Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Keep eating,” I enthusiastically encourage. “You’re gonna need all the strength you’ve got to help me free the others.”
The increasingly attractive male who now possesses dark locks, bright hazel eyes, and a well-built frame I almost feel guilty for not shielding my eyes from abruptly stops chewing. “You wanna save more creatures?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why?”
“Why?” he repeats, wiping spit from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. “Why wouldn’t you just get the fuck out of here? Save yourself? Fuck, why did you even bother trying to save me?”
“It’s what champions do.” The answer rolls off my tongue without a thought. “We fight for those who have trouble fighting for themselves.”
An admiring expression is thrown my way. “You’re an orc from champion ancestry.”
“Half.”
“That’s a helluva line to come from.”
Pride pushes me to smile wide.
The shifter sucks in a large breath that causes concern to replace the reverence. “And you’re Fate Mated to an ancient dragon?”
His question puts me on the defensive mentally and physically. “How the fuck do you know that?”
“His scent.” The wolf shows me his open palms in a non-threating fashion. “Once your bond has taken, you bare his scent, especially in the presence of other males.”
Oh, we are so gonna have to talk about that shit.
Like.
What do you mean you like it?! Why? And what does it smell like? Is it that woodsy smell that drives me happily crazy?
Yes.
Ugh. While I love that shit, I can’t go into every conference room wreaking of my half! That’s not professional!
So?
“Half-orc bonded to a fucking dragon?” An awe-inspired grin is given on a shake of the head. “You’re practically unstoppable.”
“I fucking hope so because we’re about to put that shit to the test.” I hold out a hand to help him onto his feet. “Cami.”
He uses my offering to rise. “Constantine.”
“Nice to meet you, Constantine.”
“Nice to be saved, Cami.”
His correction receives a small chortle followed by a heavy, determined sigh. “Why don’t you grab some more food while I snag that map and figure out how the fuck this place is setup?”
He happily nods until an obvious issue hits him. “Can we put uh…getting me some pants on the rescue mission, please?”
“Probably a good idea.” Exiting the cell to cross back to the desk, I ask, “Do you happen to know the food prick’s password for his computer?”
“There isn’t one.”
My body unexpectedly halts in its tracks to face his direction yet again. “Excuse me?”
“It scanned his eye and his thumb. It was the only way I ever saw him get access to the device.”
A round of nefarious cackles seeps free internally.
Looks like we’re gonna need to add getting a couple more things to the plan.
Gladly.
I nod my comprehension and resume my trek to retrieve the map with the hope that my half gets here soon to act as reinforcements, especially considering that I don’t know what shape the other tortured beings are in around this place. I don’t want to have to carry them one by one, but if that’s the only way to save all of them, then that’s just what I’ll fucking do.
No being will be left behind in this building to endure what Constantine has.
What my mother has.
No.
That bullshit stops here and now.
Magitek is done abusing innocent creatures. Done ruining lives and ripping families apart.
The only thing that’s getting ripped apart anymore is them.
And that is something both sides of me unanimously agree on.
Ptur
“This is a terrible plan,” Z complains from where he’s sitting on the deck steps next to Dae.
“It is not terrible, dragonborn,” Dai counters while twisting her roped wrists around. “These knots, however, are pathetic.” She turns her frame towards Ehette. “Tiny dragonborn, try again. And do better.”
Ehette swallows his pride, crosses over from his position beside me, and attempts to bind her for the fourth time.
“This is a terrible plan,” my baby brother repeats in a bigger huff. “And I’ll admit it. We’ve come up with some terrible plans in the past-”
“Like that beer run in the Rockies,” Ehette interjects between loops.
“-but this one makes the grandfather clock chime so loud it could raise the fucking dead.”
“I thought being dramatic was his job,” Ana teasingly points to her mate beside her.
A.D. lightly laughs and shakes his head. “Thanks, Tiny Toes.”
“You’re welcome!”
Laughter spreads from family member to family member, but the levity never reaches me.
How can it?
The love of my life is in grave danger, I’m about to Trojan Horse my fate-in-law, and I’m weaponizing the rest of my kin rather than gathering them all together under my wings to shield them from the incoming shitstorm like a real patriarch should.
Head of a clan protects those in it.
Not exploits them.
Stop.
But-
Best.
“Really, Z,” Ana begins again, pulling all our attention to her. “This whole thing is actually pretty smart. Total bad bitch Laurie Strode shit.”