Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Can you defuse it with magic?”
Gregori shook his head. “No, but I can use my ice to protect the hospital some if the bomb does go off.” He also planned to shift into his dragon form at the last second and use his enormous body to shield the hospital from the blast, but he didn’t want to actually say those words out loud.
“The dragon is right,” the bomb squad leader barked. “Everyone out! We’ve got eight minutes left to evacuate as many people as we can. Get to fucking work!”
The cops didn’t linger another second, booking it for the entrance he’d used minutes earlier.
Before Ortiz could escape, Gregori caught his arm.
“If this doesn’t work out so great for me and you see Doctor Hunter, could you deliver a message for me?”
Ortiz blinked wide brown eyes at him for a second and then nodded.
“Tell him I have always been so proud to be his mate, and I love him with everything that I am.”
“Doctor Hunter. Got it. I’ll tell him, but you gotta not die here. The doc’s going to appreciate your message a hell of a lot more coming from you.”
He clapped Ortiz on the shoulder. “I’ll do my best.”
The cop tried to smile, but in the end, he said nothing as he ran for the exit with the others, closing the big doors behind him.
Gregori set the tablet aside, warning the squad leader that he needed a moment to prepare the room as best he could before they discussed which wire to snip.
After sucking in a deep breath, Gregori turned in the direction of the doors and summoned up all his magical power to cover the door area around the cabinet in a thick layer of ice. And just like with the kids and the apartment fire, nothing happened. Not a flake or a whisp of frost.
Look, I don’t know what your deal is, but you have got to pull yourself together this second. He squeezed his eyes shut and balled his trembling hands into fists as he directed all of his attention at his dragon. Our mate isn’t leaving this hospital until every kid is evacuated. If we don’t do everything we can to stop this bomb, our mate is going to die. Those kids are going to die. Are you even listening to me? Salem is going to die!
There was a faint stirring in his chest, but nothing to indicate he had his powers back.
“Please…” The single word tumbled, fractured, from his throat. He roughly wiped away a stray tear that had slipped free. Help me now and I swear I’ll find a way to fix all of this with you and Salem and the clan. Please, don’t let Salem die today.
This time, the dragon stirred with a little more energy in his chest. It felt as if the great beast had lifted its head and blinked sleepy eyes to look around at its surroundings. It wasn’t much, but Gregori had to take it as a win.
Calling on all his magical powers once again, he threw out his hands. Ice blasted forth, forming three walls around him and the bomb that were several feet thick. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. With just enough room left for him to shift into his dragon form, Gregori jogged back to the bomb and picked up the tablet.
“Ready?”
Gregori glanced at the time. Two minutes left.
He flipped the camera on the tablet and held up the flashlight with his other hand, giving the bomb squad leader a good view of the bomb. “Thoughts?”
The man made a noise like he was sucking on his teeth as he reviewed what was on his screen. “I find myself leaning more toward your first suggestion of red, yellow, and first green wires.”
“Okay. I was thinking the same.” He flipped the camera back around so he could look at the man. “I’m ending the call so I can shift and cut the wires.”
“Wait—”
Gregori forced a tense smile. “If all goes well, I’ll call you back in a couple of minutes.” He didn’t give the man a chance to argue. He just hung up and placed the tablet face down on the floor.
After another deep, steadying breath, he lifted his right hand and forced it to shift into scales, each finger tipped with long, incredibly sharp talons. There was no point in using wire cutters when his nails were even sharper. He could slice through all the necessary wires in a heartbeat and then shift.
Kneeling in front of the cabinet, he carefully slipped his talons under the appropriate wires and sucked in some air through his clenched teeth. His heart hammered so hard he swore it shook his entire body.
We cut the wires and immediately shift, okay? For Salem. We do this to protect Salem.
His dragon shifted again. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for him to believe the giant lizard was at least paying attention to him as the last seconds ticked down on the timer.