Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
“I mean, look at Attes,” Kolis went on, his blood-streaked white pants rippling as he neared one of the pillared entrances to the alcove. Dark crimson shadows twisted under the skin of his stomach and chest. “It took nothing to take him out.” He twisted his head from side to side, as if working out a kink. “Then again, he is no longer a Primal of a Court. That weakens him.” He paused. “She weakens him.” He huffed as I flinched. “Idiot.”
“Are you done talking yet?” Theon asked.
Kolis stopped.
“Good. Maybe you’ll realize it’s awfully quiet out in the hallway.” I couldn’t see the smirk on Theon’s face, but I heard it. “And you would also notice that Attes is no longer here.”
Kolis’s head whipped toward where Attes had been lying. His nostrils flared.
A thunderous impact shook the manor, sending thin fissures racing down the domed ceiling. Then, a low, rumbling growl came from above.
The shadows stilled beneath Kolis’s flesh as he looked up.
“I didn’t come alone.” Eather spat from Theon’s fingers as he cocked his head. “And you should’ve known that. Sensed it.”
The swirling darkness beneath Kolis’s flesh deepened.
Theon’s laugh was low and throaty. Challenging. “Seems like someone’s been cast from Iliseeum.”
I had no idea what that meant, but Kolis sure did. The flesh of his arms thinned as he snarled. “Fuck the Fates.”
Kolis spun, his gaze locking with mine. He shot forward—
A bolt of eather crashed into him, spinning him into the air. He flew back, eather lighting up his veins as he smacked into a pillar. The stone cracked and shuddered. He hit the floor on his knees, but he didn’t stay down. He was on his feet in a breath and coming straight toward me.
“You don’t know when to stop.” Another blast of eather left Theon. “You never did.”
Kolis ducked, but the eather struck his shoulder, spinning him around. Hitting the edge of the dais, he threw out his hand and caught himself.
“Ouch,” Kolis gritted out. “That stung.”
“It did more than just sting.” Theon stalked forward, coming into focus. He had daggers strapped to his chest, and beneath the black-and-bronze helmet, his eyes glowed with silver fire. “There’s a hole in your shoulder. In case you didn’t realize it.”
Gods, I wished the hole was in his head.
“Just a flesh wound.” Kolis straightened and lowered his chin. Golden-blond hair fell forward, brushing the sides of his face. “Which won’t be what I say about you when I’m finished.” He flashed me a smile that bared his teeth and fangs—fangs covered with my blood. “We’re not finished, so’lis.”
Fuck you.
I didn’t speak. I couldn’t. My tongue felt too thick and heavy. But based on the way the essence flared in his ruby eyes, he knew what I was thinking.
A loud groan sounded as the pillar Kolis had hit toppled forward. My heart stalled as it fell toward me. Gods, I had a feeling I would definitely feel that when it landed on me. Desperate, I tried to summon the essence, but the weak pulse did nothing. I couldn’t even lift my arms—
Suddenly, two leather-encased legs were in front of me. A web of silver eather erupted from the fingertips of one hand as eather formed in the other, the essence lengthening and taking the shape of a spear. “Get her out of here,” he commanded.
A heartbeat later, a blur burst out of the alcove, racing across the hall.
“You did bring a friend.” Crimson-streaked shadows climbed over Kolis’s shoulders as he laughed. He lifted his hand, and dark eather powered down his arm.
“Friend?” a deep voice scoffed as the newcomer dipped under the streak of eather and went down on a knee, sliding across the floor. He skidded to a halt beside me. A dark hood obscured his face. Even when he turned his head, I still didn’t see much. I caught a glimpse of skin somewhere between sun-kissed and olive, and eyes so deep blue they bordered on amethyst. And scars—two deep, straight cuts that started in the center of his forehead and ended at the corners of his lips.
I couldn’t…feel what he was, which I thought should concern me more than it did.
“I’m not his friend,” the newcomer—who had to be a god—responded.
“Don’t lie.” Theon laughed, spinning as he launched the spear-shaped eather. “You’re my best friend.”
The god huffed. “Just wait until you sleep,” he muttered, and I was beginning to think I was hallucinating the conversation. The stranger turned his head to mine, and even though I could no longer see his features, I felt his stare. “Hello.”
My lips parted, but all that came out of my mouth was a wet cough that caused my chest to seize.
“Don’t try to speak,” he said softly. “Don’t need you choking on blood.” The hooded head tilted. “Well, more than you already a—” A flash of bright eather streaked overhead, stinging my eyes. He swore, his head jerking up as Theon went flying backward. “Fuck.”