Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
I shifted my weight to my other foot and wiped some of Zoe’s silver dust off of my forehead with my shaking hands.
I directed my view up to the odd flying pair.
They hovered twenty feet above me.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins. The air around me felt like it was on fire. I took a few deep breaths and then tried to calm my racing heart.
Azar whispered something in his ear. Zoe nodded and then looked down at me.
Come on. We don’t have all night.
Thankfully, Adae and his sorcerers had not figured out we were here.
Azar reappeared in front of me within seconds.
“What was that about?” I asked.
Azar’s leather jacket vanished, exposing rows of hard golden muscle. The crystal sword appeared in his right hand. Azar tilted his head from side to side, shifting and stretching his shoulders. “I just wanted to make sure we understood each other.”
“You didn’t threaten him, right?”
“Of course not.”
Zoe materialized behind me.
I turned around. “What did he say?”
Zoe shrugged. “I was told to keep it a secret.”
I frowned. “Secrets weren't a part of the plan, Azar. What's going on?”
Zoe gave me a sad smile. “We should go, Fati.”
Azar nodded. “He's right.”
“Oh, now you two are buddies?”
“I've warmed to him.” Azar hit me with a warm smile. “Are you ready to see your daughter?”
My heart ached. My voice went weak. “Yes.”
“Come on,” Azar gazed at his crystal sword, turned it around, and then slashed it in the air so quickly and with so much force that I jumped back. “Then, let’s kill some sorcerers.”
Chapter 19
Sacrifice
Fatou
Before we were to head away, Azar wanted to check the perimeter and make sure nothing seemed out of order. Fast, he jumped into the air and disappeared.
Zoe leaned my way. “I can’t believe you hooked up with him.”
“I want to know what he told you up in the sky.”
“And I want tons of details about sex with an incubus demon.”
“There are too many details to give you.”
“So, you've had quite the adventure?”
“You have no idea.”
“Is he big?”
“As big as you want.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means my cock grows and widens.” Azar appeared behind us.
“Wow.” Zoe gasped. “It just. . .does what it wants or. . .
“Everyone focus on the mission.” Shocked, I turned around and faced Azar. “Is everything clear? Did you see sorcerers or—”
“It is quiet. I don't believe Adae knows we're here.”
My nerves calmed, but only a little.
I directed my attention to Zoe. “Okay. We are ready.”
“Are you sure about this, Fati? This is dangerous.”
“It's Jade. I'll do anything to get her. That means facing death if I have to.”
Azar frowned. “Jade and you will be safe.”
“I can't believe I am going to do this with you.” Zoe rubbed his hands together, spilling silver dust onto the ground. “But. . .you're right. Anything will be better than Adae's constant torturing and this horrid view with the constant stench of sulfur.”
Zoe walked over to us. “Ready?”
I took Azar's hand into mine. “I'm ready.”
Azar came closer to me.
“Then, let's go.” Slowly, Zoe wrapped his long arms around Azar and me. Silver dust floated into my eyes and mouth.
It tasted like dirt. I spat as much of it as I could out.
Zoe tightened his hold around Azar and me and then whispered, “Nursery.”
The tower's view spun around me and then grew distorted. I grabbed my stomach with my free hand and concentrated on the vision of Jade’s eyes, instead of the nausea that crept through me.
This will end soon.
Cool air swished by my skin.
The world turned, left, right, left again, and then the spinning stopped. My eyes only caught a distorted vision.
I clenched my jaw.
Then, eventually, the world righted itself and my view cleared.
We stood in the nursery.
An enchanted garden was planted in the center. Magical plants bloomed with red, white, and purple flowers that had green and white leaves. Butterflies and chirping birds darted and fluttered between the flowers. Sparks flickered and glowed whenever the creatures touched a petal.
It was all an illusion. In certain light, the birds and butterflies faded to nothing but sparks of color. The light from the lamps sparkled on the walls and stone as if thousands of fireflies had been captured and put into the walls to glow.
I stepped out of Zoe’s grip and tip toed to the next section.
Azar and Zoe followed.
In one part, alphabet letters covered two large walls. The room smelled of baby powder. Toys littered the floor—dolls and wooden blocks, trucks and teddy bears.
An aquarium took up another wall, giving off a soft blue light. The fourth wall was made of glass so that bidders could observe the children as they played.
Every few months, Adae let me see Jade. I could never come up to or touch her. I was only allowed to watch her through the viewing glass.
Once I had walked in on tons of sorcerers bidding for a small Elvin kid. Rage had bubbled in my veins. I'd wanted to kill every bidder in the space, but knew I didn't have the power to do so.