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)
By the time I feel Alchera drift off to sleep, the camp is quiet.
Heading back into her living quarters, my eyes fall on her sleeping face as I walk closer to the bed.
Why won’t you fully connect with me, my little dreamer?
She makes an illegible sound before snuggling her face deeper into the pillow, and I wish that damned pillow was my chest.
She should be in my arms where she belongs.
Careful not to make a noise, I move the chair much closer to the bed and sit down. My eyes lock on my charge’s face, and my heart fills with the love I feel for her.
I almost lost you.
Never again.
And come hell or high water, I will find a way to get past your defenses.
Before she was taken, I fought my feelings for her, knowing I had no right. But after this fucked up week, I don’t care anymore.
I love Alchera, and over my dead body will I share her with another man.
I’ll find a way to make her love me.
I just have to.
Alchera moves in her sleep, and I reach out to take her hand but pause a mere inch from touching her.
She curls into a fetal position, and I’m surprised when her hand finds mine. “Raighne,” she mumbles, and her fingers wrap around mine.
“Shh…I’m here, my little dreamer.”
She lets out a sigh of relief and seems to settle into a deeper sleep.
Alchera
A feeling of love and peace wraps around me, and I hear someone call out, “Hello, Jason. Hello, Jason.”
Looking around, I find myself in the middle of a kitchen. Jason’s standing in front of me, facing a large cage. The door is open, and hanging upside down from the open doorway is a beautiful red-tailed, grayish bird.
It’s letting Jason lovingly ruffle its feathers.
“Pappa, Pappa.” A voice calls again.
I search through the kitchen until I notice another bird, looking exactly like the one hanging in the cage, its feet slapping on the tiles as it eagerly tries to get to Jason.
I watch with wonder as the bird climbs up Jason’s pant leg.
“Hey, my boy. You want some love as well?” Jason coos as he scratches the bird’s head. “You’re a jealous one, aren’t you?”
He loves them as if they’re his children.
Tears well in my eyes because I’ve never encountered a man who loves animals so much. I’ve never seen birds display such emotion, nestling their heads against his, closing their eyes, and clearly showing how much they love him in return.
I wake up with a start, the vision still fresh in my mind.
I have to get to Jason.
A moment later, I become aware that I’m clinging to someone’s hand, and my eyes dart to the side of the bed.
Seeing Raighne sitting in an armchair, I relax and let out a sigh before asking, “Did you sleep here last night?”
Staring at me, he just nods.
Great. He’s probably still angry with me.
“What did you see?” he asks calmly.
Pulling my hand from his, I carefully sit up. My body doesn’t ache as badly as yesterday, but my broken ribs and the cut on my leg are super tender. Whatever Aster gave me for the pain must still be working, for which I’m grateful as hell.
I clear my throat and rub a hand over my face. “I saw a chosen one.”
“What stood out about him?” Raighne asks.
“Never in all of my life have I felt so much love before.” I let out a resentful chuckle. “He gives his animals more love than I’ve ever had.”
When Raighne frowns at me, I add, “I mean, the love Jason feels for those birds is so humbling. And the birds love him back.”
“He’ll probably be the one to take care of the animals.” Raighne climbs to his feet. “We’ll leave as soon as you’re strong enough. I’ll get everything ready.”
“There’s just one problem.” I pause, not knowing how to word this right.
“What?”
“Jason isn’t going to leave willingly. I saw into his soul, and he won’t leave his animals behind. Not when they’re going to die while he lives.”
I look at Raighne in desperation.
“He’ll have to come, Alchera. Even if we have to take him by force.”
My jaw drops, and shaking my head, I ask, “How can you say that?” I throw my legs over the side of the bed and climb to my feet. “I won’t allow any of these humans to suffer the heartache I have. You’re not just going to throw them through a damn waterfall. Besides, we’re bringing animals anyway. Why not bring over his as well?”
There’s an overwhelming need in my soul to fight for the chosen ten who will lose everything, just like I lost everything.
“The list has been made,” Raighne says. “It is not for us to decide.”
“Who decides?” I snap.
“The orders came down from Awo himself.”
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I say, “I want my chosen ones to have a smooth shift from Earth to Vaalbara. I’ll fight for them, and I don’t care if I have to go against Awo to make it happen.”