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)
“Don’t! It’s me you want to kill!” Zephyr protested.
“Why?” Edward scoffed as he eyed Zephyr suspiciously.
“Biba doesn’t care about power or money. She won’t take that away from Arvo. I’m the one who can,” Zephyr replied as he took a tiny step forward. “I’ll be the one to challenge Arvo and steal away every cent of the Kings’ money from you. Every ounce of power.”
I widened my eyes. He couldn’t possibly be sacrificing his life for me! I wouldn’t allow it. I couldn’t bear the thought of any of them dying for me.
“Zephyr, don’t,” I pleaded as a few tears rolled down my face. I would rather die than have to watch any of them die.
“Shut up,” Edward snapped at me, tightening his grip on my hair.
Zephyr put his hand up, getting Edward to stop.
“Think about it. Who is the real threat in this room?” Zephyr asked.
Edward glared at him.
“So, you’d take her place?” he replied.
Zephyr met my eyes as he stepped closer. The corner of his mouth curled up just slightly in the faintest of smiles.
“In a heartbeat,” he replied without hesitating.
I didn’t think my heart could take this. I was in awe of the three of them and their bravery, but I was also so scared for them. They had walked into the lion’s den, and I wasn’t sure if all of us were going to make it out there alive.
Edward lowered the knife from my neck as he eyed Zephyr. He stepped around me to face Zephyr, tilting his head.
“We always warned our sons not to develop attachments or feelings for others. We told you it would get you killed. Now, I’ll use you as an—”
Before Edward could finish his sentence, Zephyr saw an opportunity to attack and took it. He lunged at Edward, ramming his shoulder into Edward’s stomach to knock the breath out of him. He fell onto his stomach as Edward stumbled back with the knife in his hand. Zephyr planted his hands underneath him, trying to push himself up to scramble away in time, but Edward moved faster.
Sol rushed forward and slammed into Edward before he could reach Zephyr.
Theo ran over to me, hurriedly untying the ropes around my wrists.
“It’s okay. We’re going to get you out of here,” he promised me, fingers quickly untwisting the knots.
I nodded, panicked breaths rushing in and out of me. I looked up to see Sol facing off with Edward, avoiding the knife that Edward kept swinging at him, along with his fist.
Sol was fast, but Edward was quick for his age. Sol mistimed a duck and received a hefty punch to the side of the head that dazed him. He stumbled back, closing his eyes, and looking like his ears were ringing in his head.
“Sol!” Zephyr shouted as he just managed to get to his feet.
Edward buried the knife in Sol’s side, and I didn’t know I screamed until I heard the sound echo off the walls of the catacombs. He yanked the knife out, blood splattering on the rocky ground.
Sol collapsed on his side with a pained grunt, holding his hand against the wound. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining his white shirt.
Edward grinned in victory, tightening his grip on the knife blade. His ego clouded him for a second too long, and he didn’t see Zephyr running at him from the right until he was suddenly shoved sideways. Edward stumbled, trying to maintain his balance, but he tripped regardless. Unable to stop his fall, he collapsed heavily, his head striking rock with a deafening crack.
I stared at Edward’s body with wide eyes, seeing blood pool around his head.
He was dead.
Just like that. For a second, I felt relief, but then I looked over at Sol, seeing him curl up on the ground in pain with Zephyr at his side.
“Sol,” I breathed out as Theo undid the last rope around my ankle. I stumbled toward Sol, my legs feeling wobbly from not being used much. All of the blood around me and adrenaline struck me hard, making me immediately feel lightheaded. By the time I reached Sol, my knees gave out.
Zephyr caught me, pulling me into his arms. He looked over at Theo.
“Grab Sol. We have to get him out of here. It doesn’t look pretty,” he said.
Theo nodded and helped Sol to his feet, tossing Sol’s arm over his shoulders.
Zephyr rose to his feet, carrying me bridal style out of the catacombs. He glanced down at me, looking worried but relieved to finally have me in his arms.
“You’re safe,” he promised me.
He had no idea how good it felt to finally hear those words.
CHAPTER 13
BIBA
Once Zephyr carried me out of the catacombs, I started to feel a little better. Feeling the sunlight on my face and filling my lungs with fresh air made all the difference, and it finally hit me that I was free. They saved me.