Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Despite the staggering level of violence, they moved with surprising grace as if they enjoyed the challenge. Relished it even. And they were fast. Unnaturally so. Each seemed to predict what the other would do, a split second before he did it.
Not once did Callen act out of control, and I began to chill. To enjoy the spectacle of it all. I’d only ever seen a fight like this in movies, with the help of special effects. It was gruesome but without the taint of fear, it was also kind of hot, with a show of rippling of muscles and utter brute strength. Nothing stopped or slowed my husband. He overcame any blow and delivered double in payback, all while glistening with sweat.
Thunder boomed with more force, and a smattering of icy raindrops fell. The battle raged on, even when the sky opened up and deluged us, soaking me in a blink. My teeth chattered from the cold.
“He’s proven himself already,” I remarked. “Either give me some pom-poms so I can cheer him on the right way, or let’s blow a whistle and call it good.”
Jamie scowled at me. “I don’t know what you hope to gain, but this game you’re playing with him must stop. When you betray him, and you will, you’ll break him, and none of us will be able to put his pieces back together this time.”
The animosity in his voice raised my hackles. “I’ve been good to him since the wedding, and not even you can argue that fact.” Though I did know a traitor had infiltrated Callen’s team, and I’d said nothing. To protect myself, yes. But. In doing so, how many others did I leave in jeopardy? Everyone? No one? Callen claimed Tavish cared about me alone. “Mostly good.”
A sword cut through Callen’s shoulder, and I winced. Winced again when he sank deeper into the blade to glide closer to Malachi—on purpose. He plunged a dagger into the other man’s eyes, a quick one, two jab, just as lightning flashed, highlighting each blow. I cringed as blood poured from the sockets. Of course, that was the exact moment Callen happened to glance my way, checking to see if I observed him.
I blew him a kiss, and it would’ve been sexy, I was sure, if my teeth chattering hadn’t worsened.
When he noticed my frozen condition, he frowned.
Malachi stabbed him in the gut, and I flinched.
Callen refocused on his challenger, and turned up the heat, getting down and dirty. Filthy even. Soon the soldiers were cheering the absolute depravity of the combat.Ultimately, Callen won the fight, leaving the other king gasping in the dirt as he stalked over and swept me into his arms. Rain washed away the blood and gore smearing him as he carried me toward the car.
“You did it,” I praised. “You kept calm.” I wasn’t sure how he’d done it, but I was too cold to think up a possible explanation. “I’m so proud of you,” I murmured, snuggling deeper into his warmth. Despite the violence he’d wrought against the other man, I felt no fear.
He stopped long enough to tip my head up with his index finger and search my face. “Since when does the vicious Isobel not demand more blood while viewing a battle?”
Had she really? Well, enough of that. “Since today. I’d rather see people happy than bleeding, and I won’t apologize for it. I don’t care how much it embarrasses you.”
Did he just snort?
“Not caring about the feelings of your king is a serious offense.” He tsk-tsked. “A punishable offense.” He couldn’t hide the relish in his tone.
I slapped his shoulder. Or rather, I meant to. I somehow ended up slipping my palm up his chest and toying with locks of his hair. “You aren’t concerned by my seeming fragility?”
He kept his gaze straight ahead. “You are softer than I ever realized, and I find I am…glad of it.”
Was he beginning to see me, Elizabeth? Did he like me? My heart leaped, as if jolted awake from a long slumber.
A wolf howled in the distance, a menacing sound drenched with malice, ruining the moment. Callen’s peaceable exterior vanished in an instant, his muscles tensing and bulging. New aggression pulsed from him.
A second later, total chaos erupted.
Chapter
Fifteen
Team Berserk: Slaying Challenges Together
From A Beginner’s Guide to Berserker Bliss
Author Unknown
Wolves arrived en mass, running and launching at soldiers. Grunts and growls blended. Fights broke out in every direction. Men against beasts. Or rather, beasts against beasts. Each warrior but Callen changed.
Shock punched me, delivering one internal strike after another. Finally, I witnessed a berserker’s alteration, times forty! Rings of azure fire overtook the irises of Callen’s warriors. Men who doubled in size. Muscles bulged, tearing their clothing. Sharp claws grew from their nail beds. A blue glow framed them, while a red glow framed Malachi’s soldiers.