Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 64938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Meridian swallowed roughly. This story had always been difficult to recount in his mind. Speaking it aloud was soul-wrenching.
“His fever receded, and the mutterings got louder, then I finally asked her who he was.”
Meridian had needed to know before he left. His time of rest had been coming to an end, and he’d needed to return to his responsibilities. Return to Ex.
“She said he was honorable of all men. I didn’t request her to elaborate. Instead, I asked her what he was saying, and it was hours before she answered. She said his heart wanted his cherished, and his soul was calling to him in his dreams.”
It was the first time Meridian had felt compassion since becoming a Raven.
“He woke about a week later, sweating and shaking but alert.” Meridian shuddered from the haunting memories. “He opened his eyes and stared at me for a long time, and, for reasons I still don’t understand, I was unable to look away.
“Then he unveiled himself. He was beautiful, his skin a perfect honey-brown, and he had the darkest eyes I’d ever seen that looked right through me. His ink-black hair was so long it hung past his waist.”
“What did he say to you?” the large one asked in a worshipful tone.
Meridian would never forget.
“He said I was destined for greatness and that men all over the world would fear me.”
He’d been right.
“He told me his name and that he was the beginning and that one day, I would meet the end. And at his side would be his cherished protector, the triumphant one. I never saw him again, except for when he visited my dreams.”
The two masters approached him, stood close enough that Meridian could smell their sweat, and removed their own covers.
“I am Omega, the end. My name is Eriktor, the Saw-Scaled Snake of Imuma Aga Kahn. With me stands my cherished, the Lion, Firuz Nikahd, Persian for man of triumph.”
Audible breaths circled the dusty room.
The Lion had no doubt gotten his name from his fighting style, but it could’ve easily been given because of his looks.
Features unlike any Persian Meridian had ever seen.
The hood concealed his long golden mane that didn’t have a single strand of gray. His fair skin and high cheekbones could rival a model’s.
Never had he seen eyes so hazel, that reflected back at them as if they were beams of sunlight.
Omega stared with light-gray eyes with a mysterious yellow tint splitting the irises.
“Ravens”—Meridian turned to Grace and Mirage—“remove your hoods if you wish to show them respect.”
Meridian didn’t know if they would do it, but slowly, they all revealed their identities.
Grace
Mirage stared at Grace after they’d both removed their hoods.
The story Meridian had just told left them both in shock. The fact that there were men out there like the Lion and Omega was crazy.
Master assassins.
“We have respect for you, Raven,” Lion said to Meridian. “You have the blessing of the Alpha, but even that does not negate the fact that Woyashi will be taken to our Order to withstand judgment for his crimes…not murdered. Violence will only beget more violence.”
None of them disagreed.
“And Zelmir Benton?” Mirage asked.
“He has been Woyashi’s hostage for almost nine months.”
Lion glanced back at the man he called his cherished, who gave him a slight nod as if approving what he was about to say.
“Your agency attempted the same. They wanted to use Zelmir Benton to build them their own weapons of mass destruction. And when he refused to give your organization the formula, they contained him until he was helped to escape.”
Helped by who?
“It was the Ravens organization that labeled him a terrorist.”
Grace wanted to slam his hand into the plaster behind him. They were saying the organization was corrupt.
“While we distracted you, our informants were given a chance to help him escape again and took him to a safe location. Away from all corrupt governments, including your own.”
“Who helped you distract us?” Mirage asked. “How did you know our coordinates?”
They wanted to know who’d fed two of the deadliest assassins in the world secure information from within their organization.
Omega faced him.
“Not all Ravens were stripped of their souls, man of illusion.”
“All Ravens?” Meridian attempted to clarify.
The four of them glanced around at each other, trying to decipher what that statement meant.
“Ravens, your organization seeks out good men like yourselves and makes them into killing machines they can control.”
Grace bristled, his energy shifting from upset to angry to enraged.
Mirage must’ve felt it because he turned toward him and gave him a look of understanding and patience.
Lion walked over and stood in front of him.
He was a striking man with a chiseled jaw and skin that looked airbrushed. He spoke in a voice that echoed around the room like a fading storm.
He stared into his eyes the way Mirage did. And the Lion didn’t appear to have difficulty sensing Grace’s warring emotions.