Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
At sunset, we lowered beneath the clouds and looked at our location.
Huntley says we’re close.
I could see the stark white of snow, the coldness of this forsaken world. The temperature dropped the closer we moved toward the surface. My armor kept me warm, but it wasn’t enough when I felt the snow land in my hair.
As we traveled farther east, there was a respite from the cold. My fingertips began to thaw, and my skin no longer prickled with bumps. The land turned green instead of white, and then the territory began to look familiar.
Burn?
“Yes.”
Pyre dropped his head and dived straight for the ground. The wind whipped through my hair and strained my eyes as we fell from the sky. Then Pyre released the line of fire from his mouth, and it exploded over the buildings and the trees, igniting on contact.
Storm did the same, turning a different way and making a straight line of flames that burned through the city.
Other people knocked when they arrived. We burned.
Soldiers poured out of the buildings to fight us, but without crossbows, there was nothing they could do but run around and put out the fires and pull burning men from the flames. They were paralyzed by the attack, absolutely helpless.
I’d actually feel bad…if Klaus hadn’t scarred my thighs forever.
Enough.
Pyre flew back to the field in front of the city and landed next to Storm. Huntley was already off his dragon, standing in the field, waiting for our enemy to ride out and meet us. I slid down Pyre’s scales and met Huntley on the ground.
The gates opened and riders emerged. It took minutes for them to reach us, even with their horses running at full speed. Two black horses were in the lead, followed by a few others, but it wasn’t their full contingent. It was less than a dozen Teeth.
When they came closer, Huntley placed his body in front of mine.
The horses came to a stop, Klaus in the lead, looking silently livid. He stared at Huntley for a moment, restraining his fury as best he could, and then hopped off the horse to meet him head on.
His teeth were retracted behind his mouth and throat, but his eyes looked bloodthirsty. He stopped in front of Huntley and stared him down, his eyes shifting back and forth angrily.
“Your city and everyone in it will turn to ash unless you comply with my demands.”
Last time I saw Klaus, he wore a gloating smile. Then he feasted on my flesh until I reached the brink of death. He taunted me with his arrogance. Now his world was crumbling around him.
“We travel to HeartHolme to help the Runes defeat Necrosis. The Teeth will be our allies in this battle.”
“Necrosis is our ally—”
“Not anymore.”
“Once we’ve fulfilled our purpose, you’ll just kill us.”
“We can coexist peacefully. We’ll draw up a truce. You have my word.”
Klaus studied him closely.
“My offer is not only gracious but merciful. Accept it with gratitude.” Huntley didn’t raise his voice, but he sounded absolutely terrifying, his rage bubbling just beneath the surface.
Klaus finally gave a nod.
“On your knees.”
Klaus inhaled a slow breath, furious.
“I said, on your knees.”
Klaus’s mouth started to shake, as if his teeth wanted to emerge but it took all his strength to keep them locked away. A minute ticked by before he brought himself to the ground, on his knees as Huntley asked. “I accept.”
“Good. Now appoint your new king.”
The anger on Klaus’s face started to fade, replaced by a whole different look. “Why?”
Huntley stepped closer and stared down at him. “You know why.”
His breaths immediately deepened and turned uneven. He dropped his gaze to compose himself, but he couldn’t hide the fear that crept into his features.
“Did you think you could touch my wife and get away with it?” Huntley pulled his sword out of his scabbard. “Did you think you could feast on her flesh and keep your head? Did you really think I wouldn’t fixate about it every day, every moment, until I had you on your knees just like this? Now select your successor.”
He dropped his gaze, breathing hard. Through clenched teeth, he spoke the name. “Gunter—”
Huntley swung his sword in a flash, decapitating Klaus with one fluid stroke. The head rolled away, and the body crumpled to the ground. He sheathed his blade and spat on the corpse. “You have one day to prepare your army. We ride for HeartHolme tomorrow.”
We sat across from each other at the campfire, the dragons asleep on either side of us. We were out in the open, far away from the Teeth but still vulnerable to the world and the elements.
Huntley didn’t seem concerned.
I’d caught our dinner that night, and it roasted over the fire. It was like old times, when we were distrustful but unable to keep our hands off each other. When the meat was done, I divided it between us, along with the roasted potatoes. I always gave Huntley the bigger half because his body needed more than mine did. I loved food, but I could exist off much less than he could. “I can take the first watch.”