Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“Why isn’t he moving?” I ask, turning back to Patrick, whose eyes are glowing a bright yellow.
“John has no reason to be afraid. He could kill two of them without even shifting. And then when he does shift, all hell will break loose.”
Patrick speaks with such high confidence about his pack leader that when he takes my arm again, I follow without hesitation.
That is until I hear her voice.
Coming to a grinding halt, I turn back to the fire. Tatiana is being dragged by two vampires, one snapping his teeth at her ear, taunting her. Having messed with the wrong person, not being one to take taunts lying down, she snaps her head to the side before whipping it back into his. Knowing Tatiana and her strength, it would have hurt. I watch the vampire stagger backward as a result. Not one to be made a fool of, he quickly rights himself and slaps her hard across the cheek. The vamps can move so fast that their actions can easily go undetected. Like right now, Tatiana cops the full force, barely with time to see what is happening.
My skin tingles with adrenaline, and I take off running, engaging my full speed. Behind me, Patrick follows, struggling to keep pace, his cursing barely reaching my ears. I only have one thing in mind, and that is saving my sister.
Tatiana’s hands are bound behind her back, and in that position, her magic is restricted. She’ll only be able to fight back physically, and that won’t be enough to stop the vampires. I emerge from the darkness and am at her side before the others even notice. At the same time, John launches himself at the vampire who struck Tatiana. He shifts mid-air, losing his human form and transforming into his powerful alpha wolf. His mouth, wide and angry, latches on to the vampire’s neck, tearing his head straight off. The decapitated body falls heavily to the ground next to us.
Tatiana, who remains largely unfazed, kicks at the vamp’s hand that landed by her foot. I, on the other hand, having been protected by my sister all my life, am frozen in place. I’m shocked by the brutality of the necessary attack, it being unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.
Hissing and seething with rage, the other three vampires sprint toward us.
I fall to the ground, sinking my fingers into the soft earth. I feel the others around me—Tatiana, Patrick, and John—and when they are safe, I release my power and brace as the ground violently quakes until it finally splits like an angry fork toward the vampires who try to stumble out of its path.
But it’s too late.
A new fork in the earth opens and the vamps slip over, clawing desperately at the edge. With a final shake, they all fall, disappearing forever. Keeping my hands in place, lying flat on the ground, I watch as the earth begins to heal itself, the open wounds closing to form a fresh, tight seal.
“Talia.” I faintly hear my name. “Talia, come back to us. Come back.”
Two soft hands touch my arms from behind, raising me to my feet. My trembling body is encased in a warm embrace, and I can feel the magic ebbing, allowing me to see straight again. I hold Tatiana, grateful to be reunited with her.
Over her shoulder, I see the stares of John, Patrick, and the rest of the wolves now shifted back to human form. They are wide-eyed and curious, albeit somewhat wary of me.
Mine is a power that can’t be tamed.
It is a power that, if in the wrong hands, could be devastating to Cardia.
I only hope they see me as a benefit to the cause and not something needing to be ostracized.
At that particular moment, observing their penetrating glares, my world and everything in it turns black.
I hear talking, but the voices turn to yelling.
I wake, barely, and feel arms wrapped around me. They’re strong and protective, and when I move, he holds me tighter.
My eyes gradually open and I see we are now inside. Patrick is cradling me in his lap, keeping my shivering at bay.
At the opposite end of the room, Tatiana is screaming at John, who does nothing but smirk in response. His cocky act only making her crazier. He sees the humor behind it, and she seems fueled by his behavior. In a half-hearted attempt, I make a move to shut her up, but Patrick prevents me.
“Rest,” is all he says, pulling me close against his warm body. After another few minutes, and fed up with the feud playing out in front of me, I stand on shaky legs. Tatiana notices and runs to my side.
“Don’t do that again unless you absolutely have to,” she chastises, clearly upset with me.
My eyes bulge open.
No thank you.
No anything.