Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 99529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Queen Regina coughed on the floor, gasping for more air.
Walking closer, I gazed down at my mother and loomed menacingly over her. “You never intended for Camille to survive tonight?”
“I. . .” She shrank away, backing up as much as she could. “I didn’t think she would be okay with you. . .m-mating with others.”
“No.” Fury burned in my veins. “As Camille said, you didn’t want to share the throne. You wanted to be my only queen.”
“I. . .I would know more about running a kingdom than her.”
Fast, I soared down on her and closed my hands around her neck. Then, with one powerful heave, I smashed her head hard into the ground. Blood splattered around me.
Leeta screamed.
Victoria shrieked.
Ty whispered, “Dear Ambi. Help us all.”
I shook the blood away and rose.
So be it.
“And where is Ian?” I scanned the guards, searching for Ty and Victoria. Those two were the ones I would kill first. Next would be Ian.
“Ian is trapped in a bedroom with several dominas. . .serving him. I’m not sure he knows he’s even locked inside as he has sex with them.” Leeta’s hands trembled as she held the vial.
“Will this work? Will this bring Camille back to me?” I hung onto the edge of insanity; unsure I could rise back over the ledge and return to any form of life without Camille.
My queen.
“I don’t know if this will work for sure,” Leeta quickly muttered. “The mage told me that I would have to use one vial at a time.”
“How many vials do you have?” I yanked it from her.
“F-five. The mage said that would be enough.”
“And where is this mage now?”
Leeta frowned. “Your mother had her guards kill him.”
“Of course she did.” I tore off the vial’s stopper. A flowery scent rose in the air, reminding me of roses and daisies. I towered over Leeta and parted Camille’s lips. Then, I raised the vial over her mouth and poured the potion down her throat.
Please, Queen. Come back to me.
My thumb rubbed against Camille’s small neck, hoping to massage the potion down her throat.
My queen, can you hear me?
I delivered those thoughts to her head, listened for her heart, and waited. I didn’t know if I was imagining things or not, but Camille’s heart seemed like it was beating faster and stronger.
Leeta’s voice was shaky. “X-xander?”
I looked at her. “What?”
“We must take the knife out so that she heals all the way.”
“If this does not work, I will rip your throat out first.”
Leeta’s eyes watered. “I know.”
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
“Wait.” I leaned forward and listened.
Camille’s heart beat wildly like a drum in a battle, its pulsing energy racing through her veins.
It’s beating stronger.
Still, her body trembled as I wrapped my arm around her and slowly inch by inch took out the knife from her grip.
This better work. It must. I cannot live without her.
My hand trembled as I held the knife in the air. The cold steel glinted in the darkness.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
It’s stronger and louder.
Several footsteps sounded from behind me, signaling the approach of more guards coming.
“Hold her.” I narrowed my eyes at Leeta. “Keep her safe.”
“I will, Xander.”
My view shaded to dark red and I assumed my eyes must have changed color again. My voice deepened and I could barely recognize it. “If she dies, Leeta, I will kill you. Do you believe me?”
Leeta’s lip quivered. “Y-yes.”
The thundering footsteps of the guards stomped closer. I was sure there were many of them behind me, wielding their wooden swords. There was no way that my earlier roars had not alerted the entire castle.
Everyone will die, except my queen.
In half of a second, I spun around and rose five feet in the air, touching the hard castle’s ceiling with my horns. Stone crumbled down.
What?
I hadn’t intended to jump so high.
This is too much power.
A chill ran down my spine as I landed with extended claws.
At least thirty guards barreled forward.
One guard took in my horns, stumbled back and raced out of the room.
Others staggered to the side, unsure of what to do with me.
However, many were brave. They remained in front with their wooden swords ready to fight.
My strange, dark voice left me. “You should run.”
A few shivered, but they remained.
I cracked the left side of my neck. “Then, so be it.”
Leaping back in the air, I soared onto the first two guards near me. Before they had time to scream, I tore off their heads with ease.
Too much power.
I smashed the heads into the floor. Pale skin, green mucous, and black blood splattered all over the ground.
How will I get used to all of this power?
The other guards jumped back. Some raced out of the room. Many rushed across the room and pressed their bodies against the wall.
I rose to a standing position and knew that I was somehow. . .taller.