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)
Raighne shakes his head at me and is just about to say something back when the air starts to vibrate around us.
In a flash, Raighne grabs hold of me, and his arms form steel bands around my body.
“What’s happening?” I gasp.
“Awo,” Raighne breathes, sounding shocked out of his everloving mind.
“I’ve given the orders,” a voice thunders through the room, making me flinch closer to Raighne.
Oh shit.
It feels like a force is trying to make me submit, but somehow, I manage to turn around and face Awo.
I haven’t survived Adeth and Ares only to back down now.
All I see is a bright light, with thousands of glimmering orbs making up a whole. They seem to be multiplying and lessening by the second.
“Ask the question burning inside of you, for this chance will only come once,” the being orders.
I stand stunned for a moment, not able to find any train of thought. His voice is so beautifully thunderous, leaving me in a state of astonishment.
I have to dig deep, looking for the courage I know is inside my soul.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips, then my voice quivers as I say, “Please, bring Jason’s animals to Vaalbara. He loves those animals more than his own life. He’s coming to a foreign world, and he needs them. We can’t just rip the chosen ten away from everything they love.”
My words dry up, and I don’t know what else to say.
For a few tense seconds, I can only feel the vibrations in the air, then Awo says, “You get one request. Only one. And you use it to plead for a human’s earthly animals? You’re in so much pain and have a quest ahead of you that will require all the strength you can gather, yet you think of another. You have no past and are in doubt of your future. Your father faces certain death, but still, you think of another.”
His words hit hard and rip the very air from my lungs.
I grab at my stomach to keep myself standing.
Dad!
Awo moves closer to me until I can feel his presence surge through my soul.
“Your soul is true, Alchera. I’ll bring the animals. All you need to focus on is bringing my chosen ten home. Beginning at dawn, you have only ten days to complete your destiny.”
With the timeline given, I watch as the light fades and the air settles around us.
As Raighne lets go of me, I stare at the spot where Awo was a moment ago, his words echoing through me.
‘Your father faces certain death.’
That means my father’s going to die, doesn’t it?
I could’ve saved him with one question, but instead, I asked for Jason’s animals to be spared.
No. That can’t be.
Just as I suck in a shaky breath, still trying to process what just happened, Thana comes rushing into the room with Brenna right behind her. Finian and a man who looks a lot like him also join us.
I assume he’s Finian’s twin and Thana’s guardian, and my assumption is proven right because he moves in behind Thana and places his hand on her shoulder.
“How are you feeling?” Thana asks, her features drawn tight with worry.
“Fine,” I say to avoid answering the truth because I don’t think I’ll ever feel fine again.
Thana glances at all of us, then announces, “I’ve been called to leave so I can fulfill my destiny.”
Brenna sucks in a trembling breath, and her eyes start to shine with unshed tears.
Confused by her strong reaction, my gaze darts back to Thana. “What does that mean?”
Too much is happening too soon.
“It’s my destiny to destroy Earth,” she says.
I stare at Thana, my heart clenching because she has to kill billions of people.
“Isn’t there another way?” I ask. “Maybe if we warn the humans, they will change their ways.”
Thana shakes her head. “I’ve given them many warnings, Alchera.” She lifts her chin as she looks at me. “They’ve had thousands of years, but all they’ve done is destroy the Earth given to them. Instead of caring for the animals, they’ve slaughtered them to the point of extinction. Their greed and selfishness are all that matters to them.” Her tone grows harsh as she continues, “Forests are gone. Wetlands are destroyed. The oceans are polluted, and the sea creatures butchered.” She sucks in a deep breath and shakes her head. “Countries are at war while others look the other way. That’s what the world has come to – pure selfishness and hatred. This is for the best. Things cannot keep spiraling out of control.”
As hard as it is for me to accept, I have to admit everything she’s said is the truth. I can’t worry about billions. I need to focus on my chosen ten.
Lifting my chin, I say, “I want to know what I’ll be up against while I’m on Earth gathering my chosen ones.”