Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 60207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Cyrus speaks before I can, “If he wants his pet, let him keep her for fuck’s sake.”
“Don’t call her that, Cyrus,” I warn.
“Ooh. Look who’s getting all worked up.” Cyrus smiles as he teases me.
“That’s if she wants you,” says Galen. “I didn’t mean to cause tensions there, Drago.” Galen’s reminder that my treasure is angry with me isn’t welcomed.
“She’ll be all right; she just needs to cool down.” They both look at me with doubt and neither speaks a word. “What?” I ask.
“Women are…emotional, Drago.” Cyrus mumbles under his breath. “And humans untrusting in general.”
“What the hell does that even mean, Cyrus?” He shrugs and Galen holds his stomach while he laughs.
“He means you’re in deep shit, Drago,” Galen answers.
“She’s a good girl. She’ll understand. She only needs time.”
“All right then, let us know how that goes,” Cyrus says as if he knows something I don’t.
“I will.” I furrow my brows, not liking their confidence that she’s going to stay mad at me forever. She can’t stay angry that long. “I didn’t come here to talk about Kara, let’s get on with it.”
“Right, right. I’d like to leave as soon as possible to acquire my potential mate.”
I cut Galen off. “I don’t want to leave her while she’s angry.”
Galen looks to Cyrus, eager to leave and begin his adventure with or without me. “Do you think just the two of us can handle it?”
“How would I know? I’ve never been to their estate, have you?”
“No”—Galen purses his lips—“but with so many people on the inside, I’m sure we could sneak in.”
Cyrus nods his head. “It’s not like many have ever seen us before.”
“Eh, I don’t want to risk trying to just walk in.” He opens his laptop and types in his password. “We could get in through a window. We just need to know where she usually is within the estate.”
“In and out as quickly as possible.” He turns the computer to face us, and I recognize the same picture as before.
“Is that the only picture you have of her?” I add my concern. “What if she’s aged or her appearance has changed?”
Galen purses his lips. “It’s the only picture.”
“How old is that picture?” I ask.
“A few years.” I raise my eyebrows in concern. “I know, but it’s the best we can do at the moment. I asked for an image, but my intel has informed me that Alec has become a little possessive of her.”
“Possessive? I don’t like the sound of that.”
Galen clenches his fists. “I know. I don’t like it either. That’s why I want to leave tonight.”
“The more I think about the Authority, the more I don’t like any of this,” I say, gathering the attention of both my brothers.
“I find it hard to believe that he’s truly keeping mates away from us,” Cyrus says.
“Mates?” Galen asks.
Cyrus shrugs. “I don’t know. Mate…mates? Who knows?”
“Well he has her. So he obviously is.” Galen’s dragon seems to rise at the thought, and I can see him warring to keep his beast down.
“Is it really intentional though, or is there some other reason?” Cyrus’s curiosity surfaces and I smile seeing my brother in his usual state. The distress from the talk of mates seems to have waned.
“What other reason could there be?” Galen asks.
“That’s not what I’m talking about brothers.” Again, both of them give me their complete attention.
“What do you mean then?” Cyrus questions.
“They don’t seem to have control of much. What with towns being prey to supernaturals and wolves fighting each other for territory. What good are they really?”
“They seem to keep the humans and supernaturals separated for the most part.”
“Not my Kara. She said she expected to die.” Both of my brothers seem saddened and shocked, just as I was. “What is the Authority doing for them? What kind of justice comes from that?”
Galen answers grimly, “They were offered a choice, Drago. If humans don’t want protection, that’s their choice to make.”
“Kara didn’t get that choice; she was born into these circumstances.” Knowing the injustices she faced makes my dragon push me to check on her, to make sure she’s all right.
“I’m sure we could present this issue to the Authority. But at the moment we are planning to steal from them.” Galen instantly rages at Cyrus’s condemnation.
“We aren’t stealing from them!” he yells. “She’s rightfully mine!”
“Calm down Galen,” I speak calmly. “First off, we don’t have fated mates and her abilities are merely speculation.” He tilts his head in anger and opens his mouth to argue with me, but I cut him off. “I understand where you’re coming from though. They’re keeping a potential mate captive to prevent your bonding. I agree that’s unlawful of them.”
“Don’t worry Galen, I’ll accompany you.” Cyrus stands from his seat and walks over to Galen. “Are you ready brother?”
“Yes.” Galen rises as well and puts his hand on Cyrus’s shoulder, looking him in the eyes with gratitude. “We’ll figure out what to do about the Authority. But first I want my mate.”