Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Twigs snapped, and I jolted, my heart pounding like a war drum. How close was that?
A slight whoosh of air caressed my cheek. I only had a split second to stiffen before a soft snick of pounding footsteps registered. Boom! A hard body slammed into me. Down I tumbled, crashing into the ground. The attacker accompanied me, wrapping strong arms around me and absorbing the worst of the impact.
Despite the courtesy, I sprang to my feet, hands fisted and already swinging. Jasher! I clocked his identity too late. My fist of fury connected with his face, pain exploding in my knuckles.
Even as his head whipped to the side, he caught both my wrists, preventing a second blow.
Barely recovered from my shock, I wrenched free. Wait. I could see him. Could see everything around us, too. Somehow, we stood inside a sphere of hazy light. And he looked good. Fierce determination hardened every line of his powerful frame. But, um, he stood statue-still. Very reminiscent of the Tinman. The blood-stained ax hung rested in a white-knuckled grip. He wore a breastplate carved with swirling symbols, plus matching arm and shin guards. With his dark hair askew, dirt and blood-streaked skin, and a busted lip, he was a warrior grimed up to the max.
Henry might be more handsome, classically speaking, but the governor’s son exuded carnality and indulgence. Jasher possessed a far more potent magnetism. Pure strength and total control.
A deadly force of nature, he took a step closer to me. Panic seized my good sense, all admiration for him shattering. Was he here to render my deathblow?
I prepared to take another swing at him, but he merely peered beyond my shoulder and pressed a finger to his lips.
Be quiet? Seriously?
Heartbeat, heartbeat. Indecision played tug of war with my good sense. Should I trust him or run? Screech? Fight him, though weaponless?
With a grunt, he lunged, but not at me. He tackled a pouncing boar type beast behind me, taking the sphere of light with him. I shrieked, but quickly pressed my hand over my mouth.
Darkness swooped in, and I lost sight of the combatants. My lungs emptied. I darted my gaze, trying to see something, anything. Terrifying sounds taunted my ears. Sharper grunts, furious huffs, and savage snarls.
For a blink-and-miss-it-moment, the sphere of light buzzed past me, chasing away the gloom. I saw Jasher wrestling the boar, and the brutality of the battle astounded me. Then the darkness covered me once more. But the light returned again and again, every time the grappling pair neared.
Oh! A weapon. I swooped down and grabbed a fallen ax. Goodness gracious! The weight of it strained my biceps.
Darkness.
Light.
“Behind you,” I screamed as the creature attempted to sneak up on him. Should I swing the ax? What if I harmed Jasher?
Darkness.
Light. Another scream burst from me when I realized the beast was mere inches from my face, its open mouth, its razor-sharp fangs soon to sink into my throat. I did it. I swung. The sharp edge grazed Jasher’s shoulder as he crashed into my would-be killer, taking it to the ground.
Darkness.
Tremors rocked me on my feet. The ax shook in my grip. More grunting and snarling preceded a high-pitched squeal and two heavy thumps.
I froze, unsure what to do, what to say.
Jasher reappeared directly in front of me, bringing the sphere of light with him. Fresh blood smeared his face and trickled from gashes in his cheeks. The same crimson splattered his armor, soaked his hands, and dripped from his ax blade.
“You are uninjured?” he asked, barely winded. He claimed his weapon.
“Y-yes. Correct.” I flattened my palms over the compass, which rested beneath my top, tucked between my breasts. Did it have enough juice to put down another male? “But you’re not. You need serpens-rosa.”
“Not yet. I have only one remaining, and I’m saving it for a life-or-death situation.”
He possessed a grain! “I’ve heard we can buy more in the City of Lux.”
He snorted. “Serpens-rosa is extremely difficult to acquire.”
What! The old woman had lied? But. No, she couldn’t have. Otherwise, a crimen would’ve appeared over her head, leading to her execution. She must have believed what she’d stated. Just as Jasher did.
“I’d like to buy yours,” I said, unable to hide my desperation. To show I was a team player, I kept my gaze down. “Name your price.” I’d find a way to pay it, whatever it was.
“My grain isn’t for sale.”
My hands balled. The medicine wasn’t for sale now, because I didn’t know his fee. But he had one. Everyone did. At least, that’s what my business professors claimed.
I just had to find a way to purchase some of Jasher’s time. A far more precious commodity many undervalued. “Thank you for endangering your own life to help me. I appreciate it.” Always good to start with gratitude, especially when it was genuine. “Also, I apologize for injuring you. It was unintentional, I assure you.” I peeked at him to gauge his reaction.