Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Four more men stood in the small space, all of them human. He stepped closer to better hear their conversation as he sensed Finn, in his vape form, moving around the men.
“The shipment will be here tomorrow,” one of the humans said.
“It was supposed to be here yesterday,” Bespoke Suit said, his tone low and full of authority. This was one used to getting what he wanted. If he hadn’t been pond scum, he could have been attractive with his shiny hair and his tall, lean body. But what he did made him the ugliest sort of human.
The other guy shrugged. “They had some sort of trouble with the boat, but one day isn’t bad.”
“I have a schedule, and I expect it to be followed.” Bespoke waved his hand, and one of the wizards pointed at the man who’d spoken. The human started to choke, falling to his knees and clutching at his throat. Bespoke and the wizards watched calmly as the man suffocated. When his body lay still on the floor, Bespoke looked at each of the others. “Anyone else want to say that failing to meet my schedule ‘isn’t bad?’”
They shook their heads, staring in horror at the dead man.
Alaric grinned. One down, four humans and two wizards to go.
He’d need to take out the wizards first. Problem was, as soon as he sent out a spell, they’d sense the magic, so he’d have to be fast. And instead of something small like nausea, he needed something that would incapacitate them both at the same time. Because Xavier wanted everyone here dead, he’d be going for the big guns. Tougher spells that would debilitate wizards. Which would take a lot of energy.
While he’d stood there mulling over his options, the men had continued their conversation, and it had grown heated.
“The boat trouble wasn’t our fault!” one of the humans yelled. “Not to mention our boss was taken out.”
Bespoke went very still. “You think I’m not your boss?”
The guy paled and started to shake his head rapidly. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that with him gone, there’s been a lot of shifting among the ranks, so the boat trouble wasn’t reported immediately. Honestly, it wasn’t our fault.”
“But that’s where you’re wrong. It was your job to make sure everything ran smoothly.” Bespoke smoothed his hands down his suit jacket, then nodded at the wizard to his left.
The wizard flung up his hands.
Alaric took his shot, sending a deadly plague into the wizard.
The wizard let out a loud gurgle and fell to his knees. Festering sores sprouted all over his exposed skin.
Alaric gathered more magical energy to flatten the other wizard, but that one suddenly disappeared and reappeared in front of him.
Fuck, a warper.
And one skilled at binding because in the next second, Alaric couldn’t move. The wizard grinned at him, a twisted evil thing, just as screams sounded. Alaric glanced over to see Finn solidifying just enough to pass through two of the humans, leaving gaping holes where their chests had been. Finn had told him once that he hated using his vapor form as a direct weapon. He must have sensed Alaric was hobbled.
But not for long.
Alaric drew on his magic and broke the binding spell, flinging another plague spell in the wizard’s direction. But the warper had already flashed back to Bespoke, who was firing into the corners of the room, obviously shooting at something he couldn’t see. The holes appearing in the humans must have rattled him.
The gunshots were deafening in the warehouse. Alaric darted forward to take the gunman out, but the wizard wrapped an arm around his boss, and they both disappeared. Alaric turned to let loose on the last of the criminals, only to see he’d been taken out by the bullets Bespoke had been firing.
A groan sounded in the corner. Alaric ran there to find Finn on the floor, hand clutching his thigh. Blood pooled beneath it.
“Shit. You actually got shot.” Alaric knelt and placed his hand over the wound, letting his healing magic flow. It gathered in his center, to flow out along his limbs, warmth tingling in his fingers to seep into Finn and repair the damage. He’d already used so much of his energy, the healing pulled everything he had left. Once done, he closed his eyes and slumped back on his heels.
Finn quickly sat up and put his hands on Alaric’s shoulders. “You okay? Damn, you should have waited. It wasn’t too bad.”
“It was bad, Finn,” Alaric said, voice rusty from the exhaustion pulling at his body. “Nicked an artery.”
“Oh, well shit, that is bad. Thanks, then. Come on, let’s get you to some trees.”
“A lot of them. I’ll never forgive myself if I take too much from one and—”
“I know. I’ll find you a nice, big park. Trees, grass, maybe some squirrels. Take a teaspoon from each, they’ll be all right.”