Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“He’s describing Terriforz,” Bram supplies. “Do you understand? Mathias separated Anka from Lucan, overtook her mind, and forced her body to crave what she mentally rejected. Olivia saw her before Mathias poofed her away. Now, we can’t find her anywhere. And you’re saying you know nothing about this?”
Shock clenches his jaw and drags in a furious, rumbling breath. I have the distinct impression he’s collecting himself.
When he looks back at us, his face is tight with rage. Even with the sunglasses, I see his anger—and absolute bloodlust.
He whirls on Bram. “How the fuck did I not hear about this?”
“That’s our question for you. After all, you and Mathias are chummy these days.”
“He’s the most feared wizard of all time because he’s more ruthless and devious than anyone. He’s suspicious, and he’s a master of secrets. We’re not chummy, for fuck’s sake. I’m over here playing bloody mind games with him because the lot of you are too busy playing with your…swords.” He gives us a disdainful snort. “Get this through your thick skull: I. Knew. Nothing. Don’t you have any leads on Anka’s whereabouts? Can’t Lucan use what’s left of their mate bond to find her?”
“Lucan is mad with mate mourning. The worst case I’ve ever seen,” Bram says quietly.
The starch leaves Shock, as if he feels the gravity of the situation, too. “So you can’t say if Anka is even alive?”
I’ve avoided thinking that she might have passed to her nextlife. But deep down, in a sick region of my stomach, I worry. She was alive a few days after Mathias abducted her. Since then…the ruthless bastard may have decided she’s of no further use and killed her. She would hardly be the first.
Bram shakes his head. “We don’t.”
Shock curses an ugly blue streak. “What’s been done to recover her?”
Not a word about Lucan’s state or what he’s endured. Fucking prick. “I’m looking. She belongs to my brother, and I will—”
“Piss off. If your brother hadn’t stolen her away, she would have been my mate, safe in my house. I’ll be the one to find her.”
Over my dead body. I need to find Anka before Shock does, or my brother will never see her again.
And he’ll die of a broken heart.
“How?” Bram challenges. “Plan to ask Mathias where he discarded his toy?”
“Shut your fucking mouth and leave that to me.”
“Have you heard of this thing called tact?” I spit at the asshole.
“Have you heard of this thing called fucking off?” Shock hurls me a sour glare before turning to Bram. “Call the others. Everyone should hear what I’ve come to say.”
Bram looks reluctant, but he does. Within a few minutes, Ice and Marrok crowd into Bram’s office. Accusations are hurled. Arguments ensue. Clearly, Shock doesn’t have a single fan among the Doomsday Brethren. They all regard him as a traitor.
I smile in grim satisfaction.
A few more moments pass before Duke arrives, looking less than interested in Shock’s cagey excuses.
Finally, everyone sits. Shock glares at the group, brushing off our attitudes while furiously pacing. Rage rolls off him in terrible black waves.
“First, I had no bloody idea Anka was in danger.” He spears me with a glance. “I swear that’s the truth.”
This asshole’s word means nothing to me, but pointing that out would only belabor the argument.
“You’ve all assumed the worst of me. Given my family name, I’m not surprised,” he goes on. “But I never imagined the lot of you would be so thick.”
Bram raises a haughty brow to let Shock know he’s treading on thin ice. “Meaning?”
“Do you daft wankers really believe Mathias is going to engage in a fair fight? Or willingly allow you any way to defeat him? We’re five; seven if you count Junior and the lunatic. He has a multiplying army we barely know how to best. A handful of able-bodied fighters are no match against a sea of willing suicide killers. Do you honestly believe we can win without a spy? Without someone to rot the Anarki from the inside out?”
Damn it all. I really hate this bastard. And I don’t trust him one whit. But he makes sense.
Bram raises a sharp brow. “So you abandoned us abruptly because you saw an opportunity to pretend you’re on Mathias’s side, earn his trust, and eventually stab him in the back?”
“Exactly. I visited my brother in your dungeon after Lucan and Duke captured him at Marrok’s cottage. I got an earful of Zain’s hero worship for Mathias and a load of alarming information that made me realize we cannot win if we’re always a step behind.”
“So you’re the one who broke him out?” Bram challenges.
“I had to. It convinced my brother I’m with him, and it gained Mathias’s trust.”
“You could have mentioned that.”
“When? As I was sneaking my stupid brother out under your nose clandestine-like or while Mathias forced me to bow and scrape and kiss his bloody ring?” Shock shakes his head. “We must have a mole on the inside, or we’re doomed.”