Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“She won’t let you settle that score,” Tarian told Jack without moving away from Daisy. “We’ll just have to ask forgiveness rather than permission.”
“I can fucking hear you,” Daisy groused. Lexi didn’t bother repeating that.
“Hack up those bodies!” Bria yelled. “Hack them all up. Now is not the time for a weak stomach, Jerry. Get in there!”
Mia popped out from behind the veil, followed by John.
“Go!” Lexi shouted. “Help with the spirits coming our way.”
They didn’t need to be told twice. Mia disappeared, and John ran for the door.
Daisy’s body gasped. She started coughing, and Tarian cupped her cheeks, nearly knocking Faelynn out of the way.
“Wait, Tarian,” Faelynn scolded him. “She’s not out of danger yet. Back off.”
To his credit, Tarian did, giving her space, though his eyes didn’t leave Daisy’s. He cared about her very much. Very, very much. Lexi’s heart softened.
Daisy coughed and clutched the pretty item held against her palm. She pulled it tightly to her chest before reaching back for Tarian’s hand.
“That’s it,” Jack said, backing off now. “There you go.”
Magic pumped—Lexi could feel it. She wasn’t sure if it was spirit or in the air around them, but she could feel it building higher. The items all around them started to pulse. They hummed in waves, a throbbing sound.
“No, what are you doing?” Tarian sounded panicked. “You didn’t survive it the first time.”
“Trust me,” Daisy wheezed, and they stared at each other for a long moment.
He nodded, as if she’d said something else. Reading her mind. She seemed to be okay with that.
She closed her eyes, and that strange current moved around them. It was so like the feeling of spirit that Lexi wondered why she couldn’t see it.
“We’ve got it,” Faelynn said with a smile. “She learns fast. Thank the gods she learns fast.”
“Yes, she is very astute for their kind—” Eldric intoned.
“Fuck your gods,” Daisy interrupted, laboring through a scratchy throat.
Tarian laughed and brought her hand up before turning it over and kissing her pulse point. He breathed an immense sigh of relief against her skin. It must’ve been an inside joke, though Lexi didn’t see the humor in it. She wholeheartedly agreed. Tarian laughed harder.
Tarian
I feel like I’ve been chewed up by a darkrend and spat out again, Daisy thought. Fuck.
She cataloged her issues, from her body and head aching to her limbs feeling like they were numb and tingly.
But she was alive. She was fucking alive! Tarian couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t be more grateful. Somehow, Daisy’s human guardian had worked spirit in a way he’d never heard of. She’d even ripped her out of Nvran’s clutches.
I’m not in any shape for what fuckery is going on out there, she thought, and he couldn’t help chuckling despite the situation. She’d just returned from the dead, and she was still as surly as ever. She was still his little dove, delicate and beautiful and a vicious killer. Perfection.
Her family and Tarian’s Fallen yelled directions and warnings at each other out in the hall. They weren’t working together. Tarian needed to unite them, or Daisy’s rescue would be in vain.
“Okay, let’s go.” She struggled to sit up.
“Not yet. You aren’t healed enough yet—” Faelynn started.
“Her soul will hold.” Daisy’s guardian—the angel of the stars—sat back and wiped sweat from her forehead. Lexi, they called her. Alexis, maybe for him, given he was a stranger. Her gaze was watery, but she appeared relieved.
“Why did you come for me?” Daisy demanded. “It’s dangerous here. You shouldn’t have done that!”
That was supposed to come out angry. Her mind pinged with anger, anyway. She’d thought she was the weakest link in their family. She hated to think they’d put themselves in danger for her. Instead, her tone was heavy with emotion. Love that filled her whole body.
I’ll forever be grateful, she thought, looking upon Alexis. Grateful for my family’s extreme power that helped them survive getting here, and for giving me my second miracle. For reuniting me with Tarian. For giving us a chance to stay together.
Now it was Tarian’s heart that filled his whole body. He held her hand tightly, barely stopping himself from pulling her into his arms. She needed to speak to her guardian angel right now.
“Don’t be a fucking idiot,” Alexis told her as a tear overflowed. He barked out an unexpected laugh. Yes, they were family. “Of course we were going to come for you. We will always come for you.”
“I owe you a punch in the face for swearing,” Daisy rasped, laughing.
“Do as I say, not as I do.” Alexis reached forward to grab Daisy’s hands, and Tarian let her. She helped her up. “Jack, can you carry her—”
“I’ve got it.” Tarian scooped her up and stood, hugging her close. He looked down at Alexis, ignoring…Jack, his name was, looming close. Thoughts of vicious actions filtered through Jack’s mind. They were justified, so Tarian didn’t pay them any attention.