Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Just great.
I have to suppress the urge to growl as I focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
My vision starts to blur when I hear Fleur call out, “Alchera!”
I don’t stop walking because I’m afraid I’ll just sink to the ground and cry my heart out.
“By Awo,” she gasps when she catches up to me. “When it looked like things were getting out of hand, I went to find Raighne but I see he’s already found you.” Her eyes are filled with worry as she glances up and down my body. “Are you okay?”
I hook my arm through hers so I can lean on her and whisper, “Just get me to the healers before I pass out.”
“Of course.” Wrapping her arm around my lower back, she tries her best to support me.
As she helps me walk, she smiles at Raighne and River. “Peace be.”
Raighne doesn’t say anything, but River returns her greeting, which makes a blush form on her cheeks.
If I weren’t dying of pain, I’d be curious whether something’s going on between the two of them.
I try to pick up my pace, but my aching body doesn’t want to know a thing. Chills spread over my skin, and I wipe sweat from my forehead.
Suddenly, an arm wraps around my waist and another slips beneath my knees. I gasp when I’m picked up bridal style, and my face ends up inches from Raighne’s.
He doesn’t look at me as he mutters, “That’s enough. I’ll carry you the rest of the way.”
The instant I feel his body heat, it somehow manages to ease the pain a little. Giving up on getting my stubborn ass to the healers on my own, I let out a sigh and rest my head against his shoulder.
“We’re almost there,” Raighne says, his tone comforting.
My vision blurs again, and I let out a groan before I lose consciousness.
I wake up with a start as a horrible sharp pain shoots through my shoulder and into my neck and back.
I’m unable to stop a cry from bursting over my lips, and feeling feverish, I can barely focus on anything.
“Be gentle with my charge,” Raighne snaps angrily.
“I had to put her dislocated shoulder back in place,” a man mutters. “It would be better if you waited outside.”
“Not happening,” Raighne growls.
I pry my eyes open and see a man wearing a white coat getting an injection ready.
“This will help with the pain,” he says.
When he brings the needle to my arm, I turn my head, and my sight falls on Raighne, who’s standing next to the bed, looking like he’s a second away from killing the healer.
I become aware of Raighne’s hand gripping mine tightly, and when our eyes meet, his features soften a little.
With his other hand, he brushes his palm over my forehead. “It will be over soon.”
God. I hope so.
My eyes fall shut, and as I drift in and out of consciousness, terrifying flashes of torture fill my mind until it feels like I’m sucked into the pits of hell itself.
I stare at a woman and watch as her face begins to change. It’s subtle at first, then thorn-like bumps form on her forehead.
Shit.
I can only stare in horror as small spikes appear on her ears and black veins run along her lips, creeping over the rest of her face.
Bile rises in my throat as I realize I have a front-row seat to the unveiling of the monster that wants to end all of humanity, and the odds are good I’m going to die now.
God.
As I begin to come to terms with the fact that I won’t be getting out of this hell alive, I slip up and think of Raighne.
Warmth immediately floods my chest, and it’s so comforting to feel him, I almost let out a sob.
For the first time since I was captured, I lower my head so they can’t see my eyes because I don’t want them to know Raighne’s able to sense what’s happening.
“Ares,” the woman hisses, “make her understand!”
A hand closes around my throat, and I wait for him to start squeezing, expecting to be suffocated. Instead of having my air supply cut off, an awful burning sensation starts at my feet, making its way slowly up my legs.
It feels as if my flesh is being scorched from my body, and I can’t keep the screams from tearing loose. I writhe in agony, the burn increasing as it crawls up my body.
By the time it reaches my thighs, it feels like I’m on fire, burning from the inside out.
“Stop!” I scream, my voice hoarse. “Please.”
I’m weeping from the unbearable pain, but there are no tears left to cool my face.
The man just stares at me, his eyes dead and merciless.
When I feel Raighne stirring in me, as if he’s trying to pass some of his strength into my body, I sob out loud.