Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
“I am a man of my word. I promised you you would not walk alone. I will bring you your family. It will be done.”
“There’s something I never asked you,” he says as he pins me with his cold blue gaze.
It’s almost as cold as mine. His eyes have become vacant. There is a chance I could be losing my window to use him for the purpose I have in mind.
I tilt my head to the side and study him. “What is that?”
“What do you want in return? You came to me in my time of grief. You convinced me taking my brother’s children from him would make things right.
“My mind wasn’t right. I believed you. Why shouldn’t I kill you where you stand and what the fuck do you want from me in the first place?”
“I believe I have another way to get you what you want. I intend to find our mutual enemy, and when I do, you can take what belongs to you. No tricks, no tiptoeing around,” I say.
He scoffs then throws his head back and laughs. I stand glaring at him as I try to hold my temper in. If I didn’t need him for this plan, I’d dispose of him now.
Suddenly, his laughter ceases and he’s across the room in a flash. I shouldn’t have let my guard down around him. He has me by the throat with my back against the wall as he holds a blade of ice against my neck.
“He is my enemy because of you. What makes you think you can take any of them? Let alone Ardan, the king of water and ice. He will show neither of us mercy.
“I have been hiding in shadows, in places I once loathed. My honor is gone. I’m left to take jobs from scum. No, I want nothing more to do with you.
“Leave the boys alone. They are better off without me. I can be no father to them,” he seethes in my face.
“Release him and I won’t run you through,” Ben says from behind him.
I grin at the ice titan. He couldn’t have thought I’d come here alone. I am never without one of my hunters.
Bardo pulls his blade away from my neck. I reach to touch the place where he held the blade. When I pull my fingers away, they are covered in blood.
I frown. He will pay for this when all is said and done. Twin ice titans who I have raised from their youth will benefit me more than this one will anyway.
Bardo sighs heavily. “If we are to be slaughtered, I would rather fight and go down like a man. Leave my nephews alone and I will follow you as you wish.”
“Good decision. I will be in touch. Be prepared for my call,” I say with a grin and turn to leave.
I have no intention of leaving his nephews alone, but he doesn’t need to know that. It looks as if by the time I need to put him in play he won’t know the difference anyway. He’s already losing his mind.
Soon he will be a mindless weapon. He won’t know or care who those boys are. They were always the end goal.
Just for You
“Ugh, shut up,” I groan and shut off the ringer to my phone.
It’s my day off. I had every intension of sleeping in. I stretch as I wake up fully to the scent of mint and coffee.
A smile comes to my face. Ardan has plans for us today. My curiosity from last night returns.
He wouldn’t tell me what exactly we’ll be doing. He has already used his magic to move my things here to the clubhouse. Each day I find a new room or area he has built to make me feel more at home. The room now has three levels.
I didn’t want him to change anything about the bedroom because I love it so much. However, it’s no longer the first thing you walk into when you enter the room. I’ll admit, I love the place.
Although a part of me wants to slow things down and go back to my apartment. Yet, I haven’t been able to bring myself to do so. I think it’s the bond thing holding me back. Besides, Ardan isn’t having it.
In all honesty, whenever I think I’m going to put my foot down and head to my apartment for the night, my heart aches and the thought feels wrong. I tried to leave and go home last night.
Ardan made sure I forgot all about that idea. That’s why I have such a big smile on my face this morning. I can still feel his mouth and hands everywhere on my body.
“You’re awake. Get dressed and come out for breakfast. I have a surprise for you,” Ardan says into my thoughts.