Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
He stalked toward them, growing before my eyes. I shrunk behind him, but Kellan took on a menacing stance. A black cloak seemed to shimmer over him, covering him before my eyes, and then I heard him speak in a different language. It sent chills down my back, and I gritted my teeth, fighting myself from lashing out. I wanted to stop the words that he spoke. I didn’t know what he said, but I wanted them to go away. I wanted it all to go away. I couldn’t stand the stench of the demons in the sanctuary’s kitchen. I cringed hearing Kellan speak to them in their own language, and I loathed the reminder that he was one of them, more powerful than they were even.
After a few moments of them fighting him, straining not to answer him, and Kellan striking them with his power, one buckled. The demon couldn’t stop babbling. The words poured out of him as he doubled over, crying, whimpering, begging. It sickened me. The entire thing made me nauseated and I bolted from the room, dashing upstairs to my bathroom. Within moments, I burst through the door and emptied my stomach’s contents into the toilet. I hurled a few more times until something exploded beneath me, under the floorboards, where the kitchen was. Immediately, I felt relief and knew that Kellan had vanquished both demons. Their presence no longer haunted me, overwhelming me with sickness. It wasn’t long before he came to the bathroom door and stood there. “Are you okay?”
I nodded and wiped some vomit from my mouth. “I’m fine.” I collapsed against the wall and sat there with my knees raised before me, my arms dangling from them, feeling lifeless.
“Your reaction was from her. You know that, right?” He sounded cautious, reserved from me.
My stomach twisted again, feeling how he watched his words with me. It was like he was scared of me, hesitant of my reaction. I closed my eyes, pain stabbing my gut at his reaction, but I choked out, “I know.” And I did. My hatred had been tenfold since I had merged with her. Only an idiot wouldn’t have known where it had come from, but another feeling took over me. What was I supposed to do about that? I was a hybrid, half-messenger. And that side was more powerful now within me. Some of these emotions were bound to come out, right…
“I know you can’t help it.” Kellan put me at ease, sitting next to me and then reaching for my hand. “I just don’t want you to ever loathe me. That’s all I worry about.”
I was relieved. I could do that. Hell, loathing was the opposite of what I felt for him. Then I grinned, resting my head against his shoulder. “That’s the last thing you need to worry about with me.” I squeezed his hand for extra reassurance.
“I have something to tell you, something that you’re not going to like.”
My stomach twisted again, curled into a ball once more. I forced myself to ask, breathing out, “What is it?” But my teeth gritted together. I wasn’t going to like it.
“They took your aunt. They have her, and they sent them after us. They wanted to take us too.”
I closed my eyes, feeling a ball of fury roll over on itself inside of me. Something started to take over me… Then I grated out, “Tell me that you found out where they’re holding her.”
“I did. I know.” He seemed to be choosing his words carefully. I felt his hesitation as if it were my own. And I hated it.
“Well?” I snapped out.
Kellan sighed, his hand now lax in mine. “I’ll take you there.”
“Fine.” I scrambled to my feet, ready for war, but I asked first, “Who took her? Who sent them after us?”
Kellan hesitated before answering. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t say.”
He was lying. I felt it. I knew it. I could taste it, but I held my tongue. This wasn’t the time or the place to demand answers from him. All I cared about was getting my aunt back. Kellan would tell me. I would make sure of that, but he could wait. That was fine, but he would tell me. As I watched him leave the bathroom, my eyes stuck to his back, feeling his lie within me. It was a betrayal, but there was more in me, a sense of determination.
I followed behind, and I couldn’t squash the hope inside that there would be more demons to kill. It was becoming a favorite hobby of mine. The thirst was almost too powerful for my liking, but I couldn’t stop the desire. It throbbed inside of me, almost as much as my desire for him, but of that, I held my tongue. I was sure we’d finish what he had promised to start in the kitchen. When that moment happened, I could only hope I wouldn’t end up begging at his mercy, but something told me that was what Kellan wanted. It seemed up his alley, and I couldn’t stop the shiver of excitement in me.