Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“Wow. That’s a big role to take on.”
“It’s actually quite calm here until someone steps out of line.”
“So, is there anyone above Caz who can tell him what and what not to do?”
“There’s The Council, but they hardly tell him what to do. They’re just a group of high-grade Mythics who oversee Vakeeli and make sure there is more peace than chaos, I suppose.” She rolls her eyes. “In my opinion, they’re doing a shitty job. Just a group of bored, superior people.”
“Wow. Everything is so different here compared to where I’m from. There are no people with gifts on Earth.”
“How can you be so sure?” she asks. “Maybe they just hide it.”
I press my lips. That’s a possibility.
“What’s it like where you’re from anyway?” she asks, turning toward me.
“Well, there are different countries, which I suppose is similar to how every territory in Vakeeli is different. But there is more…freedom, I suppose. And way less violence. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there is still violence where I’m from, it’s just not so open like it is here. People do unspeakable things to one another there, and most times they’re not punished for it. Justice is hardly ever served. And just like there is hate for darkies here, it’s the same in my world, only we call it racism.”
“Wow. That sounds pretty shitty.”
“It is. There are police. They’re like public servants, there to protect the people…but there are some who are corrupt and do the opposite. And the food is not like the food here. Most of it is…well, most of it is unhealthier, actually.” I laugh. “But, man, would I love a cheeseburger right now.”
“A cheese-what-er?” Juniper asks, gawking.
I laugh again. “It’s like a sandwich with a quarter pound of meat. It would be easier to show you than to explain.”
She shrugs and faces forward again, using a fork to cut into her eggs. I take another bite of mine, and Juniper giggles.
“What are you laughing about?” I ask, smiling.
“Just…you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.” She sits up higher on her stool. “Caz fancies you. I’ve never seen anything like it from him.”
I look her in the eyes briefly before lowering my gaze. My mind instantly goes back to that kiss, and my heart thumps in my chest.
“He wants me gone.”
“Never in my life have I seen him carry a woman—let alone bring her into his house. Never. If there’s one thing he hates more than someone touching him, it’s touching someone else.”
“That doesn’t mean he likes me. I think he just feels obligated to take care of me because we’re Tethered.”
“Ah, yeah. That thing. Mum told me all about it. Still, it’s true. He hates being touched.” Juniper stretches her arms above her head, then winces and clutches her ribcage, a reminder of her pain. “That woman from the fight cracked my rib good. That bitch.”
“I don’t understand why they were making you and Killian fight.”
“Because the Rippies are pieces of shit,” she growls, and she cuts her eyes at me before sighing. “It’s what they do when they catch people from Blackwater out of their territory. It’s their way of degrading us before they…kill us.”
“They were going to kill you and Killian?” I gasp.
“Of course they were. Right after they’d gotten what they wanted, which was rubies and gold from our fights. Rami figured with two people from Caz’s clan gone, Caz would struggle to get us back and wouldn’t enter Ripple Hills unless he had an army. This would’ve started a war, and Caz’s goal is to not have them because he hates them. Rami would do that though. He’d push Caz to his limit, try to break him so that Caz will start one. And if Caz started it and killed a shit ton of Rippies—which he’s done in the past—Rami would run to The Council and cry over the damage, then Caz would pay for it with his rubies. It was all a numbers game to Rami. He was a terrible monarch who didn’t care how many Rippies actually died as long as he got paid. He was a bloody idiot. Always underestimating Caz.”
“Yeah. They asked Caz for rubies in exchange for you and Killian.”
Juniper scoffs. “Sure, they wanted rubies, but that’s not all they wanted. Their plan was to lure him there, in hopes that they could string him up and get him in the cage to fight too. I heard them talking about it. They were going to make him fight, make as much profit as possible, then set us free, just so Caz could come back with an army and start a war. But that’s the last thing Caz will ever do again—fight.” She shudders as if remembering something. “I’m surprised he even went to the ring to help us.”
“What do you mean? He had to save you.”