Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
As they made their way deeper into the ancient city, the temperature dropped with the sun. Juniper shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around her neck.
“How much longer?”
“We’re close. I can feel it.” Or was that more weariness creeping in?
Magick guided them through the labyrinth of streets and passageways, but the use of her powers also exhausted her. Each turn revealed a sense of comfort that they were nearing their goal, but she honestly had little evidence that they were any closer. What if they got there and no one was home? They could be anywhere. Did immortals vacation like humans?
They passed beneath an arched gateway, the surfaces etched with faded inscriptions she recognized from the visions. “It’s this way.”
Statues of gods guarded sealed doorways, their marble eyes watching them. Dane stared at the figures as if waiting for them to come alive. “Is it just me or is this place getting a little creepy?”
“There are definitely old souls here.”
“Old souls? You mean ghosts?”
“Spirits.”
“Good spirits?”
“Some. Some not so much.”
“Great.” Dane pushed the mule harder, picking up pace.
The soreness in her feet grew with each step, and a dull ache spread from her legs into her back. Cobblestone, though beautiful, was an unforgiving bitch to walk on, and she had not packed proper shoes.
She paused, the hair on the back of her neck lifting.
“What is it?”
She looked around. “I’m not sure. I thought I felt something.”
“Something like a ghost?”
“Don’t be a baby. If you don’t bother the spirits, they won’t bother you.” That was mostly true. “But this isn’t a spirit.” Something flashed in the corner of her eye—fast and silent.
Her heart raced. They were not alone. Something or someone was following them. “This way.”
They rounded the corner into an open square that looked like the ruins of an ancient temple. Massive columns, some still standing, others toppled and broken, ringed the perimeter. In the center of the square stood a large olive tree, its gnarled branches reaching skyward as if in supplication to the gods.
“Is this it?”
She scanned the area and frowned, not seeing the home she saw in the vision, but her instincts telling her this was where she needed to be. The crumbling façade boasted an air of majesty and power but also wore the scars of battles lost.
“I’m not sure.” Wind whipped through the square. A carpet of dry fallen leaves covering the ground twirled skyward as if disrupted by something. “Somethings here.”
Dane gripped the reins of the mule and scanned the area. “I don’t see anyone.”
That didn’t mean anything. It could be a spirit, but she wasn’t getting that vibe. This was something living. Something fast. “Stay still. Look.”
The leaves shifted again, parting as a current of wind cut through the piles, then drifting back to earth slowly. Whoever was there was not merely air disrupting the stillness, they were taunting them.
“Show yourself.”
Another burst of wind, this one close enough to lift the hair from her shoulders. Her gaze snapped to every shadow.
“Are you sure this is—Shit!” Dane ducked and covered his head. “Did you feel that?”
Now she was pissed. “Whoever you are, we’re not scare—”
Her words cut off as a thick arm wrapped about her throat, choking her, as her feet lifted off the ground. “Perhaps you should be, witch.”
“Juniper!” Dane charged then stilled when the man holding her growled.
“I wouldn’t do that.” The masculine voice spoke with thickly accented authority.
Dane’s eyes widened with worry as he held her stare. Her vision blurred as she squirmed for air. “Let her go!”
Juniper’s feet kicked, and her shoe fell to the ground. She couldn’t see him, but his immortal strength was unmistakable.
“You’re choking her!”
The immortal sniffed close to her ear. “Not just a witch. Kitsune. What is your purpose here?”
She debated telling the truth over a lie, but the choice wasn’t hers. As long as he held her by the throat, she couldn’t say a word.
“Let go of her, and I’ll tell you.”
“Tell me and I’ll consider letting her go.” He jerked her higher into the air. “I’ll smell any trace of deceit.”
Her heart thundered. Her magick was useless in this state.
“Fine!” Dane snapped. “We’re looking for a couple that goes by the names Lazarus and Lilias.”
He loosened his grip, and Juniper wheezed in a painful breath. As soon as she started to cough, he cut off her airway again. “What do you want with them?”
“You’re killing her!”
“And I will if you don’t tell me what you want with Lazarus and Lilias!”
“We have news about their daughter!”
The immortal stiffened and Juniper slipped out of his grip, her knees slamming down on the cobblestone road as she dropped to the ground and coughed.
“That’s impossible.”
Dane rushed forward, dragging her up before she could draw in a full breath. Her vision dotted with white spots as she gasped for air. “You could have killed her!”