Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 141492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
She had to let go of Petru’s mind to concentrate fully on her landing, coming in feetfirst to hit the perch just right and not overshoot her mark. The little owl rocked for a moment, using its wings to keep her stable, and then she let herself feel a moment of triumph before attempting to shift back into her true form.
Being Safia was so much easier than being a little owl. She knew exactly what she looked like, and it was easy to be herself. She chose the spot where she wanted the owl to become Safia again, and she reappeared, dressed in her comfortable, familiar clothes. She was becoming adept at clothing herself. She certainly knew her wardrobe and what she liked to wear.
She had taken to flying more easily than opening the soil. She wasn’t adept at that yet, and Petru wasn’t allowing her to try on her own. She was learning so many other skills, she didn’t mind.
Her father and grandfather were there with Zdan and Izem, clearly representing the Amazigh people. Benedek waited with Aura. Nicu leaned against the fence, studying the interior of the forest on the other side. Tomas and Lojos had wandered away from the others and were peering up at the cloud formations while Mataias was in the center of her family, his expression serious as he nodded his head, listening to their conversation. Safia was thankful that Mataias took the time to engage with her family.
Petru took her hand, and as they strolled up to the group, she sent the Carpathian male a warm smile. Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to make my family feel as though they mean something to you.
Mataias turned toward her and gave a slight courtly bow. You are family, Safia, as are they.
For a moment, a lump blocked her throat and tears burned behind her eyes, but the other Carpathians had taken a sudden interest in her, and she lifted her chin and widened her smile.
“Let’s get to it so we have time to celebrate our marriage with the family,” Petru said. He crouched down as the others circled around him. “Lilith will most likely send her sacrificial pawns along these lines,” he said, drawing in dirt to show the outer banks of the farm. “She’ll throw a very heavy line of disposable vampires and demons at us to weaken us and kill as many of Safia’s family as possible.”
Aura frowned as she studied the area Petru had chosen. “Why would she choose that line? It seems to me she would have far more success if she approached the farm from the southern side and took out all the smaller homes first. I was concentrating our line of defense there.”
“Or go straight up the middle,” Mataias said. “Divide them. Cut the families off from one another.” He sent a quick look to his brothers. “I’ve seen Petru do this before.”
Lojos nodded. “It makes no sense, but he never fails to be right.”
Nicu looked down at the map in the dirt. “He studies his enemies and reads the way they think. In this case, he’s engaged with her on more than one occasion, which is bad news for her.”
“Her goal is no longer to win the war,” Petru announced. “She is vindictive and vengeful. What she cares most about now is punishing Safia and then destroying her. Safia managed to inflict damage on her. She dared to challenge her. Lilith’s attention has been diverted from her original goal, although she sees it as the same thing. She can’t conceive of a human family defeating her, even with the help of a few Carpathians.”
“She’s brought in vampires,” Aura reminded. “I feel their presence.” She rubbed at her arms.
The brethren followed the path her palms took, clearly not liking that Aura had fought vampires on her own.
“Why doesn’t Lilith attack us while you’re underground?” Zdan asked.
“Vampires can’t attack,” Tomas explained. “They would fry in the sun. They could send their puppets, humans they’ve converted to flesh-eating monsters that do their bidding, but those puppets cannot get through the safeguards we’ve woven around your farm, and she knows that. It would be a waste. Unless that curious child gets loose again.”
“He won’t,” Zdan assured. “It is good the decision was made to allow him to retain most of his memories for the time being. I have spoken to him at length. His grandfather and great-grandfather have as well. All three of us were sterner than we have ever been with him, showing him he endangered not only himself but his entire family. He left us open to these monsters that are threatening to destroy us. He knows to stay close.”
The brethren nodded. Safia became aware through a common path the brethren shared of an order left behind in her nephew’s head to obey his father’s directives. She pressed her fingertips to her lips and glanced at Mataias, who studiously avoided her gaze. Fortunately, the order was more of a soft suggestion that would wear away over time, but it would serve its purpose during the tense dealings with Lilith and her retaliations.