Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
He lets out a chuckle and shakes his head while leaning back against the counter.
I watch as he drinks some of the coffee, then ask, “How old was Ares when he and Adeth turned dark?”
“It happened after my mother’s death,” Raighne answers. “Give or take forty years ago.”
I blink at Raighne as I try to comprehend what he’s saying. “Forty years? How old is Ares?”
“One hundred and ninety-eight.”
“What?” I gasp, my eyebrows flying into my hairline. Then, another thought pops into my mind. “How old are you?”
Raighne chuckles again, the sound hot. “Do you really want to know?”
My head bobs up and down, my coffee and toast totally forgotten in my hands.
“Two hundred and four.”
“Holy shit,” I gasp. “But you don’t look older than thirty.”
“As immortals, we age differently. Janak is over five thousand years old.”
“It’s way too fucking early to hear this shit,” Dylan mutters as he comes into the kitchen.
Still processing what Raighne told me, I just smile at Dylan as he fixes himself a cup of black coffee.
“You okay?” Raighne asks.
“Yep. Just processing the fact that you’re a hundred and eighty-three years older than me.”
He walks closer to me, and, taking hold of my chin, he forces me to make eye contact with him. With a serious expression that only makes him look even more attractive, he asks, “Is it a problem?”
Shaking my head, I murmur, “No.”
“Good,” he sighs before pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Finish your coffee and toast.”
After everyone’s awake and has had a chance to freshen up, we meet in the living room.
I glance at my chosen ones, then ask, “Why can’t we send them to Vaalbara before collecting the last four?”
“Awo has commanded it,” Brenna answers. “I think it’s so they’ll get to know each other through the worst of times and form a bond.”
“Lucky us,” Jason mutters from where he’s standing beside Sarah.
“Where are we going next?” Griffith asks.
“Nepal,” I say. “Somewhere near Mount Vesuvius.” I suck in a deep breath before I break the bad news to the group. “The volcano is erupting, so we’re heading into a disaster zone.” Concerned for the chosen one’s safety, I say, “Maybe you can all wait here while Raighne and I go with Ares.”
“It’s too risky,” Griffith replies. “It’s better if we don’t separate from each other.”
I sigh, not liking the idea one bit of taking the chosen ones into a disaster area. Looking at Sarah, I say, “If we have to run, Finian and Brenna will help you so you don’t fall behind.”
Sarah nods. “I’m sorry I’m not stronger.”
I quickly shake my head. “Don’t apologize.”
“Is everyone ready?” Griffith asks.
“Sarah needs to take her medicine,” Doug says, and then he heads to the kitchen, followed by Jason and Sarah.
“Everyone has five minutes before we leave,” Griffith announces.
I walk over to Sky to get away from Griffith’s gaze that’s constantly examining me. Never mind the fact that I’m trying to ignore Ares. I might understand him a little better, but I’m far from ready to be friends with him.
“How are you doing?” I ask Sky, who’s standing with Dylan and Matt.
“I’m okay. Matt’s been very supportive since we met,” she smiles timidly and glances at Matt.
“Oh, he has?” I grin at them, then ask, “How did you know I was coming for you before I did?”
“I kind of have psychic abilities. Sometimes, I have dreams about the future. I read tarot cards as a part-time job, but my true love is learning everything about different cultures.”
“That sounds cool,” I say, giving her a friendly smile.
“Can you shimmer twelve of us at once?” I hear Raighne ask Ares in a harsh tone, drawing my attention to them.
Ares nods, and glaring back at Raighne, he answers in the same brisk tone, “It will be tiring, but I can do it.” He lifts his chin an inch as if he’s accepting a challenge.
My eyes dart from Raighne to Ares as Griffith mutters, “Everyone is ready.”
“Form a circle,” Ares orders as his eyes flick over the group.
I take Raighne’s hand, and when Ares moves closer to me, I inch right against Raighne’s side.
Ares’ eyes lock with mine, then he says, “I need to touch you to see where we’re going.”
Shit.
I swallow hard, and a cold sweat breaks out over my body.
“Touch her and die,” Raighne growls.
Ares gives Raighne an impatient look. “How do you expect me to see where we’re going?”
“I’ll show you,” Raighne replies, a threatening wave of anger coming off him.
“Fine.” Ares moves to stand next to Raighne, and giving him a derisive look, he takes hold of Raighne’s wrist. “Show me where to go, Alchera.”
I suck in a deep breath then bring up the area I saw in my vision.
“Got it,” Raighne murmurs to me.
“Everyone take hands and don’t let go of the person next to you. If you break the link, you’ll break my concentration,” Ares instructs.