Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
That’s a good question. I’d hoped we could use the speedboat to get back to Boro’s ship, but Korah has blown it to bits. Perhaps the ship can be turned over again. The crew should still be close by. They’ll likely contact someone for help.
Or worst-case scenario, I summon the damn Council. I have my transmitter on me. Whether it works on this island of fire is questionable.
Once again, I feel that prickling in my mind, and I freeze as my eyes shift to the sky. “Korah’s coming.”
We hustle down the rest of the crumbling staircase and enter the temple, taking another set of stairs. Once we’re on even ground, I take note of the pitch-black tunnels running in every direction.
I swing left to hide in the closest one.
Rocks crumble above, landing on the ground, proving Korah has landed. I peek around the corner, watching as she enters the temple and scans the area with her hands lit in blazing lavender. The light leaks toward our tunnel, and I press my back as close to the wall as I can.
“Caspian, I know you want to save Willow, but this isn’t the way. You are not prepared for what comes next.” Korah’s voice echoes through the tomb. “The Council has your mate and they’ve tied your hands, I get that. I thought about going to Luxor to whisk her away just to prove to you that she’s safe, but they’ve bound her to the castle. Only one of them can lift the bond, and yes, I can force them to break it, but they’re not easy to work with. You know this. They know you’re here and they know you’ll stick to the plan without Willow in your sights. They’ll drag it out as long as they possibly can. All that would’ve wasted my time coming here to you.” She’s quiet, but the light is growing closer.
She knows where I am.
“I can hear your heart beating, Caspian,” she calls. “I can hear the doubts running through your mind. You know nothing good will come of this.”
I glance at Rowan who has his forearms to his chest and the barrel of his gun pointed up.
“You do this and you’ll be the reason for Vakeeli’s genocide. Do you want that?” she asks. “Do you want her to take everything you love away from you? I’m telling you. You are not ready for what comes with her awakening.”
She’s closer now. The light she carries is almost blinding.
But then there’s a deep gasp behind me.
“Oh, fuck!” Rowan hollers. His gun goes off, sparking the cave, and he’s snatched away, drifting farther down the tunnel.
TWENTY-NINE
CAZ
“Rowan!” I raise my gun and aim into the darkness as more gunshots pop off, the sparks illuminating a dark hallway at the end of the tunnel. “Rowan!” I call again.
Korah appears behind me, but I run after my cousin. I press a button on the edge of my gun to trigger the flashlight, and a narrow strip of light appears, highlighting the dark rubble and cracks in the walls.
“Fuck you!” Rowan yells from a distance.
I run faster, noticing a wall ahead. I point the light left. There’s another tunnel. At the end is a pulsing orange light.
“Caspian?”
I look back at Korah, who’s only a few steps away from me.
“This is a trap,” she says. “She’s resting in this part of the temple.”
“I don’t care if it’s a trap. My cousin is in there. Unlike you, I don’t leave my people behind.”
I turn away, but a hand grips my shoulder. Korah whips me around. I half expect her to send me right back to Blackwater with that touch alone. “Do you think this is a game?”
“I know it’s not a game.” I shove her hand off of me. “This is real, and you should’ve told me the truth weeks ago, not now when everyone’s lives are in fucking danger.” I hustle away from her, reaching the orange light.
Korah appears yet again. This time she’s right in front of me, blocking my way in. Past her I can see where the light is coming from.
A coffin is in the center of the tomb, cloaked in blue, red, and purple vines. The edge of the coffin hums with energy, an orange light pulsing like someone’s heartbeat. I hear someone breathing heavily, like they’re sleeping.
Selah.
“Caspian, I don’t want to hurt you but I will,” Korah snaps, trying to touch me again.
I dodge her hand. “If you wanted to hurt me, you’d have done it already.” I step closer as she tips her chin. “If my blood is spilled here, she wins, and you know it.”
“Just by you being here, she already thinks she’s winning,” Korah retorts. “She feels your energy. I hear her heart beating now. It’s wild with excitement. She’s eager—ready for you to play the fool.”