Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
That was a terrible plan. “I don’t know if I can do it.”
“If you cannot invoke your gifts here in this place, then when?”
If this failed, then what? Would getting Draco back be a lost cause?
No. Don’t think like that. You will fight. You will not give up. Big sloppy tears pooled in my eyes. I was at my breaking point. That, or this place was doing something to me. Up until now, I’d been blocking my emotions, trying to keep a level head. Not anymore.
“You are crying.”
“Yes. I’m aware.” I dragged a fist under my eye.
Ansin gently pinched my chin, gazing affectionately into my eyes. “This is good,” he said calmly. “Use your pain. Use your fear. I will be in the kitchen.” He left me in the cavernous room.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The crying did little to help me tap into whatever energies were lurking in this place. In fact, my headache came back with a blinding vengeance, complete with nausea. What was the matter with me?
Aside from the fact I’m on the edge of a meltdown.
I missed Draco. I missed his soft skin and tiny little hands. I missed the sound of his cooing and giggles. I missed the sweet smell of his soft black hair.
“Shit!” I yelled, sitting on the edge of the bed in the master. “Why won’t you work?” I was talking to my brain, of course. What was the point of being a Seer if I couldn’t see? Was this part of the penance Ariadna said I’d pay? I’d been cut off from them, their world, and my abilities. My child had been taken from me. King was dead.
“Jeni?” Ansin appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Spiros is here.”
Already? “I’ve made zero progress, Ansin.” I speared my fingers through my long hair and made fists, pulling at my roots.
“Then we will have to make do.” He didn’t look concerned.
“With what?” I snapped.
“We will hope that Mr. Spiros tells us something.”
“If he doesn’t?”
“I do not know.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
I followed Ansin downstairs into the living room with its plate-glass window overlooking the ocean. The sun was just coming up, igniting the sky in shades of peaches and pastel pink.
“Jeni, nice to see you again,” Niko said, standing by the doorway leading to the hallway.
I’d never really gotten a good look at Niko before, given how he’d always been driving King’s car. All I remembered was that Niko was a tall, husky man with wavy silver hair. Now I could see he had warm eyes with crow’s feet and a trustworthy smile. He didn’t look like a baby snatcher.
“Hello, Mr. Spiros,” I said back, wanting to keep it formal.
“So I am told you have some of King’s blood to trade?” he said to me.
Huh? I looked at Ansin. I had no clue what Spiros was talking about.
“First things first, Mr. Spiros,” said Ansin, mirroring my language.
“Ah, yes. The money.” Spiros pulled out his phone.
“The deal has changed,” Ansin said. “We do not want money.”
“Then?” Spiros raised a dark brow.
“We want information,” Ansin explained.
“About?” Spiros said.
“Someone has taken Jeni’s child. We understand they may have taken him for you. For his blood.”
Niko Spiros didn’t flinch. “I don’t know anything about that.”
Ansin lowered his voice. “Where is Draco? Tell me.”
“Those voice commands do not work on me,” said Spiros. “One of the only benefits of serving King for most of my life.” Spiros pulled up his sleeve, producing a tattoo with intricate symbols. “His gift.”
I had a tattoo from King, too—the letter K on my wrist. He’d given it to me before he killed off most of Ten Club. He said it would prevent me from becoming one of the other members’ property. Apparently, some of them used to have a thing for collecting people like me. But Spiros’s tattoo was a series of intertwining symbols.
“Ah. Sage’s work. I know it well,” Ansin said. “Unfortunately, if my voice commands do not work on you, Mr. Spiros, I have no choice but to take you to the basement.”
Niko suddenly looked worried—gaping mouth, quick breaths. “Touch me and you won’t leave this island alive. My family controls the airport, police, and even the restaurants.”
Ansin chuckled. “We’ll be gone before they even realize you’re missing.”
“You think I didn’t tell anyone I was coming here? Or that if I did not return in an hour to come looking?”
“So I have an hour to torture you. Excellent.” Ansin lunged for Spiros.
It was the first time I’d ever witnessed Ansin using his physical strength. I had no words, other than to say that I was finally convinced. Ansin wasn’t a man. He was a beast.
Thirty minutes later, Ansin appeared in the living room, his shirt and face splattered in bright red blood. I was too desperate to care.
“Well?” I stood from the couch.
He shook his head at the floor. “He doesn’t know anything.”