Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me until you survive this night.”
My hands shook.
“For now, get your horse. I will kill these soldiers. You are to race away while I get rid of them. Then go as left as possible and do not stop until the sun is up and you are far away. Don’t even look back.”
Trembling, I bobbed my head. “Okay.”
“Hurry, stubborn one.”
I rushed back to the tree, mounted my horse, checked that my bags were secure, and slowly brought my horse to where Ian monitored the soldiers patrolling.
He looked up at me. “These guys aren’t the best soldiers. They should have already sensed us. I believe my brother’s best ones are on the other side.”
“Okay.”
“That means that I can kill these fast with no problem.” Something began to push out of Ian’s head. Two. . .black points that kept growing and growing out of his forehead.
What is going on?
I widened my eyes in horror as horns appeared.
His voice began to get deeper. “Remember. When I begin killing the soldiers, you need to rush away. Do you understand?”
I watched his muscles on his shoulders bulk up and rip his shirt.
“Seraphine?”
“Y-yes.”
He began to rise and I didn’t know how or why. It was like he was getting on the tip of his toes, but he wasn’t. He was just. . .getting taller somehow. “Do you understand?”
“Yes. I. . .understand.”
“Good.” Ian checked around the tree, yet continued to change into something ungodly and terrifying. “They are close, but I will wait until they get to us.”
“O-okay.” I tightened my grip on the reins.
“Seraphine, I have enjoyed our short time together.” Ian turned back to me. “Do not die.”
“I already promised.”
He scowled. “Promise again.”
“I promise I will not die.”
“Blasted little mage.” He shook his head and returned to watching the soldiers.
He really is going to help me. And. . .he really does care.
Sadness washed over me. “Ian.”
“Yes.” He kept his back to me.
I swallowed. “Why did the vampire attend the queen’s ball?”
Ian turned around and curved his lips into a smile. Long sharp fangs peeked from his top lip. They were bigger than I had ever seen on any regular vampire. “Tell me, Seraphine. Why did the vampire attend the queen’s ball?”
“Because he heard it was going to be a bloody good time.”
Ian watched me and deepened his smile, yet this expression made his already scary change even more terrifying. “That was a damned good joke. Now, do not forget your promise.”
“I won’t.”
Ian put his back to me. “Stay safe, Seraphine.”
“I will.”
With that, Ian darted out from behind the trees and dashed across the clearing, heading straight for the soldiers.
When they noticed him, they charged his way.
Ian blurred to the first two and struck them with his claws before they could even use their swords. They fell to the ground.
You don’t die either, Ian.
I signaled my horse and we took off, galloping to the left. The screams of the guards echoed behind us.
My heart raced.
Ian told me not to look back, but I couldn’t help it.
Please, be okay.
I gazed over my shoulder.
Ian had taken out half of the soldiers. He stood on top of one body and yanked over another guard.
Two solders raced away in horror.
Ian killed the next soldier with ease and then chased after the other two.
My horse kept taking us forward, but I couldn’t get my eyes off of Ian. It was no way I could look ahead.
Ian blurred to the two soldiers.
I gasped.
One soldier swung his sword at Ian’s head and he blocked it with lightning-quick reflexes and then pierced the soldier’s head with his claws.
Whoa.
The vampire cried in pain.
Only one left and—
Before I could finish the thought, Ian tore his head off and rushed back into the woods.
Dear Ambi and Ressi and any other god or goddess in the sky. He did it.
I turned forward.
Thank you, Ian. I owe you.
My heart pounded in my chest.
I urged my horse to go even faster and further left as far away from where Ian guessed the direction of the camp.
Almost free. So close.
For now, I could not see anything, but I rode on, trusting my horse’s senses as he carried me through the darkness.
I whispered to him, “Good job. You can do this.”
My horse whinnied.
Perhaps, he was getting tired.
“Shhh.” I rubbed the side of his head. “Just a little bit more. We can slow down once we are safe.”
To my surprise, the horse rushed faster.
“There you go.” I bobbed my head. “Keep it up for a little bit longer.”
In my head, I imagined the next hour or so. I would stop us in any thick woods I could find far away from the mages and vampires.
There, I would prepare a small fire, feed my horse, and me.
Then. . .
I smiled.
Then, I will sit by the fire and read one of those stupid romances that Ian packed.