Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“Let me out. I can go faster,” my wolf screamed in panic, and I almost tried.
Down the hall I saw Hadriel, who had just finished descending a small set of stairs. He took one look at me and his eyes widened.
“Fuck!” he shouted, turning in the direction I was going and putting on a burst of speed.
Fear gave me a gush of adrenaline. I caught up to him in no time.
“Fuck me, you’re fast. Do not leave me behind to get killed,” he said, struggling to go faster. “I will fucking trip you and leave you for dead if you don’t slow down.”
Someone ahead saw us and stopped walking. The older woman with tight curls and wire-rimmed glasses held a book in her hand. Without a word, she dropped the book, turned, and started to run.
“What’s happening?” someone else asked, sprinting out of a door we were passing. “Ghosts?”
“Worse,” I said, noticing I was barely out of breath. Despite my fear in the moment, I couldn’t help but think having magic was great. “Way fucking worse.”
“Quick, this way!” Hadriel pointed right, down a corridor, picking up two people as we passed. No one asked questions, just saw us running and took the fuck off. This place had obviously seen some shit.
After another two turns and picking up two more people, we burst through a back door out into the bright sunshine. I glanced over my shoulder as we hurried across a patio and down three stairs to spongy grass. I almost expected the door to burst open behind us and for that monster to come barreling out.
“What was it?” Hadriel asked, hands braced on his knees as he panted. “Fuck, I’m winded. I hate running. What was it, Aurelia? The king? Was he pissed?”
Everyone else stood around us, on edge, glancing nervously at the door.
“Ghosts? I knew it,” one of the women said, peering at corners of the building. “This place is riddled with them.”
“It’s not fucking ghosts, Andrelle,” Hadriel said, rolling his eyes. Then to me: “Is it?”
“Not ghosts.” I watched that door, seeing a shadow on the other side of the paned glass and bracing. The door pushed open. “Fuck!”
Everyone scattered in different directions. Even Hadriel took off running, yelling, “Come on, I have a hiding place!”
Before I could move, Dante stuck his head out the door. “What is going on?” He stepped all the way out, looking around at the others, at one running across the grass to the trees beyond. “Where’s everyone going?”
My heart was still beating quickly from the terror and then the sprint. I had felt like I was twelve years old again, being chased out of town, prey to people larger and stronger.
I pointed over his shoulder. “Is that monster behind you?”
He turned and looked. “There’s no one behind me. The beta said you’re freaked out about something and to check on you. He’s busy taking care of some pack business. What’s up?”
I heaved a relieved sigh. “Nothing. I got spooked, that’s all. There was a huge guy glaring at me in the library. He looked ready to kill me.”
“Oh.” He nodded, then grimaced. “Yeah, you aren’t a favorite around here. Not yet. You’ll meet with the royals this afternoon. You’ll get to straighten everything out then. Maybe just . . . go play with the plants or something? Lie low for a while. Was that Hadriel I saw taking off?”
“Yeah. He was spooked about the guy following us.”
Dante looked behind him again. “That’s weird. It’s not like him to run off. Don’t worry, though, no one is allowed to touch you—king and queen’s orders. You’re safe. Just stay away from the woods, and don’t leave the palace grounds.”
“Okay.”
“I need to scout the woods and make sure everyone is doing their job, but how about we read the rest of that book after that? I have some rest time owed to me, since I just got back. We’ll keep each other company.”
I smiled. “Sure.”
He winked at me, frowned in the direction Hadriel had taken off, and disappeared back into the castle.
“Wait, which way are the plants . . .” I let my words die away, looking around.
Shrugging, I randomly chose left and started walking. The grounds were beautiful and well maintained, with large expanses of plush green grass and various manicured shrubs dotting the way. Little benches were set here and there amid potted plants and pops of colorful flowers. I passed several little birdbaths, active with life.
Numerous people tended the grounds, all of them looking up as I walked by. Most of them straightened up, watching me, but no one stopped me from continuing on. It didn’t bode well for my safety; Granny’s people would be able to roam around easily.
That in mind, I kept plenty of room between me and anything someone could hide behind. If someone wanted to grab me, they’d need to cross some highly visible space to do it, and I’d have a head start toward safety.