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)
“Finally,” Storm calls out. “What took you so long?”
Raighne lets go of me, his features drawn tight as if he’s angry.
When he starts to walk away, the words burst from me. “Why do you do that? What do I do wrong that upsets you so much?”
He just shakes his head. “Nothing, Alchera.” He points toward Storm. “Don’t keep your friend waiting.”
I stand like a confused idiot and watch him stalk away.
“Everyone gather closer,” Roark calls out.
Letting out a sigh, I join the group, counting ten people in total.
Seeing Brenna and Finian, my heart sinks.
There’s a man and woman who look around the same age as me. But with everyone being immortal, I can’t tell for sure how old they are.
Where the woman has silver hair, the man’s is golden. They look like brother and sister.
When Finian walks closer to me, I’m a little surprised.
“Peace be, Alchera. I am Finian, Brenna’s guardian. We didn’t get to officially meet the last time.”
No shit.
“Don’t be rude to my brother,” Raighne’s voice suddenly sounds in my mind.
“What the hell?” I gasp, a wave of shock rippling over my body.
Now many things have startled the hell out of me, and there have been times I’ve wanted to pee my pants since arriving on Vaalbara, but hearing Raighne in my mind takes the cake.
Finian looks at me with confusion in his eyes.
“Sorry, I just heard Raighne in my mind for the first time.”
Finian nods, clearly understanding my crazy talk. “You’ll get used to it.”
Yeah, I don’t think so.
He pats me on the shoulder before walking back to where Brenna’s standing.
Telepathy? Sharing of feelings and hearing my thoughts?
It’s all too much.
Even with all the open space of sand and rocks around me, I start to feel claustrophobic.
“Peace be, Princess,” a soft voice says behind me.
When I turn around, I get a closer look at the woman with silver hair. Her eyes are dark silver, and never in my life have I seen skin as white as hers.
“Hi,” I say, forcing a smile to my lips.
“I’m Luna,” She points to the guy with the golden hair. “And that’s my twin brother, Lucius.”
“Are you also here to train?” I ask.
She nods.
Feeling curious, I ask, “What kind of talents do you have?”
“Nothing as important as yours,” she chuckles. “My talent is to control moonlight. I’m here to find out what I can do with it.”
I notice her brother walking toward us.
“Lucius, come. Let me introduce you,” she says, her smile growing wider.
I see the love she has for her brother as she talks to him, and it makes me relax even more.
Suddenly, one hell of an intense pain rushes through me, forcing me down. My knees hit the ground hard, and I dig my fingers into the hot sand.
Jesus.
It feels as if my body is being ripped to shreds.
“Alchera!” I hear Raighne call out, but he sounds miles away.
Images start to flash through my mind, and I’m unable to hold back the scream as it tears from me while my vision goes black.
Adeth disappears, and relief washes over me.
I can still feel her nails digging into my cheek and the blood trickling down to my jaw.
My wrists are raw, where they're tied to a rope hanging from the ceiling.
I can’t take much more of this.
Ares begins to advance on me, and as he pulls his arm back, I shut my eyes tightly.
All the pain is getting the better of me. I’m sure I’m dying.
His fist slams so hard into my gut all I can do is gag for air. My body swings from the impact, but it doesn’t stop him.
He grabs me by the hair, and I have no time to recover before the next blow slams into my ribs.
Excruciating pain becomes the sum of my being, and it feels as if every agonizing breath might be my last.
But, the relief of death doesn’t come, only a new level of pain when a whip cracks over my already raw and bloody flesh.
Coming too, a sob escapes me, then I whimper, “It hurts.”
Arms are holding me tightly, and I feel warmth flood my body, chasing away the chill and pain left behind by the vision.
Feeling sick, I push against Raighne and manage to turn to the side before I vomit whatever I had to eat earlier in the day.
My body convulses horribly, and when I slump back against him, a flask of water appears in front of my face.
“Drink some,” he orders.
With trembling hands, I grip hold of the flask. I take a sip and rinse out my mouth before I drink greedy gulps of the cool water.
I hand the flask back to Raighne, and pressing a hand to my stomach, I try to breathe through the horror left behind by the vision.
I’m going to die an agonizing death.
A sob bursts over my lips, and I quickly cover my mouth with my hand.