Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94234 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94234 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Keep watching. Wrath rumbled as he inched closer. Then closer, until he’d melded into the surface right along beside Alek. He gasped quietly, swimming in the adrenaline of fire and strength. Alek flexed his hands, feeling the power in them.
Wolf stopped seething and slumped in an exhausted mass of distress.
Hang in there, Wolf. Just as Alek thought it, the pilot alerted them to refasten their seat belts—Alek had never removed his—that they were beginning their descent. It was as if those words were the secrets to the Holy Grail, because Wolf released the largest sigh of relief that had Alek concealing his amusement again.
Wrath turned them back towards the window and Alek thought he’d have a heart attack. Using Wrath’s vision, he could see all the way to the ground and could even make out the smallest details. My gods. Alek couldn’t believe it. He saw animals in the forest. He could make out buildings’ names, and structures. Homes. He saw people walking along paved streets, enjoying their lives, dining, and holding the hands of partners or kids. Alek blinked, seeing as clearly as if he was standing directly in front of them. Unbelievable. He wondered if he could see like this all the time. The plane descended more and Wrath sent a startling amount of concern to them.
What is it? Alek slammed the window cover down.
Bell is close… real close. And he’s hurting! Wrath fumed. Alek held himself in check but he too, wanted off this goddamn plane. Alek swiveled his chair around and faced the rest of the passengers. His sister shrieked, then slammed her hand over her mouth.
“Alek. Alek, oh my gosh! Calm down,” she said as softly and quickly as she could, pushing her tranquil energy towards him.
“It’s okay, Farica. It’s Wrath with me,” Alek stated.
“Y-yeah, uh. We can see that,” Mac stuttered. “Um, do you know your eyes are all black, with a ring of fire in the center?”
Oh shit. No wonder they were gaping at him like he… had flames in his eyes. “I’m in control. Stay focused. But, you gotta tell the pilot to land this thing and let me out.”
The Lord Protector gritted his teeth. “He’s landing about fourteen miles from the Dales. Ten minutes. Please tell me you can hold it in for that long?”
“‘It’?” Alek bit out. He turned their gaze on the vampire soldier, noting how Ramon Vega didn’t challenge them directly, but he didn’t advert his eyes, either.
“Apologies,” Ramon muttered.
“Bell is hurt,” Alek continued to convey Wrath’s words, his voice coming out a lot raspier, with him so close. “He is very hurt. We want off this contraption so we can get to him.”
“We’re ready,” Farica assured him. She sat taller, she and Mac backing him up just as they’d promised to. “We’ll hit the ground running.”
“Sounds like we got several miles to trek. Try to keep up,” Alek said. He’d be running a lot faster than they were accustomed to.
“I think we’ll manage.” Farica smirked.
Hurry. Wrath growled.
“How much longer?” Alek bit out.
“This isn’t a helicopter. The pilot can’t drop us down,” one of the mercs said, sarcastically.
Wrath sizzled inside as he stared down the weak individual, but he didn’t react the same as he would’ve before, which would’ve been to grip the disrespectful immortal around his throat and burn all his flesh off until it was nothing but exposed tendons and glands.
So glad you’re not thinking of doing that, Wolf grumbled. He’s the least of our worries. Get ready.
“It’s kind of obvious you’re not interested in strategizing. I believe you said our job was to stay out of your way,” Ramon said, with one brow raised. “How about you lead, we’ll follow and try to recover any viable scraps you leave behind.”
Sounded good to him. Alek pulled back, and allowed Wrath to the forefront, ready to emerge through Wolf when they landed.
It’d been hours and no one had come. There hadn’t been a hint of any kind of disruption near the entrance. It remained clear and heavily guarded by more of Alessandro’s soldiers. It would only take the reserves a couple of hours at most to make it to the deepest valley in the Dales. When Bell had been captured there was still enough night hours left to have orchestrated some kind of rescue attempt. Had Wick abandoned him? Not possible. What about his mate? Bell knew that indeed wasn’t possible. He’d traveled thousands of miles away from Alek after he’d begged him not to. Bell felt that pain deeper than the blows they’d continued to inflict on him to keep him weakened.
One of the many vampires surrounding Bell gazed down on him in rapt fascination. He was a fresh face as well. New to this lifestyle. Sired by Alessandro, therefore completely faithful to him. However, young vampires were able to be swayed with the right temptation. Bell blinked and softened his eyes, trying to charm the vampire’s mind. There was a lot of steadfastness and dedication in him, but also plenty of goodness. Alessandro would, no doubt, eliminate all humanity from the young man in due time.