Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
He mumbled something beneath his breath.
“As for your worry that I’m unarmed, don’t be fooled. I have plenty of concealed blades tucked here and there. Also, I’ll be able to conjure my sword at will. There’s therefore no sense in carrying it on my person. And don’t forget that my magick is a concealed weapon, in a sense.” She stood. “Speaking of magick . . . Is my coven here yet?”
“Yes. They’re waiting outside the Keep. And, for once, they’re not bickering with each other about anything.”
“They can be serious when they need to be.” Staring into Cain’s eyes, she didn’t need to ask if he was ready to leave. Those dark pools were lit with determination, bloodthirst, and anticipation.
She’d bet his creature was just as raring to head to Aeon. Both had waited too long for the moment they could wreak vengeance on those who slaughtered their loved ones, all but annihilating their species, and then jailed the eight survivors here.
Cain skimmed his hands up her arms and then rested them on her shoulders. “Are you sure I can’t persuade you to remain here?”
“As I told you last night, I’ll stay if you will.” And they both knew he wouldn’t.
He let out a soft curse, his nostrils flaring.
Wynter stifled a smile. “You had to know you’d never convince me to remain behind.”
Yes, Cain had known that he was wasting his breath. No warrior would hang back at such a time, and his consort was a warrior through and through. More, she’d no doubt been instructed by Kali—who seemed to have some interest in ensuring that Aeon fell—to not remain behind.
Still, he’d had to at least try to convince her to instead stay and defend Devil’s Cradle from any would-be invaders. How could he not want to take every precaution when it came to this witch, who was his world? Who was the only person to ever love him in a way that was so simple, so easy, so unconditionally?
Having her in his life had changed him in subtle ways. Positive ways. Losing her would change him once again, but not positively. No, he’d become the very thing that the Aeons preached the Antichrist would be. The ultimate evil. The bringer of pain, death, and destruction.
She placed her hands on his chest. “Don’t worry about me. You can’t afford to be distracted. Concentrate on doing your thing, and trust me to do mine.”
“Oh, I fully trust that you’ll be alert and focused. I know you have an edge over most people, given what you are and that a deity looks out for you. Just the same, I know that going into war isn’t new to you. But we’re about to walk into a battle that is like nothing you’ve ever before experienced.”
“I know that.”
He sighed at her smile. “Only you would be so excited.”
She snorted. “Like you’re not raring to get moving so you can take Adam down. And he will go down.”
“Yes, he will. The other Ancients and I will settle for nothing less. In the meantime, do as we pre-agreed and focus on taking out his people. Leave the Aeons to us.”
“I already assured you that I wouldn’t deviate from our plan unless put in a situation where I had no choice but to go off-script.”
Still, he worried that she’d be tempted to take on Adam herself. Not only to avenge her mother, but to avenge Cain. His consort had commented many times on how much she longed to see Adam pay for all he’d done to Cain. The need to wreak vengeance was at the core of every revenant, after all.
Although she wouldn’t break her word and seek out the last ruling Aeon, she might well engage in a duel with him if given the chance. The very thought made Cain’s blood run cold. Wynter was a being that was built to defy even death itself, but Adam was not only tremendously powerful, he could call on the elements. If he realized that he was in fact dealing with a revenant, it would be easy enough for him to conjure iron and use it to weaken her. Adam would then pounce, and he wouldn’t do a half-assed job of trying to kill her. He’d take her out for certain.
His chest tightening at the idea, Cain caught her face in his hands and pinned her gaze with his. “Stay safe for me. You can’t know what it would do to me to lose you. You can’t know the suffering that both me and my creature would inflict upon the world if something were to happen to you. So you ensure that nothing does.”
“Right back atcha.”
“I’m serious, Wynter.”
“So am I.” She sobered. “I’m a revenant, Cain. There isn’t one single thing on this Earth that would live through the plagues, pestilence, and curses I’d unleash if you were taken from me. Don’t doubt that for a second.”