Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Then again, this creature didn’t look like anything scared it, so maybe this was going to be my home for the foreseeable future.
That thought had me wrinkling my nose again as I looked around the disgusting space.
I’d gotten somewhat used to the rotting scent, but every now and then I got a concentrated whiff of decay that had me nearly turning my head to throw up.
“What are you called, female?”
The sound of his harsh voice had me pushing away my thoughts and glancing at him. I pursed my lips and kept quiet.
He stayed silent, too, but after a second I could see the annoyance in his face as he stalked closer.
“You’re here until I decide you’re not, so might as well tell me what you’re called instead of making me force you.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and didn’t speak again for a long moment. “I’m Sebastian’s mate. That’s who I am.”
He came closer and closer until he crouched in front of me, his massive thigh muscles clenching from the shift in motion, his body so big and wide I couldn’t see anything around his form.
“Maybe I’ll leave you up here while I go search out your vampire.” He tipped his head to the side as if contemplating this. “Maybe I’ll bring him back so you can watch me pull out his fangs and nails until you feel like telling me what I want to know.”
My heart thundered and I felt my throat closing. I knew he was telling the truth.
“Let’s try this again.” He leaned in and inhaled sharply. “What are you called?”
“Ada,” I whispered.
He grunted and stood and strode away instantly. I exhaled in relief. I’d do anything to make sure Sebastian was okay.
“I won’t ever stop trying to get away from you.”
He didn’t turn around, didn’t even respond as he went back to pacing. It was a long time before he did speak.
“I’m a predator, female. And as such the hunt is exactly what I like.” He looked over his shoulder and held my stare. “So run. Because I like the chase. Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll get tired of your companionship and let you go.”
I found myself leaning forward at those words, a tiny sliver of hope…
His chuckle cut that off. “Let you go,” he murmured to himself.
How could I respond? There wasn’t anything I could say that would change my fate. But I would fight. Even if that meant he’d keep coming for me.
I rested back and felt depression and dejection surround me. I closed my eyes, exhaustion finally weighing on me even if I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep.
This really was hell.
Chapter
Sixteen
Sebastian
The fucking sun.
That bastard of a burning orange ball in the sky that was all but taunting me, forcing me into hiding in the shadows and waiting to go after my girl.
I’d been walking back and forth in the interior of this little rocky outcropping I’d had to take cover in for hours. I was impatient, pissed, and so fucking murderous I wanted blood covering me from that motherfucker’s death.
I was also terrified. For the first time in my life I experienced what fear was. As I’d realized the Diablos was going to take Ada, I’d felt that fear consume every part of me.
And right now I couldn’t get rid of the thoughts of what he was doing to my tiny mate.
“Fuck!” I roared, pebbles crumbling all around me as the vibrations from my yell knocked them loose.
I’d been fucking pacing for hours. But I couldn’t stand still.
I stalked to the entrance of the cave, hissing as the sun washed over me, and flipped off that motherfucker high in the air.
“Fuck you,” I snarled and turned back.
I needed all my strength, and having a tantrum wasn’t going to help get Ada back. So I kept walking back and forth, cursing, tugging at my hair and envisioning myself getting Ada back and tearing that Diablos bastard limb from limb.
I’d instantly recognized him, not only from the first time we went after those Assembly fuckers, but also when I’d been caught.
Adryan had told us he’d seen a creature in the Vermont facility when he’d been rescuing his mate. It was whispered among the Otherworld he was “the devil”… and the only one known in existence.
I’d heard two renditions in my lifetime on who and what the Diablos was.
In one legend he was born of pain and heartache, a rip in humanity and emotions from all creatures of the Otherworld.
His father was the god of death. His mother was the goddess of pain.
In the second legend, which was far more of the romantic variety, his mother was the goddess of love and fell for the god of death. He was the result. But love couldn’t live with death without being dragged into the darkness. Yin and yang.