Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94234 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94234 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Bell had never been much for exaggerated pet names or terms of endearment but he kind of liked it when Alek called him baby. It was such an oxymoron in his almost-century-old mind that it made the name charming. Maybe he should call Alek ‘pup’.
Alek smiled longingly before it started to fade, and he looked at Bell with such intensity it made him squirm. He placed Bell on a pile of dead leaves and hurried to wrap him in the clean quilt Farica had put on top of their fresh clothes. He started to retrieve the few items, frowning at a set of black silk pajamas, with matching boxers. “What in the world?” Alek mumbled. “Babe? You don’t have some regular stuff, like long johns or flannel?”
Bell scrunched his face into such a sour expression it made Alek burst out laughing. There was no way in hell that flannel would ever touch his skin.
“I guess that answers that.” Alek calmed down. “I just think it’d be a lot more practical than these slippery things.”
Bell was just about to tell his mate about the wonder of the fine fabric when Alek jolted suddenly, turning his head in several different directions. Bell sat up higher, his feeding buzz fading fast at the reflection of panic in Alek’s eyes…
Then the flames came.
How many? Alek hurried. He shoved on his cutoffs, then wrapped a couple of the thick towels around Bell. There was no freaking way he could work those damn pajamas onto his wet body in a hurry. Shit.
About twenty-five or thirty, Wrath answered. Wolf was extremely close and very much on edge. The demigod had fallen back in silence while Alek had been bathing in the glory of his mate’s submission, but he didn’t hesitate to rush forward to alert him that he sensed the enemy coming their way.
It’s the same ones. Their stench is unforgettable.
Alessandro? Wolf snarled.
No. But his followers. Perhaps coming to finish the job while we’re still grounded here, Wrath said.
Wolf growled angrily. Do something, or I will. Our mate lies there on the ground, vulnerable.
They were again relying on Alek to make the call. If he failed this time, it could cost Bell his life. He wasn’t going to take any chances. Wrath and Wolf were the most powerful together for a reason. He was going to trust in their abilities. It was time to test his command.
“Alek, what’s wrong?” Bell asked, still sounding dazed. His eyes traveled from Alek’s to the woods, as if he was trying to see what the problem was.
Alek got down on one knee so Bell could see his seriousness. “Belleron. The rebels are coming this way, right now.”
Bell’s eyes widened and he scrambled to get into an upright position but Alek stopped him. “No. We don’t have time. And I can’t lead them back to the cottage. I need to call my siblings and the mercenaries to me. But I have to get you to safety first.
Bell gripped Alek’s hand… he’d definitely gotten stronger, but it wasn’t enough. Not enough to fight. Belleron knew it too, but it didn’t stop his mate from mouthing, let me help you.
He pressed a lingering kiss to Bell’s forehead, mumbling against his temple. “You can help me by staying safe… and hidden.”
“H-hidden,” Bell scoffed, looking mortified. Alek was sure the Lord High wasn’t used to that concept but he was about to get familiar with it today.
“I’m going to let Wrath take over. He will have full control, but I’ll be right there, always, okay?” Alek prayed Bell didn’t argue. After a couple of seconds of hesitation, Bell gave a jerky nod and placed both hands at his sides, as if preparing himself to receive the strong entity.
Good. His mate was learning.
Alek stood and took a couple of steps backwards from where Bell lay. He closed his eyes and balled up his fists at his sides. The last time Wrath had taken the surface through Alek’s body, it’d been so painful that it’d taken him several hours to heal. Not this time. This time, he’d welcome his gift. With total focus, and all of his heart, he whispered into the dark night, “Wrath.”
He felt the air simmer around him the same way it did when Wolf was barreling to the surface, only this felt ten times more powerful.
Take care of my mate… at any cost. Kill all who are a threat. Leave one alive to return a grave message, Alek ordered, and fell back to the shadows.
Alek’s chest rumbled with the charging of his warriors. He felt the allegiance of his mighty beasts as they accepted his authority. Alek gritted his teeth when the force of energy shot into him at an electrifying speed. He watched from Wrath’s eyes as he let him take the lead.
Wrath cracked the muscles in his neck, adjusting to the additional growth. He had more muscle than Alek; which was the reason he was losing circulation in his legs. He yanked off the now-painfully tight jeans, standing naked and a lot more comfortable. He didn’t miss the way Belleron gaped at his body. He knew he still looked like Alek, but he wasn’t him, they weren’t sharing the surface like earlier. He was Wrath, and as of right now he was in complete control. He breathed in the cool air and caught a stronger scent as the rebels got closer. He glanced around for a place for Belleron to hide. He was Wolf and Alek’s number one concern.