Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“Have we got Aurelia in there anywhere?” he called out.
Nyfain roared overhead. Alexander flinched, looking up.
“If those dragons pop off, Weston dies,” he shouted. “I’m looking for Aurelia.”
“No!” Weston called out across the water. He tried to raise his hands. Pain radiated through his body. “No, Aurelia, don’t show yourself. Run, baby! Let them have me. You stay safe!”
Flames danced in my memories.
Run, Aurelia. Save yourself. My mom’s voice. Don’t look back.
Never again.
Never again would I flee and leave a loved one. Either we got out together, or not at all.
Besides, this was my fight, not his. His connection to me had dragged him into this. I would not let him take the fall for my past.
“Shift,” I told my wolf.
She wasted no time, and I straightened from my crouch, staring at Alexander. I wasn’t helpless anymore. I wasn’t alone. I would not let him dominate me. Those days were over.
“Hello again,” I said, strangely calm while burning with hatred. “What brings you to my new home?”
His eyes moved over me slowly, taking in my nudity. A sensation like ants skittered across my skin, sickening me. I didn’t let it show in my expression; I was practiced at hiding feelings from him.
“I’m really going to enjoy you,” he said, his meaning clear.
“I doubt that very much. What do you want?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You. Tell those wolves to stand down, tell the dragons to bugger off, and get in this boat.”
I looked around incredulously, catching sight of someone suspended in what looked like a harness from one of the dragons flying our way. No, from Vemar; I recognized his dragon’s form. I couldn’t tell whom he was carrying, though.
“Are you kidding?” I asked, pointing at the sky. “Do you really think the dragons are going to turn and go about their day while you have their shifter commander on that ship?”
“They will if they want to stay airborne. Granny isn’t stupid, Aurelia. She came with magic. Now get in this boat or she pokes another hole in your mate.”
They’d done their due diligence. Their people had reported on our milestones. They clearly knew about the kingdom and its rulers. They must know what dragons were capable of. I didn’t know what kind of magic they might have, but I did know Granny’s confidence was never false. If she was here, it was because she thought she could get away with it, which meant she’d planned the situation carefully.
I looked at Weston, knowing he’d hate this. But there really was no other choice.
“No, Aurelia,” he said, his voice filled with pain. “Please, baby, no. Go, please. Let them have me.”
“He’s delusional,” my wolf said. I had to agree.
“Yeah, fine,” I told Alexander. I walked forward as the guy with him started rowing toward the dock.
“Aurelia, wait.” Nova and Dante had shifted. Nova put out her hand. “Let’s not be hasty. The beta does not want you going into that boat.”
“I will not run while another person I love is killed,” I ground out, watching Alexander draw closer.
“Very touching,” he said, bumping against one of the pillars. “Come on. Get in.”
I did as he said, sitting several wooden seats back from him, narrowing my eyes at his leer.
“She’s not very pleased with you,” Alexander said as the man rowed us out toward the ship. “She can understand taking on a powerful mate instead of trying to escape. Why wouldn’t you go digging for a little gold, right? You got to see the world for the first time and quickly learned what you need to survive in it. That makes sense. But using your trade to try to push her out of the market? Did you really think she was going to let you get away with that?”
“She intended to take me before that happened,” I replied.
“Yes, she did. She always intended to get you back. But now she’s pissed—that was my point. And you heal quickly now. I’m going to really enjoy beating you to within an inch of your life.”
“And I’m going to enjoy watching my mate kill you violently. I’d do it myself, but I’m going to let it be a present for him.”
He snickered. “Your mate is going to spend his lifetime in a cage. Consider him your new encouragement to perform.”
A wave of fear swept over me, but I didn’t let it show.
“So you think all you have to do is sail away and that’ll be it?” I asked, watching the ship as we drew near. “Once we’re gone from these shores it’s over? No one will come for us?”
“Oh, I’m sure they will. But as they proved during their last trek into our kingdom, they won’t have the first clue where to find us. We’re not going back to that piece-of-shit, out-of-the-way village. No one will ever hear from you again.”