Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
I weighed his words until a thought occurred. “Will Richter and Zara betray one another?” After all, Sol had turned on them. Could we get so lucky—even when luck was Zara’s domain?
Aric said only, “Humanity is depending upon it.”
10
The Hunter
Day 645 A.F.
“Take a look-see at that.” I passed around a pair of binoculars to the guys, not that Gabe would need them.
In a valley below stood a lone house that might’ve once fronted a cover of some fancy architectural magazine. Mostly metal and glass, the structure had survived the Flash intact.
Joules peered through the binos. “Looks like some rich bloke’s weekend hideaway.”
“Not anymore.” A swath of ash led straight to the front door. After following Richter’s trail for the past two weeks, we’d found his lair, the one he shared with Zara and Sol.
The many windows and bright lights gave us a clear view of the interior, but so far we hadn’t spied anybody inside. I did see plush couches and wood paneling—all flammable. “If Richter was burning hot, he’d have incinerated that house from the inside.”
Joules went on alert. “If he’s not hot, then I can kill him.” His lips curled into an ominous smile.
Anticipation jangled through me. Maybe defeating Richter wouldn’t require a one-way trip. I asked Kentarch, “What say you?”
“In his own lair, the dragon doesn’t burn.” His gaze swept the area. “We have to assume Fortune resides there as well.” We didn’t have a plan to take her on. Not yet.
I surveyed the rest of the valley. “Where’re Sol’s Bagmen? Richter said a horde of them guarded their place.”
Joules’s voice scaled higher with his excitement. “Fancy that—Richter lied.”
I turned to the Archangel. “Can you do a flyover? Check for Baggers and Zara’s copter.”
Nod. “With pleasure.”
“Just be careful.”
He exited the truck and took off into the air.
While we waited, Joules cracked his knuckles. I plucked my crossbow string. Kentarch sat utterly still.
Gabe returned with red cheeks and frost clinging to his hair. “Her copter is in the back. I saw no Baggers. I scent our foes and believe the three are somewhere inside.”
Holy shit. If they hadn’t recently topped off their power reserves, we might have a shot at doing some damage.
With his usual logic, Gabe said, “We should lie in wait nearby. If we see them leave, we can investigate.”
Wait? Instinct told me to hunt. “They might not leave for weeks.” Wasn’t like folks ran to the store these days.
Kentarch said, “I can teleport to the castle to retrieve Death’s armor. We can finish this tonight.” He clenched his left hand. “My demise feels blessedly near.”
I shook my head. “When I texted Domīnija that we followed Richter’s trail, he told me he comes with the armor, no exceptions.”
“I can retrieve him as well.”
Then Domīnija would die tonight.
Would Evie survive that loss? I’d debated Death’s plan till my brain hurt and decided that I couldn’t risk him, not when upending the game was a possibility.
I’d make sure he met his son—and took care of Evie for as long as he could. Noble, for the record, hurts like a blade to the heart. “No. He stays put.”
Sounding gut-sick, Kentarch muttered, “So we are not to fight?”
I was about to point out, “Not unless you want to die,” but he did, so I said, “What if we can wrap this up without fighting? I’ll plant some explosives around the house and on her copter.” Domīnija had given us C-4 he’d bought on the black market before the Flash. Sol would be shit out of luck, but he was fair game after DC. “If I get caught, then you can teleport the others away.”
Domīnija would have an aneurism if he knew what I’d just proposed. But he was the one who wanted me to lead a band of soldiers; I would show some initiative.
Sorry, coach, sometimes QBs go off play.
“Your plan is sound,” Kentarch said, though he stared at the house with longing, like he’d stared at Issa’s corpse.
“You cannot go alone.” Gabe shook out his icy hair. “You did when you ventured into the Hanged Man’s dome of power, and that was a close call.”
A seriously close call. I recalled how dizzy I’d been from hunger—and how Gabe had nearly slit my throat. Still, I said, “I’ll be fine.” His talents wouldn’t help much in the close confines of a house. I climbed out of the truck and headed to the back to stuff gear into my bug-out bag.
Joules hopped out as well. “I’m comin’ with you.”
“I thought your mère warned you not to step into the ring?”
“She never warned me not to. Just to have a bloody good reason. You need backup.”
I debated his offer. Didn’t want to die tonight, me, but I also didn’t want to jeopardize a friend and a valuable Arcana.
Getting that bullheaded look about him, he told me, “You think I’ll take no for an answer?”