Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Laughter escaped her as the taut globes of his backside bounced directly in front of her face. She’d expected this, but man, she hadn’t anticipated enjoying the ride so much. What a view!
“Is now a good time to mention the supertroopers are following us?” she asked casually. Unable to see his lips, she could only assume he’d answered with an affirmation. “Don’t worry. When they catch up, I’ll do the talking and save the day.”
A growl left him; she felt its vibration. Picking up the pace, he wove through the buildings, beings, and bushes in his path.
Laughing anew, she slapped his hot-buttered buns as if they were bongo drums. “Faster, faster!”
Rathbone turned a corner, hit an invisible wall, and ricocheted. Or rather, the end of the spear hit the wall, punching deeper into his chest and shoving him backward. The ensuing pulsation shattered every bone in her body. Her laughter died as searing pain wrenched a scream from her throat.
He must have experienced similar injuries. His knees buckled and down they went, hitting the ground with a hard thud. Well, well. The spearhead was clearly a detonation device.
Armed warriors closed in around them, their weapons glinting in the light. Rathbone fought to stand, fierce determination in his eyes. Her vision blurred, the gloom of unconsciousness infiltrating more and more of her mind. Still, she clocked the moment Cerise Ironclaw comprehended the hopelessness of the situation. Carmine Stormfury? No, still wrong. Whatever. He slanted his body in front of Neeka’s, acting as a formidable barrier against any attack.
He was only protecting his investment, but her foolish heart didn’t understand that. The organ skipped a beat.
She dragged her dulling gaze to the soldiers, almost regretting what came next.
“Who are you?” the tallest of the males demanded. “How did you enter Nova? You do not belong here.”
Showtime. “Help me,” she cried. “Please! He abducted me. Held me captive. Help,” she repeated weakly, just before her world went dark.
* * *
Neeka awoke in a soft but unfamiliar bed. She lifted her arms over her head and arched her spine as she gazed about. A mental spotlight switched on, illuminating specific memories. The trip to Nova. Being held in Rathbone’s arms. Their capture.
I made it into the palace as hoped?
The room she occupied screamed “wealth” and “privilege.” The vanity was made entirely of crystal. Each wall depicted a detailed and colorful mural featuring the birth of a star. A priceless array of precious gems studded the hearth. Purple velvet swathed a pair of rocking chairs. The extravagant desk appeared carved from an Enchanted Elm, the rarest of trees.
She eased into an upright position, surprised to experience zero pain. Totally healed already?
Movement caught her attention, and she craned her head, spotting a dragon shifter pacing near the foot of the bed, dressed in a similar getup to hers. Female dragons were praised for their incredible ferocity, though this one looked like a delicate snack and a half. Long silver hair flowed in stunning waves, the perfect complement to the blue swirls branded in her pale skin. Icy blue eyes possessed a serpent-like slit for pupils, with yellow glowing around their edges.
The female noticed her and skidded to a halt. “She has awakened,” she called.
Neeka’s nerves throbbed. Here it was. The moment of truth. Would her plan crash and burn?
An armed warrior with black hair and warm brown skin dressed in leather strode into the chamber. He, too, was a dragon shifter with slitted pupils and those telltale blue swirls etched into his flesh. While the lady appeared delicate, even fragile, his strength was on full display.
He stopped at the foot of the bed and met Neeka’s gaze, his features revealing nothing of his thoughts. “I am Kanta, and the female is Rowan. You are?”
“Neeka, harpy extraordinaire, and dearest friend to your Commander’s treasured wife, Taliyah.” Fingers crossed she spoke true. Not that she feared he might confer with the Astra to confirm or deny her story. Not a chance. At least not until after her departure. The odds were stacked in her favor, anyway. The Astra believed those they left in charge could oversee the safety of the world without assistance. Otherwise, why leave? And there was no way Kanta would reach out for help; a warrior of his stature hated to make himself appear weak.
He absorbed the information she’d presented without a flicker of emotion, bowed to her, and said, “Rowan, fetch refreshments for our honored guest.”
The female raced from the chamber without beheading him for forgetting to ask nicely. Weird.
Wait. “You believe me?” Neeka snapped her fingers. “Just like that? What if I’m tricking you for some unknown reason?”
“You are not. I’m able to detect lies.” He pulled a pen from his pocket and handed it to her. “This is yours. We took it from you. I apologize.”