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)
Cain’s fingers contracted like claws. “But if she didn’t, Adam has her.”
“Don’t go there, Cain,” said Azazel. “Don’t let yourself think about it. There’s every chance that she’s . . . ” He paused, his eyes sliding to the sky. “One of the dragons is back.”
“And he’s not alone,” said Seth. “He has a passenger.”
Cain’s heartbeat kicked up as he spun. Holding his breath, he eyed the beast heading their way. It was as it slowed its pace and began to descend that Cain got a decent glimpse of the person on its back. Wynter. A breath gusted out of his lungs.
Fuck, she was home. Alive. And right there.
Relief sank into him, wrapped around his bones, and acted like a balm to the jagged edges of his control. His eyes very briefly closed but he snapped them back open, needing to keep his gaze locked on her. Needing to be sure she didn’t disappear again.
The dragon landed smoothly a few feet away. Cain instantly blurred to its side and snatched her from its back, holding her tight, uncaring of the sight and smell of the blood staining her skin and clothes. He exhaled heavily, feeling like he could finally breathe. He opened his mouth to speak, but the right words didn’t come to him.
She hugged him back. “I’m totally gross right now,” she warned, her voice scratchy.
“I don’t care.” He gave a nod of thanks to the dragon shifter, who Azazel then ordered to signal to the other searchers that Wynter had been found. The dragon swiftly took to the sky.
Cain and Wynter stood holding each other in silence for long moments until, without releasing her, he pulled back slightly to take her in. His stomach tightened. She was pale. Looked weak and tired—such a rarity for her. “What happened? Who took you?”
She gave him a grim smile that held a bloodthirsty edge. “Funny story. You’re gonna love it.”
The others gathered around as she relayed what happened.
Lilith’s lips parted. “Shelia as in Ishtar’s aide?”
“One and the same,” Wynter confirmed.
Anger coursing through his system once more, Cain flexed his hand around her nape. “I see.”
“We don’t know that Ishtar had anything to do with it,” Dantalion said to him.
His back teeth locked, Cain pulled in a breath through his nose. “No, we don’t. But we’re about to fucking find out.”
Chapter Thirteen
Wynter followed behind Cain as he threw open the solar room door and barged inside, his attention slamming on Ishtar, who sat on an elaborate, almost throne-like chair. The only other person in the room was one of her aides—inconveniently, it wasn’t Shelia.
The female Ancient shot to her feet, her brow furrowed in both outrage and confusion as not only Wynter and Cain but Azazel, Seth, Dantalion, and Lilith filed inside while another of Ishtar’s aides flapped nervously behind them. Eve—who’d weirdly struggled to look Wynter in the eye—had chosen to head back to Seth’s Keep rather than be part of the confrontation.
“What on Earth do you all think you are doing? I see that the witch has been found.” She sniffed at Cain. “It’s very hypocritical of you to march into my home without waiting for an invitation when you constantly criticize me for . . . Why do you have blood on you?”
“It isn’t mine,” Cain bit out. “Where is Shelia?”
Ishtar bristled at his tone. “Excuse me?”
“Where. Is. She?”
“What business is that of yours?”
He advanced on the female Ancient fast. “If I find out you had anything to do with what happened to Wynter, you are fucking dead.”
Ishtar’s back snapped straight. “What am I being accused of now?”
Wynter stepped forward. “Your aide teleported me to a spot not far from Aeon to deliver me to four vampires from Devil’s Cradle—they’d decided it would be a fine idea to cash in on the bounty. Which it wasn’t. They’re dead now. But Shelia? She teleported away before I had the chance to deal with her. So she’s alive. And that’s a problem for me.”
“And for me,” said Cain. “Where is she?”
“Shelia would not do this,” stated Ishtar. “It doesn’t even make sense that she would be involved. The only incentive she would have to betray you would be to enjoy the bounty. Handing the witch over to vampires for them to enjoy it, well, there would be nothing in it for her.”
“But there would be something in it for you,” Lilith cut in. “Wynter would finally be gone . . . just as you have wanted from the very beginning.”
Ishtar’s face went crimson with anger. “I had nothing to do with whatever happened to her. And I find it difficult to believe that Shelia did.”
“Then you’ll have no problem calling her here to question her, will you?” asked Dantalion, his tone smooth but dangerous.
Ishtar made a haughty sound. “Fine.” She cut her gaze to the aide who’d hurried after them when they barged into the solar room. “Have Shelia brought to me now. Do not tell her what this is about. I will know if you did.”