Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Before he goes, I reach for him. He glances at my hand on his arm and then back to me. His eyes, a deep silver, stare into mine. If I knew better, I would drop his arm and run. No one should be touching Death. Yet Talia does it with ease.
“Will she survive?” I ask. “How do I find a portal?”
“If you go through a portal, you will be sure to die. You are weak, Tatiana, compared to your sister. You will die.” And then he is gone.
John comes up behind me and touches my back, rubbing small circles to keep me grounded.
“Valefar!” I scream. “Valefar!”
“No, Tatiana. No,” John says, but it’s too late. Valefar appears in front of me. I offer him my hand, and we are gone before anyone can say anything.
“Your mate is going to kill me,” Valefar says as we materialize in front of the castle doors. They open to reveal Viper standing on the other side. His eyes flick to Valefar, then to me.
“I cannot open it,” is all he says, knowing full well why I am here.
“Lies. You did it before, do it again.” Viper’s eyes lock on Valefar.
“Tell her.”
“He is telling the truth. He did it last time with a potion that was made for the queen. He used it on your sister to open the portal.”
I swing my head around. “Make me the potion,” I demand.
“The price you must pay is death, little one. Do you understand? Death of someone you love greatly. Veronica was happy to sacrifice those she loved for power. Are you willing to do the same?” he asks.
“Whose death?” I ask him on a whisper.
“John’s,” he replies.
I offer Valefar my hand. “Take me back.”
When we reappear, I find John in wolf form, destroying everything around him. Valefar is quick to disappear, and I walk over to John. He spots me straight away and comes running to me. He doesn’t change—he stays as a wolf. His head rubs on my belly, smelling me before he finally does change.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, the love he has for me seeping into my very soul.
It’s then I realize that I would sacrifice my sister for this man.
“We need to hope with everything we have she finds her way back,” I tell him with teary eyes.
“She will. She is your sister, after all.” He kisses me and whispers words of protection. And I know for the next century, I won’t be leaving his sight.
Chapter Six
TALIA
It’s been a week, and I’m still here. I’ve tried everything I can think of to open a portal, but I just can’t do it. Not even a flicker or a glimmer of something. Anything.
Everywhere I go, I have a guard with me. One, in particular, is quite nice. He talks to me more than the others do. He is interested in where I come from, and I ask him to take me to the village where others who have fallen from the portal are located. He nods and tells me he will ask for permission.
Permission?
I didn’t realize I was a prisoner.
The following day, I decide I will simply sneak out, but the guard is at my door when I wake.
“I can accompany you today to the village.”
“Your king allowed this?” I ask, and he nods.
“You’ll need a coat… it’s cold outside of the castle.” I open the cupboard, which is now stocked full of clothes, none of which I requested, but I’m thankful for all the same. I slip on a pair of sneakers and grab a coat before I follow the guard out the door. He leads the way until we reach the main entrance. The gate is like an old boom gate that drops down over a moat. Guards stare at us, but none of them say a word as I fall into step next to him.
“Thank you for this,” I say to him.
The guard gives me a nod. He seems to be confused for a moment, then shakes his head and faces forward again.
“Do you have family here?” I ask.
“Yes, I have a partner and two kids.”
I smile up at him. “And do you live in the castle?”
“No, only you and the king do.”
I’m taken aback by this knowledge. “Not even Levy?” I inquire.
“No, she lives with the rest of us.”
I didn’t expect that answer. I assumed she lived in the castle since she seems to know her way around everywhere, and the king even instructed her on what to do with me. I’m not really sure about their relationship, and I try not to care. But I’m not going to lie—the king is intriguing.
“Does everyone who falls from the portal stay at the castle?” I question.
“No, you are the first.”
“Is that… weird?” My eyebrows draw together in concern.
“Yes.” He pulls his jacket tighter and does up the buttons as we move farther away from the castle. We walk quietly for a good hour, and I can tell he is comfortable with the silence. I guess as a guard, it may be what he’s used to. Me, not so much. I miss my sisters and the loud noises they make and even just their laughter.