Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Noise outside the room finally brought him back to his senses, and he went straight for the window.
He didn’t even try to stay hidden and broke through the glass, flying out into the night. Sparks of fire erupted between the house and a small shed to his right. The golf cart lay on its side in the middle of the shootout, but Shadow could sense that his body was still alive. The rapid gunfire distracted him so much he stumbled and fell instead of landing with ease, but he held on to the pulsing seed of energy in his hand, feeling its might stream through him, even though he wasn’t feeding off it yet.
The invisible force that linked him to his body led him toward the shed, and Gray was definitely there too, even if not communicating. When Shadow focused, he sensed the recoil in the borrowed arm, so his lover was definitely among those exchanging gunfire.
As he darted across the manicured lawn, he didn’t even think much when he saw an assailant reload his gun. Gray had told him to not attack people blindly, but this time, friends were under siege. Violence was perfectly excusable.
Shadow screeched his fury and grabbed the man from behind. He lifted the screaming human with ease and threw him at another, who stood nearby.
A third guard opened fire Shadow’s way, but the bullets were unable to penetrate the solid black skin. The man paled, sent out another round from the gun, but Beast got him first, sending a bullet into the bald head. The one surviving guard pushed the broken body off him and ran off without even trying to fight.
The door of the shed flew open, and Gray emerged with hands still smelling of gunpowder. “Now. Now. You’re late!”
Shadow didn’t even answer, and went straight for his body. He whimpered at the unpleasant chill when he sank into the soft yet already cooling skin that entombed him.
The flesh wasn’t nearly as cold as that one time at the motel, but it felt oddly moist, and stiff, like ground that had been pressed over him for burial. It was dark on the inside, and while he recognized the hollow sound coming from beyond as Gray’s voice, it felt distant. The ruby that gave him his life had shrunk since he’d first obtained it from the trunk in the lake. It was dim, and weak, and in this moment felt as if it didn’t want to support his human body anymore.
But then, out of nowhere came warmth, and he sensed the gentle scratching of stubble on the palm of the hand he’d given away to Gray. Something deep within him emerged to the surface, and accepted a warm kiss on his lips.
Air filled his lungs again. The cooling heart made its first pump, sending stagnant blood through his system, and with each one that came next, Shadow’s mind became clearer.
Like emerging from a cold lake, he reached up and clutched at Gray, wrapping his arms around his neck. The warmth of his human was slowly filling his lungs, but he still shivered.
“There’s no time!” Beast yelled from outside the shed, and the sound of flapping wings told Shadow Jake was there as well.
Gray stood up, tugging Shadow’s stiffened body with him, but he sank back to his knees when the shed creaked around them as if it were about to fall to pieces. Seconds later, shards of wood fell on their heads, and the roof opened like the lid of the music box where Shadow had found the Pigeon Heart.
Jake peeked inside with a grimace twisting his face. The smell of black blood was obvious, and the shivering wing at his side made clear what happened. “I saw police coming from the other side!”
Beast stilled. “Shadow, can you hide us all?”
“He’s just come back to his body. Can’t you see he can barely stand?” Gray said, pulling Shadow close.
“Fuck. Fuck!” Beast frowned, but he didn’t think long. “Jake? Ready to take us all?”
Jake dropped to the ground outside the shed. “Yes, let’s go. Now.”
Gray pulled Shadow closer, watching him with such hope it was no longer possible to consider taking the ruby for himself. With a heavy heart, Shadow pressed it into Gray’s hand.
Gray stared at the jewel, but Shadow was already in the air, and seconds later, Shadow could no longer even see Gray. In the moment when Shadow passed him the jewel, had Gray also wondered what would have been if Shadow took it for himself instead?
Chapter 25
The ruby burned Gray’s skin as if it were to leave a permanent brand through the leather jacket. Being on the road with his closest friends had always tasted like freedom, but not tonight. Tonight, he’d obtained the tool to ensure that Shadow wouldn’t leave him, but he’d chosen not to use it. For the club. For the future of the world.