Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
“Oh, you’re such a tease! But that’s okay. We need lube anyway, and we don’t have any,” Hawk mutters, chuckling to himself as we reach a crossing and turn right, headed toward the rising sun. “So now a quick dip to Boston, and then we’re out of here. For good.”
I clear my throat. “I was thinking actually… I have seen reports on television about this object called the Sunwolf Crown. Though it’s probably in the human realm under a different name—that’s irrelevant. But if it’s the real thing, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be, finding it could mean the end of my banishment. It used to belong to the son of the first Lord of the Nocturne Court. I do not wish to bore you with the details of its use, but if I brought it to Lord Kyran, he’d have to be grateful enough to restore me to my former position at court. It was stolen just two weeks ago from a place called New York City. Do you know of it? Could we go search—”
“No,” Hawk tells me with finality to his voice, even though his gaze is almost apologetic. “I am already taking a huge risk by driving you to that blacksmith. If he’s the only person who can take off that thing around your neck, then so be it, but I can’t go back to prison and spend the rest of my days in a cage.”
I’m disappointed, but I nod. He knows his world better, so if he says it’s too risky, I have to trust him. I raise his massive hand to my lips and kiss it. “You will not. I will not allow it. You will become my Dark Companion, we will go to the Nocturne Court together, and see what we can gain thanks to the power of your shadow. Lord Kyran will not be able to dismiss such an asset.”
Hawk swallows, watching me for the longest time. But then his hand squeezes mine, and the car speeds up, carrying us toward destiny.
Chapter 13
Hawk
It’s been a long day.
Such. A Long. Stressful day. Driving into Boston in broad daylight would have been damn risky, so we waited it out, moving to the south of the city along small roads. I did get a bit of shut-eye after we hid the car in a woodland, with Sylvan keeping watch, but it wasn’t nearly enough after already missing sleep on the night my useless fucking family tried to part us.
My boy might be a bit crazy, or a tad too invested in Dungeons and Dragons, but I feel protective of him. While many would have called my decision to linger in the very area where I’m known as a fugitive as suicidal, I can’t say no to his pleading eyes.
I don’t know what kind of metal that collar is made of, but my brothers couldn’t get it off, and the sparks they accidentally created left several purple burns on Sylvan’s skin, scattered over his throat like dark stars in a faraway galaxy.
I considered telling him that, but he doesn’t seem to be that much into sci-fi, so I settle on calling them pretty, which seems to ease his anguish about his perfect skin being ruined.
In any case, if that grimsmith guy can free him, I’ll help make that happen. I even know the name of the bar he’s supposed to frequent, but I’ve only been there once, many years ago. It’s somewhere on the outskirts of town, but the exact location keeps eluding me.
“Hawk! Look!” Sylvan exclaims and squeezes my forearm. It’s warm, but I’m stuck in a hoodie to hide my tats. It wouldn’t matter that much, but I mourn every missed opportunity for his soft fingers on my skin.
Soon, I tell myself. Soon.
I hoped he spotted the bar, but instead, I stare up at a massive billboard advertising the Biggest Pretzels in Massachusetts!
“Are you… hungry?” I ask, wondering if I’m stupid or just self-destructive. I should not be in Boston. I should not be thinking about getting him pretzels. I shouldn’t have even hit on him in the first place. And yet, here I am, basking in the glow of his attention.
I’ve never even seen a boy this fine.
Any time tears glisten in his beautiful blue eyes, I feel this primal need to do anything I can to stop them from falling down his cheeks. Seeing him squirming in pain from the wound on his leg had me on the verge of going ballistic on my whole family. The only thing that stopped me was that I wanted to take care of his leg and get us out of there.
“I would very much love to try them. Can we afford to? I have some money left, and soon enough, we will not need human coin anyway…” His growing smile lights up the car, and my heart beats faster.