Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I know the finer details and don’t need them repeated. It’s enough that I can see where it happened, trying to imagine where Lucien went under the frothing waves of fire and where his tortured soul might even be now, wailing in agony.
“What’s the plan?” Amell says, rotating his wrist to twirl the spiked mace. I can tell he’s eager to lodge it in either Ariman’s or Rune’s brain, although he’d get more pleasure if it was the priest’s.
“About half a mile down, there’s a cave,” Carrick says. Through the gloom and with only the dull illumination from the glowing river, I can’t make out anything but the shadowy outline of the jagged base of the mountain. “That’s where Micah lived. We didn’t go inside though, as Lucien and I climbed above and dropped down after he was lured out. It wasn’t a big area, so I’m not sure if that’s where they’ll be.”
“If they’re even here,” Amell points out.
“She’s here.” We all turn to face Finley, who grips Cato’s lightning bolt. “I can feel her.”
“Is that a twin thing?” I ask.
“More than a twin thing,” she murmurs, attention fixated down the beach where the cave would be. “When you stick a knife in your sister’s heart—literally and not figuratively—because she begs you to, it creates an even deeper bond. Add in the fact that she breathed new life into me after she became a god and I can tell you… she’s here, and she’s terrified.”
Her last words trigger a feeling inside me that I’ve never felt before. I’m not sure what it is, but if I had to put a name to it, I might call it panic. As a demigod, fear is impossible. I don’t have the capacity to be scared of anything, and yet now I feel like the clock is ticking faster and we’re losing control.
Gripping the spear, I say, “Let’s just fucking go… bend distance to that slight outcropping past the boulder that looks like a camel’s hump.”
Carrick nods. “Surprise attack is going to be the best. Maddox, Amell, and I will go in together. Finley, you stay back and—”
“Not staying back,” she growls.
“At least stay behind us,” he replies, his tone harsh and unyielding. “We cannot assume it’s only Ariman and Rune. They have not only legions of Dark Fae supporters, but Ariman can twist damned souls into demons.”
Finley tosses Cato’s lightning bolt in the air where it flips twice before she easily catches it. It glows bright in her hand and I’m impressed. “I’ll blast them all back to hell,” she says defiantly.
Carrick sighs and wraps a hand around the back of Finley’s neck before pulling her in to kiss her forehead. “Don’t you get killed.”
“I’m immortal,” she murmurs. “It’s fine.”
“We’re all immortal, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be destroyed. Please, be careful.”
“You be careful,” she says back and then goes on tiptoes for a brush of her mouth against his.
There was a time, only a few days ago, that watching their affection left me yearning for the same, but I don’t feel it now. While I very much want to save Zora, and the other gods if we can, I know she and I don’t have a future together. She made that quite clear, so after we get her the hell out of here, I’ll move on with my immortal life without another thought for her.
“Let’s go,” Amell says, and he disappears.
I bend distance to the designated point, appearing right before Carrick and Finley do. Without discussion or hesitation, we hug as tight to the rocks as we can, rounding our way into the cave mouth. I lead the group, peering around the edge to look inside.
Luckily, the Crimson River casts enough light that I can see it’s empty. There’s nothing but a large table with a chair turned on its side. That’s where Micah was reported to have cried into the Blood Stone chalice each night as he stared out at the desolate landscape.
I growl in frustration as I walk around the table. The others follow me in, pacing the perimeter of the chamber.
“Here,” Amell says, and I whirl his way. “There’s an opening. I feel a draft.”
Sure enough, there’s a narrow tunnel between two sheets of rock. Looks innocuous at first glance, but as my eyes adjust to the dim, I see a glow beyond it. It’s a tight fit, but I turn sideways to scuttle through and thankfully end up in a wider tunnel. In the lead, I cautiously follow the path that curves and winds with periodic sconces attached to the rock walls, lit with magical energy.
It’s the first real sign that someone is, in fact, here, and I’m heartened. Behind me comes Amell, Carrick and then Finley. I know Carrick will stay last because no matter how much he wants to save Zora, his primary goal will always be to protect his wife.