Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“I can tell you about a lying wolf.” A smile both cunning and pitying curved on the woman’s lips. “The wolf was the reason the one you trusted died. If you wish it, I can give you the name of the one who betrayed you.”
Domenico’s fists clenched. For years, he had tirelessly and futilely searched for answers, wanting to avenge his friend. He knew that this was his best bet, but whether he’d win it or not, Domenico wasn’t sure. “If I wish it—-”
The jinn shook her head, her long, twisted dark strands curling around her body as if it had a life of its own. “It must be her who wishes it.”
Domenico didn’t even hesitate. “Never.” He took Misty’s hand, but his wife didn’t budge when he started to turn away. “Misty?” The look on her face made his own harden. “Don’t even think about it—-”
Misty blurted out, “I wish it.”
Domenico cursed, but the sound was drowned by the chaos of the world crashing around them. He hauled his wife to him, protecting her as best as he could while everything turned black.
MISTY OPENED HER EYES when the rumbling, crashing noise around them stopped. She gasped, instinctively moving closer towards her husband when she saw that they were no longer in the forest.
“Where are we?” she whispered.
Domenico didn’t answer her, just holding her hand tightly as he led them out of the room. He had a feeling what this was all about, and he became more certain of it as he explored the room they were in. Its classy and impersonal elegance told him that they were in a hotel. Probably the penthouse, considering how the suite seemed to occupy an entire floor.
“We’re in a hotel, aren’t we?” Misty couldn’t help but shake her head at the opulence surrounding her. She knew she should be used to such sights by now, being the wife of a wolf billionaire, but she wasn’t. The place had an informal and formal receiving area, a whirlpool bath that could fit an entire football squad, and a balcony she could comfortably throw a party for twenty in. There was also a fully stocked wine bar, an ultra-thin TV the size of a pool table, and a grand piano. At the end of the suite, another door led to—-
Misty gasped. “Is that a spa? This suite comes with its own spa?” And it wasn’t just any spa. There was a manmade rock pond, one fashioned like the hot spring baths in Japan, with steam even rising softly out of the crystal clear waters. Luxurious massage pads were laid out on a mini-boardwalk, and on the other side rose petals were sprinkled in a Roman-styled marble bath filled with scented azure water.
Misty tugged on Domenico’s sleeve. “What’s this all about?”
When he faced her, his face was grim. “It’s our last night together.”
She almost laughed but when his expression didn’t change, Misty paled. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
Misty winced at his soft tone, a sure sign of his anger. There was also the muscle ticking in Domenico’s jaw, another sign that a volcano was about to erupt—-
“YOU.”
Misty yelped as her husband began mashing her cheeks like they were dough.
“YOU.” Domenico tried to see if he could apply more pressure to his cheek-mashing, but it seemed this was the most he could do. Dammit.
“B-but we needed to know—-”
“Not like this,” he snapped. Furiously spinning away, Domenico hit the wall behind him, his fist pulverizing the cement and creating a crater-like hole within the wall. There was no point going after the jinn – once a wish was made voluntarily, the wisher had to win the challenge for it or die. It was all up to Misty now. There was nothing he could do, and that was what killed him.
When he turned to face Misty, he cursed under his breath again, realizing too late he had just ended up frightening his wife. She was hugging herself and shivering. Her eyes were wide with shock, but she was visibly struggling not to let her fears show.
Domenico pulled her into his arms, wincing at how cold she felt. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He brushed his lips against her fragrant hair and tried not to think about how frail her bones were. What if the jinn made her fight to the death against a Lyccan?
Misty tried her best not to choke her own husband as she hugged him back. His body was rigid with tension, and she knew it was because Domenico was worried about what would happen to her. “I’m sorry, too. I know you’re worried about me.”
“Damn right I am,” he muttered. He tipped her chin up. “Why did you have to do that?”
“Because I didn’t want what happened to the Faeries to happen to us,” Misty confessed in a small voice. “So many people died. So if I could do something to avert it—-”