing little to hold off the night.
Shey broke the tense silence that had fallen. “They’ll be okay. Haru is smart, and Tyche is sneaky as fuck.”
Adrian huffed a soft laugh. “Yeah, but will we be okay?”
His companion nodded. “Sure. I’m smart, and you’re sneaky as fuck.”
“Shit!” Adrian hissed the curse between clenched teeth as he skidded, attempting to slow enough to make a sharp left turn. His boots slipped through the dirt and grime that covered the sidewalk, causing him to slide into a brick wall. Pain exploded in his right shoulder and arm, but he ignored it as he shoved off the wall and raced through the dark alley, Shey barely more than three steps behind him.
He leaped over fallen trash cans and sagging boxes, heading deeper into the shadows in hopes of losing their pursuers. Shey’s pounding footsteps echoed his own, keeping a steady rhythm that matched the pace of Adrian’s heart.
They’d gotten within Bellcairn’s city limits when they’d picked up a tail. Six blocks after that, the following had become active pursuit. They’d cut through buildings and down filthy alleys, anything to break their pursuers’ line of sight. Adrian had lost track of where they were long ago, but the bigger concern for the moment was not getting caught. As long as they escaped, they could figure out where they were later.
“Fuck!” Shey snarled. “I have the worst feeling of déjà vu.”
Adrian’s hopes soared. “Been through this part of town before?”
“Nope. Been chased like this before.”
Adrian swallowed a groan as his hopes crashed. So much for Shey knowing a place they could hide. The last time he had been chased like this through Bellcairn was probably the night he’d gotten caught and tossed into that secret prison in Milway. That was just one of the many fates Adrian was hoping to avoid.
A shot rang out, and the bullet slammed into the brick close to Adrian’s head, sending out little shards of rock. Adrian ducked and Shey swore, but neither of them slowed.