Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
“Rei!” he screamed again, unwilling to believe that a member of the fae had kidnapped his lover. No! He was not losing him.
He slashed through the elves in front of him, lopping off heads and limbs with bloodthirsty ruthlessness. He needed to get to where he’d last spotted Rei. The king was also shouting about Rei’s disappearance, bellowing out frantic orders to his men, but Yichen couldn’t pay any attention to him right now. The only thing that mattered was getting to Rei.
“Watch out for the skeletons!”
That was something he’d never expected to hear while in the middle of a battle. As he lifted his blade to take down another elf, a bleached white skeleton with bits of dirt still clinging to the bones rushed past him and tackled the screaming elf. His brain was still processing that when several more skeletons and corpses in various degrees of decay ran and stumbled into the field, attacking the elves.
What the fuck was happening?
With every passing second, more and more shambling corpses entered the clearing, heading straight for the elves. Some were nothing more than bones with bits of hair and dirt on them. Others were fleshy, decomposing bodies that filled the air with a putrid scent that turned his stomach. The soft clack of bone and the sickening squish of rotted flesh now accompanied the clang of swords. They weren’t zombies, right? They weren’t trying to eat any of the elves. Just attacking with their bare hands or holding on as if intending to bind the fae up for all eternity with their bodies.
At the very least, they didn’t seem to have any interest in him. How were the dead on his side?
Yichen twisted around to find a somewhat short, blond man with round red cheeks, wearing a shiny gold vest. With a bright smile, he waved at Yichen. “We should get going while the getting is good. The dead will keep them busy for only so long.”
He hesitated and glanced at the fight. Junjie had hopped from his spot in the tree and was leaving with Rafe Varik. But where was Rei?
“I can’t! I’m not leaving without Rei!” He took another step toward where Rei had been when the stranger grabbed his wrist.
“He’s fine. Winter Varik has him. He’s getting the elf out of here. We need to do the same if we’re going to meet up with them.”
Another Varik?
It was at least a little reassuring that it wasn’t one of the fae. He jogged through the forest with the human, leaving behind the elves and the corpses.
“Who are you? What happened to Rei?” Yichen demanded.
“Sky. Skylar Wallace,” he panted as they hurried along. “Friend…friend of Moon’s.”
Yichen nearly stumbled over a branch at the mention of Moon. This had to be one of his Coven mates. No! This was the witch who had taken Chen through the underworld. “You’re the necromancer!”
“Yep!” Sky huffed. “Oh, God. Nolan…he’s gonna make me start…jogging with him after this.”
“Are you…are you okay?”
Sky gave him a very harsh glare for a man who was struggling to catch his breath as they wove their way through the forest. He had a soft appearance, as if he had spent little time jogging or working out.
“Don’t give me that judgy look. Not everyone enjoys working out,” Sky grumbled.
“No judgment!” Yichen threw up his hands. Sadly, all his focus was on Sky, so he ended up running into a tree with his shoulder.
“Besides, it was a long hike from the graveyard to here.” Sky’s steps were slowing now to a fast walk. “It’s not like I could rent a bus and drive all the dead here. We had to walk. In the dark. It took a lot of focus to keep them moving in the right direction when all they wanted to do was wander off.”
“Since you’ve already traveled so far, would you like me to carry you?” Yichen offered, still rubbing his shoulder.
“Are you sure? You don’t think I’d be too heavy?”
Yichen stopped walking and smiled. “Not at all. Ancient vampire, so that makes me strong and fast.”
“Then yes. So much yes!”
With a smirk, Yichen stepped in front of Sky and kneeled on the soft earth. After some initial awkwardness, he got Sky’s arms wrapped around his neck and balanced on his back. Yichen stood and headed off in the direction Sky indicated at a brisk pace.
“The elf. Rei. You said he was taken by Winter Varik,” Yichen started the second they were moving through the forest, putting more distance between them and the fae army.
“Oh, right!” Sky gasped. “Sorry. Winter arrived with Rafe and was waiting in the dead realm to scoop up anyone who might be injured. His job was to get them to the waiting cars in secret. Rafe and Junjie supported from one side. It was my job to bring the dead army from the opposite direction to put the squeeze on the fae army and to give everyone a chance to retreat. Meimei and one of your other brothers are still waiting in another car to give them a ride. My boyfriend, Nolan, has our ride waiting.”