Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79726 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79726 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Once he gets to the end of the aisle, the tiles ripple, and the scene changes to follow the figure down a slightly darker hallway and into a room that has a rippling blue mirror in its center. He looks behind him once. And then jumps through the mirror.
Again, the entire mosaic ripples, tiles exploding in a mesmerizing rainbow of colors, as the man-angel in the center clutches the bright white burst of fire to his chest.
And then the entire picture goes white, so white I briefly close my eyes, and when I open them again, the man has landed in a crouch. He still holds the white fire against his chest, but he’s landed on verdant green grass. He stands up triumphantly, lifting the white fire above his head, and his wings flare outwards.
The picture freezes there, and I breathe out. “What did I just see?” I blink, only now realizing Remus’s hand is still around my waist.
I spin and, not wanting to step on the magic mosaic, hurry back around the perimeter of the room to the door.
Remus follows, and once we’re at the small foyer at the top of the stairs, he tilts his head back toward the room. “That was my father’s monument to his proudest moment when he stole the spark of life from the gods so he could become a god himself. When he came here to Earth, he forged his children with the stolen fire, implanting the godspark in each of us.”
He bangs his fist against his chest.
My eyes widen. Well, that answers that. If I believe in a magic floor, anyway. “Oh,” I manage. And then, “Wow.”
“Yes,” he nods down at me and stands a little taller as I look at him. “Wow.”
I shake my head and smack his chest lightly. His, um, bare chest, I remember as my fingertips graze against his skin. “You’re too full of yourself.” I try to turn away from him, but he snatches my hand and holds it there against his chest.
“I feel very full when you are here at my side, Lo-Ren consort.”
Swoon.
Wait, what the hell am I thinking? Not swoon. I’ve made this mistake before, falling for a guy who seems too good to be true. The thing about guys like this is that there’s always a catch. Usually some gigantic red flag that’s been waving in my face the whole time.
Just then, I realize that Remus’s hood has come a little askew. On impulse, I reach up and snatch it off the back of his head.
And yelp in surprise when he bends down to grab the hood back.
“Oh my god!”
Remus immediately lets go of my hand and backs into the corner to hide what I’ve already seen.
“How is there another face on the back of your head?” I squeak out.
“I did not want you to see that yet,” he snaps, not looking as confident for the first time since I’ve met him. He grits his teeth and stretches his neck in a way that looks painful.
“W-what is it?” I ask, hoping I don’t sound judgmental but knowing I’m failing.
Remus pulls a small flask from his pants pocket, takes a sip, then stretches his neck again, settling back with a sigh. When he glances back at me, he looks more settled.
“Meet my twin brother, Romulus,” Remus says calmly.
“Your tw— Why isn’t he moving?!” My heart thumps hard, the fairytale-like wonder of everything falling away as I’m washed with a dose of the reality of what’s just happened. I’ve essentially been kidnapped by some god-like creature with wings and—and two faces! I mean, yes, I might’ve volunteered to be kidnapped, but that’s neither here nor there at the moment!
“He’s sleeping.”
“Does he ever wake up?” I walk forward and grab Remus’s shoulders, trying to turn him around so I can get a better look at the other face, but he blocks me by keeping his chest toward me. His hands cinch me around the waist, and astonishingly, he lifts me and deposits me several feet back.
I make a startled noise as my bicycling feet meet the stone again. He doesn’t let go of my waist, and just like earlier, my heart speeds up at his closeness. I blink, trying to clear away the haze of hormones his nearness stirs up. Wasn’t I just telling myself it was time to come back to my senses? Not swoon!
“He’s not going to wake up for a long time,” Remus says.
When I inhale and ask, “What does that mean?” all I smell is him. Maleness and clean musk and good lord, it’s been too long since I’ve been touched by a man.
Remus only grins, a wild glint back in his eyes. His hands linger at my waist, squeezing slightly, and I swat at them. I’m very aware of the feel of him squeezing a little more before he lets go.