Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“But she lied to me!” Courick repeated.
“Did she?” The priestess arched an eyebrow at him. “Or did you simply not give her the chance to explain?”
“I don’t see how she can explain away what I saw with my own two eyes,” Courick growled, frowning.
“Your pride is hurt but even more than that, you fear to risk your heart again,” the priestess told him. “You must release that fear, Warrior. The Goddess wouldn’t give you a second chance at love only to snatch it away again.”
“She snatched away my first mate, as you saw,” Courick said bitterly. “How can I trust her a second time?”
“Pain comes to us all—some pain is so devastating we feel like it might break us,” the priestess said quietly. “But the Goddess will never give you more than you can bear. She loves her children, though sometimes it is hard to see that.”
“Extremely hard to see,” Courick admitted. He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. “Very well—what must I do?”
“You must go back to Earth—to this new mate, this second chance the Goddess had given you,” the priestess said sternly. “Even now you are in grave danger of losing her, Warrior.”
“What?” Courick’s heart began to pound. “What do you mean? Is she in danger? Is someone threatening her?”
His mind flew back to the scene he’d witnessed at the club—the human male holding Addison down and beating her until she was bloody. Surely she wouldn’t go back to that place, not after such a bad experience—would she?
But even if she didn’t go back to the Torture Palace, what if that lowlife scum of a human male had somehow followed her? What if he was stalking her right now, about to attack?
Awful images of his last mate, Yasha, filled his head. Her piercing screams for help and the way he had found her—bloody and beaten with one of the Sythian raiders on top of her…
He couldn’t bear to lose Addison the same way. It didn’t matter that she’d lied to him—he cared for her!
If you care so much, why did you leave her all alone? whispered a scathing voice in his head. Just like you left Yasha alone! What in the Seven Hells is wrong with you?
“I have to go,” he said hoarsely. “I have to get back to her, right now!”
“I understand,” the priestess nodded serenely. “Go. You will find your female where the two of you were closest and the most happy.”
My domicile—she must be at my domicile, Courick thought. The question was, who was with her and what had they done to her?
Turning, he left the Sacred Grove at a run, barely stopping to grab his boots. He just hoped he got to Addison before it was too late!
21
ADDISON
Addison was nearly ready to go when she heard a rattling at the front door of Courick’s bungalow. Frowning, she cast a last glance at herself in the mirror. The floor-length, emerald green gown she wore looked perfect—it had a long slit up one thigh that showed her legs nicely and the satiny fabric hugged her curves lovingly. Her hair was a long, sleek auburn-red curtain down her back and the swelling under her eyes had finally gone down.
All in all, she thought she looked perfectly presentable for the wedding. There was nothing little about her outfit, but that was okay. Maybe it was time to pack away that part of her personality for a while—it only made her vulnerable to getting hurt…
A moment later, Courick burst into the room.
“Addison?” He was panting, his golden eyes wide and wild. “Are you all right? Did someone hurt you?” he demanded. “Did that human male who beat you come after you again?”
“What? No! What are you talking about?”
Addison stared up at him, her heart pounding. It seemed that he was back and actually worried about her. But she pushed the excitement and hope she was tempted to feel away. He had abandoned her once and he would do it again. She wasn’t going to let herself get all worked up just because the big Kindred had returned.
“I was told by one who seemed to know that you were in danger!” He looked wildly around. “Are you sure there’s no one else here?”
“Oh, so now you’re accusing me of cheating on you as well as lying to you?” Addison put a hand on her hip. “I don’t think so. I spent the entire night here alone, crying into my pillow because—like an idiot—I let myself care about you. Well, don’t worry—I won’t make that mistake again.”
She brushed past him, headed for the door, but he grabbed her arm to stop her.
“If you’re not being menaced by an attacker then what did the priestess mean when she said I was in danger of losing you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you’ve already lost me,” Addison snapped. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m on my way to my half-sister’s wedding.”