Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
The entire citadel of Joyero groaned and shuddered. Almost as if it agreed with Peter that gunpowder was far more effective than flower fertilizer and chlorine. The sprinklers cut off as if the latest explosion had either damaged their plumbing or they’d reached the end of their water reserves.
Someone screamed in the distance.
“We have to help them.” I shoved Peter’s bulk. “Let me up.”
Rolling off me, he clambered to his feet. Holding the handle of the sword as a walking stick, he gave me his hand to help me up.
The moment I slipped my fingers into his, everything I’d been ignoring pounced on me in horrible detail.
I wasn’t just lightheaded from hunger or clumsy from exhaustion.
I was ice, ice cold.
Nothing worked quite right.
I was stiff and achy, heavy and lumpish.
Almost as if my body was missing its lifeforce.
The lifeforce currently soaked into my silver negligée.
What if he’s right?
What if I’ve lost too much blood?
Swallowing back my fear, I leaned on him for support.
With a grunt, he hoisted me up.
His arm wasn’t nearly strong enough after two months of torture, but together…we managed.
Standing, he didn’t release my hand.
He was so warm.
So, so warm compared to me. Positively on fire compared to me.
Fire.
Flame.
Henri.
I have to find him.
Before it’s too late…
“Come on.” I tugged my fingers from his and headed with a slight sway toward the door.
“Wait.” Marching beside me, Peter reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a rusty dagger. “I got this from the armoury. I don’t know how old it is, but hopefully it holds centuries of protection and accuracy.” Passing it to me, he ordered, “Only use it if your life is in danger. Do not go stabbing everyone we come across. You get your heart rate up any more than it already is, and you’ll probably die.”
“I’m not going to die.”
“Regardless.” He smirked to hide his fear. “Let me do the exterminating, okay? I need you still breathing after this.”
Curling my fingers around the dagger, I nodded and kissed his dirty cheek. “I need you still breathing too, Paavak.”
“In that case, let’s get this over with so we can breathe free together.”
Without another word, we slipped into the smoke-thick corridor and hoped we’d be alive come dawn.
Chapter Sixteen
………………………….
Henri
Fifteen minutes earlier
AFTER A LIFETIME OF BEING alone, I suddenly had a family.
A family made up of different races, nationalities, religions, and creeds.
A family made of jewels who ignored their own terror and training to fight with everything they fucking had.
I was so proud of them.
I was one of them.
They were my responsibility.
My redemption.
And unlike my childhood, I would not fucking fail them.
“Ily!” Skidding to a stop on the deck, I glowered at the star-studded night. Fire rained from the windows above, and embers landed on the deck, sparking with light. Planks caught fire, licking blue, then orange as the stain on the wood became fuel.
“ILY!”
My ears ached for her reply.
Which way should I run?
Where had he taken her?
“Answer me!”
No scream. No sign of which way Victor had gone. No matter. I’d find him.
I broke into a run again.
I leapt over two dead Masters and landed on the grass. I went to charge into the night—
“Wait!”
I ignored the voice.
But a hand clamped onto my shoulder, making me hiss with pain. Without my bandages, my flayed back stung like a motherfucker. Soot and sprinklers, blood and sweat—the recipe ensured my pain added a horrible background screech to the mayhem all around us.
“You can’t go after him naked and unarmed!”
“Let go of me!” I spun on the man holding me prisoner.
No more.
Never again.
I was done being a toy, a possession, a thing.
I bared my teeth. I went to kill—
I stopped as Ben held up a machine gun and a pair of jeans. “Here. Get dressed at least.”
I froze. “You? All of this…is you?”
He shrugged. “No, not just me. Abby and Pen helped liaise with the jewels Victor didn’t punish. And Stewart reminded me all over again that he’s the best computer programmer I know.”
I had a thousand questions.
But they’d have to wait.
Blinking back panic and rage, I snatched the jeans and hoisted them on. After a month of forced nudity, the scratchy density of denim seemed far too restrictive but also…comforting.
Ben waited for me to zip up before holding out the gun. I needed a belt. My waist had shrunk. I barely recognised myself.
The hollowness of my stomach ached with so many empty clenches. My arms shook as I took the gun, finding it far heavier than I should.
I wasn’t in a fit state to fight.
But that wouldn’t stop me from slaughtering every-fucking-one.
“Thanks.” I nodded and broke into a swaying jog.
Ily.
The moment I found her, then I could focus on the rest of the war. I’d be useless if I didn’t know she was okay.
Ben ran beside me, keeping pace easily, all while I panted from the strain my body had endured for so long.