Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
When Alchera slams into my chest, Storm’s features are tense as he glances around us.
“What’s wrong?” Roark asks, also checking the area for any sign of danger as River moves closer to him.
Everyone’s on guard from my irrational behavior.
Fuck. I screwed up.
I let go of Alchera, who’s staring at me with wide eyes and parted lips.
Not knowing how to explain myself, I shake my head and mutter, “My mistake.”
Walking away, anger pours into my chest, and only when I’m out of hearing distance from the others do I snap at myself, “What the hell was that?”
I suck in a deep breath, and feeling the intense jealousy burning in my veins, I shake my head.
I have to get my shit together where Alchera’s concerned.
But it’s hard caring about her and keeping romantic feelings out of the picture.
Especially when she’s taking everything so well and getting stronger by the day. Instead of hating us for what we did to her, she’s moved on and tried her best to meet every high standard that’s been thrown her way.
It’s earned my respect and that of everyone else.
I turn around and watch as she gets back to training.
And by Awo, she’s so fucking beautiful.
With her body becoming more toned, it’s hard not to notice her curves. I’m actually relieved she refuses to wear skirts and insists on long pants.
With my heart pounding in my chest and my emotions for Alchera growing by the second, it’s hard to shove it all to the back of my mind so I can focus on my job as her guardian.
Alchera
Things have been both good and weird.
Good, because training has been going really well, and I’ve grown closer to Roark. It’s incredible having an older brother, and I’ve loved getting to know him better.
My friendship with Fleur has deepened, and for the first time in my life, I have a friend I can gossip with. Spending time with her is always fun, and I’ve had a front-row seat to her and River falling in love.
A smile curves my lips when I think of their blossoming relationship, but then my thoughts turn to Raighne, and my heart clenches painfully.
With every passing day, he’s putting more distance between us. He’s downright grumpy most of the time, and it’s starting to get to me.
I have no idea what I’ve done to upset him.
Lost in my thoughts, I stare at the bag on my bed.
“You’re not done packing?” Raighne’s voice rumbles behind me. “Everyone already left for the desert.”
“I’m packing,” I mutter as I shove a pair of pants into the bag.
“You have ten minutes,” he orders. “Bring only the essentials.”
When he stalks out of the room, my heart hurts, and I let out a heavy sigh.
I do as I’m told and hurry to get everything into the backpack so I don’t upset him even more.
I almost forget the most important item of all and squeeze one of my pillows into the bag.
If I’m sleeping out in the desert, I want my favorite pillow for comfort.
“Alchera, are you ready to go?” Fleur calls.
“Yeah, I’ve just finished packing.” I shrug the strap of the bag over my shoulder and head into the living room.
“I came to give you this.” She holds out a little brown vial to me.
“What is it?” I ask as I take it from her.
“I made you an elixir. It will give you clarity of mind when you’re tired and discouraged, seeing as you won’t have my awesomeness there to cheer you up.”
“What do you know that I don’t?” I mutter as I tuck the vial into my bag.
“Nothing.”
“I wish you could come,” I say as I pull her into a tight hug. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you, too.” Her voice sounds sad, and it makes me hold her a few seconds longer.
“Alchera,” Raighne grumbles from outside.
I let go of my friend, and when I hurry out of the tent, it’s to see Raighne sitting on a massive black horse.
Crap, I’ve never been on a horse.
I glance around and not seeing another horse, I’m not sure what to do.
“Come,” Raighne orders.
Oh, just my luck, we’re sharing a horse.
I walk closer, not sure how I’m going to get on the beast.
Raighne takes my backpack and fastens it to the side of the saddle, then reaches down to me.
Reluctantly, I place my hand in this, and the next second I fly up, and my butt hits the horse’s back hard. Sitting sideways on the horse, I grab hold of Raighne’s shirt so I don’t fall off while shooting him a glare.
“Dammit,” I hiss at him. “You don’t have to manhandle me.”
“The others have already left, and we need to catch up,” he mutters, then he digs his heels into the horse’s sides.
When the beast sets off at a fast gallop, I let out a shriek and grab hold of Raighne.