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)
The man turned, his expression haunted and showing no concern for either of them. “Lazarus and Lilias have no children.”
“We’re telling the truth,” Dane snarled. “We have a message from their daughter, asshole. She’s in trouble—”
“Dane,” Juniper rasped, clutching her throat. “Shut up—”
The immortal growled and snatched Dane off the ground, pinning him to a crumbling pillar. “What did you say?”
“Scintilla!” Juniper sent a spark of fire to his hand.
He dropped Dane and flashed his fangs at her, his eyes glowing with predatory intent.
Juniper scrambled to her feet and lifted her chin. “Do you know them or not?” She’d come too far to get scared off now.
“Witch!” He drew back to lash out and she held up a staying hand.
“Stop!” Dane yelled. “Adriel’s in grave danger!”
The massive male stilled, not due to magick but something much more powerful.
Love.
Was this who they were looking for? Perhaps he was a close friend of Adriel’s parents.
Juniper pleaded their case. “She needs help. Please, if you know them, we have a message for them and we don’t have a lot of time.”
“A message from their daughter?” His eyes narrowed.
“Yes, their daughter sent us. It’s urgent we reach them. Please. If you know them, we need to talk to them about Adriel—”
“A—Adriel?” The immortal’s face notably paled as he staggard back.
“Do you know her?”
“I…” He looked away, his broad shoulders heaving as he grasped for composure.
“I give you my word. We mean no harm. But we’re in a rush. It’s life or death.”
His gaze snapped to her and fierce hostility glimmered in his glowing eyes. “Adriel is in danger?”
“Her life’s at stake. If you know Lazarus or Lilias, we must speak to them.”
The immortal nodded. “I will take you to Lilias.”
CHAPTER 30
The moon cast long shadows as they followed the immortal male through the streets of Argos. The towering male said nothing after agreeing to take them to Lilias, but that did little to bolster their trust.
In the distance, Juniper spotted a house similar to her vision. The night sky slightly altered the appearance, dousing the home in shadows and an eerie blue glow. A figure appeared on the balcony, slender and petite as the wind caught her hair. Juniper knew right away that it was Lilias.
“She knows you’re coming and she knows why you’re here. One sign of disrespect and I’ll end both of you without hesitation. Understood?”
Both she and Dane nodded.
The weathered iron gate hardly protected the home, a clear sign that the inhabitants were immortal. Its stone cornerstones showed signs of decay, and the windows were all open.
The gate creaked as their immortal escort pulled it open. Juniper looked back at Dane, communicating her worries silently. She hoped this wasn’t a mistake.
They stepped inside the yard, and the female from the balcony appeared in the shadows of the doorway, her face drawn with worry and her arms crossed protectively over her chest.
Her stare went directly to Juniper. “You’re a witch.”
“Kitsune.” That was the second time the male immortal used that unfamiliar word, and Juniper didn’t know what it meant. “Half witch, half immortal.”
Well, wasn’t he astute?
The female appeared unmoved by this information. “You have news of my daughter?”
The immortal escort watched them closely, obviously protective of the female. Juniper stepped closer to the house, hopefully appealing to the female’s good nature if she had any. “Your daughter, Adriel, is alive but she’s in great danger.”
The female’s hand rushed to her mouth, her brow pinching tight and her eyes flooding with tears. “She’s alive?”
“For now.”
Relief surged through the air like a wave. “Did you hear that, Lazarus? Our daughter lives.”
Both Juniper and Dane did a double take. The big bastard was Adriel’s dad?
Juniper pushed her objective to the forefront of the conversation. “Your daughter’s in danger.”
“Where is her mate?” Adriel’s father snapped.
“He’s the problem.”
“I don’t understand. Her mate should protect her at all costs.”
“He’s not her real mate. He’s a traveler who’s spent centuries manipulating and controlling her.”
Both immortals rushed forward, speaking in a language she couldn’t translate. Their confusion morphed into frantic concern as Lazarus tried to calm Lilias down, but there was no reasoning with the female. She swiped a hand through the air and snapped at him, then turned back to Juniper.
“You must tell us everything. We assumed our daughter was lost.”
“She may be soon if we don’t help her.”
Lazarus stepped forward, his energy completely different from what he displayed in the square. “You will come inside and tell us everything.”
They followed the couple into the house, where they sat at a plain table. Lilias offered them water but urged Lazarus to pour. Distraught by the news, she sat in shock and explained, “My daughter was called more than half a millennia ago. We never had the chance to meet her mate. The night he claimed her, they left without a goodbye.” Lilias covered her mouth as a soft sob escaped, then gathered her composure. “This is quite a surprise for us.”