Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Cassandra chuckled, shaking her head. “I’m shocked he likes you so much,” she said. “No offense intended,” she hurried to add. “He’s normally more standoffish with people, especially humans.”
“Maybe it’s because he knows I’m dying and is offering me comfort, like a giant support animal.” I kept stroking him, arching a brow at Ransom, who was still standing there surveying Warrick.
I really hoped they weren’t about to brawl. This family didn’t need any more internal conflict. The small spat between the assassins and the hunters earlier was enough proof that the war, the attacks, and everything that went with it was stretching them all too thin. And as much as I loved Alek and his family, I was firmly in Team Hunter mode, so it would be so much easier on me if they sorted their shit out. Throwing this into the mix? Probably not good for morale.
“Grace,” Ransom said my name so softly I thought it was inside my head for a second. But he looked right at me with an apologetic yet pleading glance. “Do you think you could…”
“Pop into his mind and tell me if he’s planning to slit all our throats while we sleep?” he asked silently.
I gave him a subtle nod, never stopping from my panther pets, and reached out with my power. God, it felt good to not be treated like glass for five seconds, and I couldn’t help but love Ransom a little for the respect in his request. I couldn’t fault Ajax for his protectiveness though, knowing I’d be acting the same way if it were his life on the line.
Stretching out with my gift, I lifted the shield I’d placed around my mind, just like Alek taught me. I directed my power at Warrick, imagining a fluttering black satin ribbon weaving its way over and into Warrick’s temple—
I just want to be with my sister. I want to be an assassin and actually do good for once instead of being surrounded by wealthy monsters who want to rule the world. But if you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to tear your arms off and beat you with them.
I flinched a little at the last stream of consciousness from Warrick. The first thoughts felt genuine, but deciphering intention behind private thoughts was a bitch. Alek and I had discussed it in length. There were countless times someone could think about killing someone or hurting them without ever having any real intention of doing so, and that made it incredibly hard to take thought as truth.
Plus, I didn’t know Warrick at all. He was a complete stranger who could very well follow through on his threats just as easily as he could have good intentions. Damn it, I wished I had centuries to hone this gift like Alek had.
A pang of grief hit me square in the chest, but I forced myself to focus.
“Fifty-fifty,” I finally spoke into Ransom’s mind. “He wants to be here and has no immediate plan to kill us all, but he’s not carrying a banner for you at the moment. That could just be because you’ve been yelling at him since he walked in though.”
Ransom sighed. “I’m not taking any chances.”
“Are you two going to stare at me all night or what?” Warrick finally asked, irritation evident in the tight set of his shoulders.
“I can’t risk this right now,” Ransom said. “You may be here for the reasons you said, but Alek and the others are on a mission. If you’re really here to prove yourself, you’ll let me contain you until they return.”
Cassandra gaped at Ransom, but quickly smoothed the shock off her face. A little hurt radiated in her eyes, and I gave her a sympathetic smile.
“Fine by me,” Warrick said, surprisingly agreeable to the idea of imprisonment. “Whatever I have to do to prove myself. I’m here to train. To help my sister in any way I can. And to serve my king.”
Ransom cocked a brow at him. “Interesting that the serving part comes last.”
Warrick leaned in a little closer to Ransom. “Unlike my other family, I don’t pretend to grovel at royalty’s feet,” he said. “I’m loyal to Alek, but I’m also not a liar. Cassandra will always come before him.”
Whoa, go brother.
I resisted the urge to clap. The brutal honesty thing leaned me in his favor for sure, and I’d always wanted a sibling who would go to the ends of the earth for me, so I was happy Cassandra had that, especially when things here were still so tense for her. She didn’t have a mate who made her feel welcome and safe and alive like I did. Not everyone could be so lucky, no matter how hard I wished it.
Wishing didn’t do anything when it came down to it really. If it did, I’d be able to spend the rest of forever with Ajax.