Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
I walked out of my room and through Stormcloud’s hallways, avoiding people as much as possible and moving at a brisk pace. Luckily, I didn’t see Arvo. If anyone was going to recognize me even with a disguise on, it would be him.
When I stepped outside of Stormcloud’s property, I picked up the pace. Biba was on borrowed time, and I knew I would have to waste some time convincing Theo and Sol to team up with me. This wasn’t a time to reflect on our rivalry. We needed to save the girl we cared about before Arvo’s father did what he wanted with her.
I headed into the woods and followed the trail my private investigator took to deliver the satcom phone to Theo and Sol. I was lucky to have even found them, but money could accomplish anything. Then again, I wasn’t sure Edward would let Biba go even if Schmidt gave up the Kings’ money. He was that twisted, as I had seen in his son.
When I spotted the cabin, I strode right up to the door and knocked urgently. I didn’t have time to waste. After a minute, the door creaked open and Theo peered through the crack. The eye I saw immediately widened at the sight of me.
“What are you doing here?” Theo asked as he opened the door up the rest of the way.
Sol stormed over from the kitchen and planted his hand on the doorframe, blocking me from entering.
“Well?” he asked me, hopping on Theo’s question.
“My father just called me. He needs help getting him and Biba away from Edward,” I explained to them, reining in my anger. I wanted to shove my way into the cabin, but if they were going to be so damn cautious, I would maintain some level of patience to get them on my side.
“Your father asked you for help?” Sol questioned me with a look of disbelief on his face. He knew how my father was.
I nodded.
“That’s how I know he’s serious. Edward has gone insane… and Arvo has taken control of the Kings,” I admitted. I didn’t tell my father that because he would just be disappointed in me, but it also wasn’t the top issue for me. I cared more about Biba’s safety than my position among the Kings. Power could be reclaimed. Lives couldn’t.
“You gave up control?” Theo asked.
I lowered my eyes and nodded. I hated admitting that. I didn’t like feeling weak and outplayed, but that was where I was at. I lost Biba, and everything started crumbling. I had to get her back, to remind myself of what to fight for.
“It doesn’t matter, though. We need to save Biba because it sounds like Edward is prepared to kill her soon,” I told them. There’s no telling what he already did to her, and knowing how twisted he was, the thought pissed me off.
Theo and Sol exchanged a wary look. Sol then locked eyes with me.
“It’s hard to trust you, Zephyr. You could be tricking us and working for Arvo,” he pointed out.
I rolled my eyes. I was tired of trying to lead a rescue effort and being shot down by the ones who I needed help from. They were the only ones who I could turn to, and if Biba had a chance of being rescued, they had to work with me.
“I don’t give a shit if you trust me or not. In order for us to go and rescue Biba, we need to band together!” I snapped at him. “My father said only me coming wouldn’t be enough.”
“Wait. You know where they’re keeping Biba?” Theo asked, breaking into the tense moment.
I nodded, patting my phone in my pocket. My father texted me the location on the way to the cabin.
“She’s being kept in the catacombs under the mountains. It’s an old hiding place the Kings used to use,” I explained to them. “It’s just my father and Edward there right now.”
Theo stepped forward, acting like he was about to burst out of the cabin.
“Then, let’s go!” he said.
I pushed him back, not letting him out.
“No, if we storm in, we risk Biba getting hurt. We need to come up with a plan and let my father know. He’ll be able to tell us when the right time to strike is,” I told them firmly. We had to be smart about this. If we acted rashly and violently, we were no better than Arvo and his father.
Theo took a step back, looking annoyed by my interference, but he nodded his understanding.
“Fine. Let’s come up with a plan. Quickly,” he said as he looked between Sol and me. “Biba needs us.”
Sol nodded and stepped back, allowing me to walk into the cabin and shut the door behind me. He crossed his arms, eyeing me.
“You really aren’t working with Arvo? I thought you guys were buddies,” he commented, still seeming suspicious. Our trust for each other was still faint, but it was enough to partner up for Biba’s sake.