Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Maybe if we separate?” she suggested.
Excellent idea. Though I hated to do it, I released her, then flapped my arm and kicked my legs, as if swimming in air. I must look ridiculous, but I didn’t care. As the distance between us widened, we floated to the stone floor. By the time we stood upon the foundation, the bubble of light faded completely. The chamber came back into view, and my jaw nearly unhinged. Oh, Great Dane!
Everyone else laid strewn upon the ground, either unconscious or—No! I rushed to Viktor’s side and pressed two fingers into the hollow of his neck.
Relief washed over me. He was alive and well.
Juniper glanced at Deco before hurrying to Bodi to check him over.
“He still lives,” she called.
How long until everyone woke up? “Let’s get Mommy Dearest and her fiend into the cage.” They might be able to pass through the bars for reasons I didn’t yet know, but they’d have a hard time getting out of their bonds.
We worked together to drag both Valkara and Deco inside a cell, shackled both, and anchored their bonds to the hooks hanging from the ceiling.
When we finished, we looked at each other and grinned at a job well done. I almost threw my arms around Juniper and hated that I couldn’t. What did this mean for our relationship?
I returned to Viktor and patted his cheek. “Wake up, baby. It’s time to celebrate. Your firebrand and her twin saved the day.” No response. I patted with a bit more force. “Pudding pop. Come on now. Wake up and kiss me.”
Again, no response. Apprehension prickled my skin. “Viktor, I mean it. Wake up.”
Juniper stood off to the side, her arms wrapped around her middle, watching. “What do you want me to do?”
I didn’t know. No images flashed over the walls, so this wasn’t a sleep caused by the vargbane root. Plus, no one else had awakened, either.
“Viktor.” I hit him hard enough to jolt.
Still nothing.
A lump grew in my throat. What had we done to everyone?
Valkara’s words whispered through my mind. You think you can win because you haven’t yet read the writing on the wall. It spells doom.
Something about her tone. In the heat of the moment, I’d missed it but now…My gaze flipped to the walls. The scratches I’d believed were tick marks…did they resemble letters?
I popped to my feet and raced over, intensifying my study. When the message breached my understanding, I sucked air between my teeth. On the stone, the Valkara had carved the words:
To awaken all, a twin must fall.
This deed you’ll do, if goodness you eschew.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Brainstorming Battle Plans: When In Doubt, Berserk Out
–HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BERSERKER
By Elizabeth “Elle” Darcy-Bruce
Ipaced for hours, trying to work out a solution in my mind. Juniper paced, too, walking a path next to mine but always in the opposite direction. Over and over, I ran through Valkara’s cryptic message.
To awaken all, a twin must fall.
Obviously, Valkara expected me to sacrifice Juniper in order to awaken Viktor. An act sure to turn me into a shifter.
This deed you’ll do, if goodness you eschew.
As a shifter, I would attack Viktor, just as Deco did. If Valkara told the truth, Viktor would shift, too. One evil act would lead to another.
But I couldn’t leave him in this, this coma.
But I couldn’t harm my beloved Juniper, the other half of me.
But I wasn’t ready to die.
But. But. But. There must be another way.
“What did we even do?” I asked, indicating to those around us, still deep in slumber. Even the ball goers above us must be asleep because no one had invaded our space. Yet.
Juniper wrung her hands together. “I don’t know, but whatever it was, I feel stronger than ever before.”
Yeah, me too. Power crackled in my veins without a drop of rage. It made me uneasy. How was I supposed to contain all this? “Is it simply because we’re together?” We passed each other.
“Should I leave the fortress, putting distance between us?” she asked.
“No,” we bellowed in unison.
Back and forth, back and forth.
She massaged her nape and cast a glance at our prisoners. “You’re certain you want to rouse everyone? The world will be a better place without the Valkara at the helm.” She gazed down at her hands. “And Deco, too, I suppose.”
“If it means Viktor and Bodi wake up, yes.” I wasn’t leaving without them. “I didn’t mean to, I’m not sure how it happened, but I fell in love with Viktor. Bodi is his brother, and he’s growing on me.”
“He seems…nice,” she said with a wince, and I didn’t know if she referenced the king or the prince.
Hmm. I think I just jumped on Team Jodipur. Buniper? Jundi?
Focus! Back and forth, back and forth.
Again and again, my gaze landed on Viktor, and my insides twisted. What if we never spoke again? What if he’d held me for the last time? “Do you believe Valkara told the truth? That I’ll one day shift and kill everyone unless Viktor kills me today?”