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)
Jesus, what if they all reject me? I can’t control ten people who want to beat my ass.
Letting out a tired sigh, I say, “I know you want to see your animals again. You have one of two choices. Either you come with us willingly, or we take you by force. It’s your choice how this plays out.”
God, I don’t want to take Jason by force.
“I’ll see my animals if I go with you?” he asks, his tone still unsure.
“Yes.”
“Where are we going?” he demands.
“I don’t know yet. I’m waiting for the next vision, but you should pack a bag because we could leave at any moment.”
His eyes stay on me for a few seconds before he nods and walks out of the living room.
I rush forward and watch as he heads to a bedroom at the end of the hallway.
“Let me look at your neck,” Raighne mutters as his fingers brush over my throat.
“I’m okay, it’s nothing,” I mutter as I pull away.
Before I can put more distance between us, he grabs hold of my arm, and I’m yanked flush with his solid chest.
His features are carved from stone with anger, but he says nothing as he wraps his fingers around my neck.
When his warmth trickles beneath my skin, I close my eyes and focus hard to keep my walls up so he won’t see into my mind.
“So stubborn,” he grumbles before letting go of me.
I quickly turn away from him, and exhausted because of everything that’s happened to me these past three months, I struggle to fight back the tears.
Swallowing hard, I lift my chin and force myself to suck it up.
Unfortunately, my voice is shaky when I say, “Thanks for the clothes.”
“Brenna chose them,” he murmurs in a much gentler tone.
“They’re here?” I ask with my back still turned to him.
“Yes. They’re waiting outside.”
Jason returns to the living room, looking like he’s ready to go to war.
He’s changed his clothes and has a huge duffle bag in his hand. Taking one look at him, you’d think he’s ready to conquer Mount Everest.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he says, giving me half a smile. “I’m not the weird one around here. I don’t know where you two are taking me or what I'm in for. I want to be prepared.”
“I didn’t say anything,” I mutter, too relieved he’s coming with us and we don’t have to use force.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through my head, driving me straight to my knees. Just as I hit the floor, Raighne’s arms wrap around me.
Chapter 22
Alchera
I’m blinded for a few seconds, and all I can do is hold my head. I can’t make a sound, my jaw’s clenched so tightly from the acute pain.
“Sarah, open your mouth for me, honey. Just a little more,” I hear a man with an Irish accent say, worry and love coating his words.
“That’s it, sis. Just a little more. You’re doing so great. Here’s some water. Swallow for me. That’s it, down the hatch they go.”
I can feel someone holding my head back so the water and pills can go down my throat. I swallow as best I can.
He holds me for a few minutes while wiping beads of sweat from my face with a cool cloth.
“You’re so strong, Sarah. You’ll beat this ugly thing yet. We’ll beat it together.”
It takes all my strength to pry my eyes open as he wipes blood from my nose.
Before my vision can focus on his face, everything goes black.
I open my eyes and feel Raighne’s familiar arms around me.
“Alchera?” His face is a mask of worry as he wipes something from my face, his fingertips coming away bloody.
Shit.
I shake my head lightly and begin to sit up while saying, “The pain isn’t mine.”
When I try to climb to my feet, Raighne pulls me back against his chest. “No, not yet. Your nose is bleeding.”
Jason comes in with some paper towels, asking, “What happened? Is she okay?”
There’s remorse on his face as if he blames himself for what happened.
“I had another vision.” I take a paper towel from Jason and wipe the last of the blood from my nose. “She’s in a lot of pain. Her name is-”
“Don’t tell us about her. We don’t know how far behind us Adeth may be,” Raighne warns me.
My eyes snap to his face. “Adeth is here?”
“We don’t know where she is,” he says. “We just have to be cautious.”
This time, he lets me climb to my feet.
There’s movement by the sliding door, then Brenna and Finian enter the room, giving us questioning looks. It’s weird seeing them in regular clothes, and I don’t know what to say to Brenna. In spite of everything, she must be heartbroken from losing our father.
“Thanks for the clothes,” I mutter.
“Don’t mention it.” Her voice is softer, and she gives me a worried look. “Are you okay?”