Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“It’s Arizona, close to the Mexican border. Had to bring us farther out than I expected.” Lake was on his knees, head lolling as he spoke barely above a whisper.
Xavier knelt in front of Lake, murmuring something—probably a spell. He didn’t have the power to heal like their elf, Alaric, but he did have a few spells that helped with things like energy. After a couple of moments, Lake looked a little better. Not as pale and limp.
“I can’t help from here on. I’m sorry, Callan.” Lake rubbed his temples. “I’ll have to stay here and rebuild my magic so I can take everyone home.”
“Thank you for bringing us here. I understand.” Callan squinted, trying to spot some kind of building where Lonnie could have been taken.
Lake pointed. “They’re that way. Small house right in the middle of this desert.”
Callan barely waited for him to stop speaking, shooting out that direction. All he knew was he had to get to Lonnie, that he never should have failed to keep him safe. Clumps of still-drying sand flew up beneath his boots as his feet pounded the packed earth. The others ran alongside him. Moonlight lit the way, the scent on the air sweet and earthy from the moisture on the plants and ground. He had no idea what they would do when they found Lonnie. Roman could just disappear with him again. He had only traveled with one, so his power would still be strong. But Xavier could stop him from warping if he got close enough. Callan could only hope that’s what would happen.
A small cabin appeared in the distance, and Callan picked up his pace, having to skirt prickly bushes and jump cacti. He could only hope the others kept up. His demon instincts were in a full-blown uproar with his mate in danger, mind spinning with the different scenarios that could play out. He did know one thing—he was going to kill Roman Brentwood. He didn’t care that Roman had once been Xavier’s friend.
They stopped a few yards from the cabin, and he looked at Xavier, who’d gone still and closed his eyes. Waiting was killing him, but he forced himself to be patient because the sorcerer, the strongest one he’d ever known, would be able to sense more than they could see.
Xavier opened his eyes. “We have to hurry. He’s trying to ward the house, but right now the wards are still weak, and I can break them.” He held up his hands, then looked at Callan. “When I say go, run a straight path to the front door, and do not hesitate.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lonnie
This insane wizard hadn’t even tied him up. Just zapped them in the worst possible way to someplace totally unfamiliar. And by zapped, Lonnie meant he’d been spun and stretched in what turned out to be seconds, but felt like much longer. It had left him completely disoriented and slumped on the wooden floor.
“They’re going to follow,” Roman said as he crouched in front of him and tucked some of Lonnie’s hair behind his ears. His touch was gentle, like he cared, and all Lonnie could do was blink through blurry eyes at him. Once he came into focus, Lonnie was surprised. This preternatural didn’t seem scary at all. He had movie star good looks with light blond hair and green eyes, his features softened with affection. “I have to get wards in place to keep them out. Then I’ll take you somewhere they can’t find us. We can finally be together again.”
“Again?” Lonnie frowned. “I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
“We were together in your past life. I got curious after we started chatting online and popped in to see what you looked like. Imagine my shock when I realized who you are. I’ve missed you so much, Greg.”
Yep, totally insane. “I’m not Greg,” Lonnie insisted.
“But you are. Look.” Roman pulled a folded photo from his pocket and opened it for Lonnie.
It was an old, black-and-white picture of a man who looked eerily like him, wearing cuffed jeans and an open black button-down over a white T-shirt. Prickling alarm brushed over the surface of his skin. The guy could have been his identical twin, down to the shoulder-length hair.
Roman ran his finger over the image. “I couldn’t believe it was you, but I started following you, and there were too many similarities to ignore. Even your hair is the same color and length.” He gave a nostalgic chuckle. “He got a lot of shit from people back in the fifties with that hair. I loved it, though.”
The mix of pronouns only cemented Lonnie’s fear that this wizard wasn’t playing with a full deck. “But you obviously know we’re not the same person,” Lonnie couldn’t help but point out.
Roman lifted his eyebrows. “You’re reincarnated, but I know a spell to bring back your memories. You loved me so much and you’ll remember that then.” His brows drew down. “But you should have noticed me. Should have remembered me.” Lips curling into a vicious snarl, he spat out, “And you should not have been fucking that demon.”