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)
“In the second vision, you were in your kitchen. You had two beautiful gray birds with you. The love I felt in the visions was overwhelming, Jason. It’s what makes you so special.”
When he lowers his head and lets out a shaky breath, my heart squeezes for him.
I get up, and crossing the living room, I take a seat beside Jason. Needing to comfort him, I place my hand on his back.
He clears his throat, and with a thick voice, he says, “When I woke up this morning, they were all gone. The birds and fish. My dogs…they’re gone. Even poor Siege, who’s dying of cancer. Who would take a sick, old dog?”
He covers his face, and his body shudders as he cries for his animals.
I scoot closer to him, feeling an echo of his sadness in my chest.
This is the heartache I didn’t want any of my chosen ones to experience.
“They’re my life,” he mutters. “I just want them back.”
He pulls away from me and drops his face into his hands, a heartbreaking sob shuddering through his body.
“Your animals are waiting for you safely on Vaalbara,” Raighne says.
Jason’s head snaps up, and my eyes dart to Raighne as I say, “You couldn’t have told us this sooner? The man is in pain, Raighne. Your timing sucks.”
“Vaal…what?” Jason mutters next to me. He looks from Raighne to me like we’re crazy.
“I’m here to take you to Vaalbara. It’s a new Earth.” I pause for a moment, then break the news to him as best I can. “All hell is about to break loose. It’s the end of this world, and you have been chosen to be saved. There’s a new Earth waiting for you, and your animals have already been taken there.”
I watch him cautiously, waiting for a response.
I’d lose my shit if someone dropped such a crazy bomb on my ass.
“It’s the end of the world?” he asks, his face masked with disbelief.
“Yeah, pretty much.” I nod, folding my hands on my lap. I look down and start to fidget, not knowing what else to do.
“There’s a new Earth?” Jason asks, scooting to the edge of the couch.
“Yes.” I really hope he’s starting to understand. I don’t know what else to tell him.
“My animals are there?” His voice pitches.
“Yeah, they’re safely there,” I assure him.
His tone is deceptively calm when he says, “You took my animals.”
“Ye–”
Suddenly, Jason lunges at me, and his fingers wrap brutally around my neck. I’m shoved back onto the couch, unable to gasp as he chokes the living hell out of me.
“You took my animals?! You dare touch my children and then break into my house! I’m going to fucking kill you,” he hisses in my face.
I gasp for a breath of air and grab his arms.
When I try to focus on Jason, all I see is Ares, and the horror I suffered at his hands bleeds through my soul.
I start hitting him as hard as I can while bucking my body wildly.
The next moment, I’m hitting the air as Raighne yanks Jason off me.
I grab at my throat and scramble away from them until my back hits the wall. I keep sucking in huge gulps of air, trying to ease the burn in my lungs while my ribs are aching something fierce.
I can breathe. I’m safe. There’s no Adeth. No Ares. Raighne’s here.
Jason drops to his knees with Raighne standing next to him, ready to restrain him if he has to.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve never laid hands on a woman before. I just want them back. Give by animals back,” Jason begs.
I turn my face away from them, and I feel the same anger pulse through me that I felt the day my dad died. Before I can stop the words, they burn over my lips. “I chose your animals over my father.” I suck in a desperate breath, and a sob sputters from me as I shout, “My father died so your animals could live.”
Jason glances up at me.” What?”
“I was told I could have one request, and I used it to save your precious animals,” I spit at him. “I didn’t save my father and let him die. I didn’t know any better. I didn’t understand. I begged for your damned animals. Obviously, my wish was granted.” I glare at him. “It was my dad’s funeral today, yet I’m standing here trying to save your life, so I fucking suggest you get your ass up and pull yourself together. I have nine other people to save before I can take you all to Vaalbara, and we’re running out of time.”
The air is thick with tension as Jason climbs to his feet. His eyes lock with mine, and we stare at each other.
I have no idea what I’ll do if Jason keeps losing his shit. We’ll have to forcefully drag him to wherever the next chosen one is.