Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
And now we were hiking once more in this unfamiliar world as Sebastian searched for something to kill.
The dynamic, the very air around us was different now. I’d been aware of his presence before, had tried denying myself the pleasure just being near him caused within me. But now, after what we’d done, after he’d claimed me, I felt ultrasensitive.
My mind and body, the very core of who and what I was, had completely changed.
My skin felt so sensitive that even the air brushing on my exposed arms was almost painful. My pulse was a constant quick tempo. I was pleasantly sore in all the right places, and I was acutely aware that Sebastian was unable to stop looking at me.
I felt his gaze on me.
“What exactly are you looking for?” I asked, trying to steer my thoughts to “safer” topics so I didn’t focus on the fact that I could practically feel his warm breath on my nape.
“Something to kill to feed my too tiny mate.” His voice, so close and deep, had me stumbling.
Faster than I comprehended, he wrapped his big hand around my waist and righted me.
“Careful.” There was this thick teasing note in his voice, as if he knew exactly what he was doing to me and got off on it.
“Ever hear of personal space,” I murmured, his hand still on me, his body so close that if I just leaned back slightly, my back would brush against his chest.
“That doesn’t exist between us.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okayyy. Well, tell me what exactly you plan on hunting down for us, ’cause correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t seen anything aside from that tentacle monster, and I’m sure as hell not eating one of those.”
He was silent for long moments, and I glanced at him again to see him staring at the treetops, his brow furrowed.
“What? What is it?” I glanced at where he was looking but didn’t see anything that would warrant much of a reaction. But the longer he stayed silent, the more I felt that prickling on the back of my neck again. “Sebastian,” I whispered. “You’re kind of freaking me out. Do I need to find a weapon?”
He looked at me so seriously. “I am your weapon.” He was pushing me toward the mountain, glowering down at me, and ordering me to stay put.
I gaped at him as he loped into the forest. I held my breath as I tried to see through the thick darkness, but a Fae didn’t have the best night vision. And as the minutes passed and I heard and saw nothing, I started getting worried.
Yeah, Sebastian could totally take care of himself, but we were in uncharted waters here and who knew what other freaky creatures were out there.
I was about to call his name and, hell, even attempt some bravery and go in after him, when awful screeching came from the woods.
My heart was thundering as I reached down and grabbed a rock, ready to bash a skull if anything came close.
“Sebastian?” I whispered harshly.
Another screech, followed by what sounded like wings flapping, a heavy thud following.
I covered my mouth with my free hand so I didn’t scream and took a tentative step toward the woods. Not the smartest move, sure, but the very idea of not helping Sebastian wasn’t even a thought in my head.
And just as I was about to go in and fight off whatever unseen threat there was, the sound of something being dragged got closer and closer.
Involuntarily I took a step back, but a moment later Sebastian’s big body emerged from the forest and I sagged in relief. He was okay.
It was at that moment I realized how worried I’d been. The very idea of not seeing him again had this pang burrowing itself deep and hard into the center of my body.
I was staring into his face, not noticing what he dragged behind him until he tossed it between us with a heavy thud. It was then I looked down and furrowed my brow at the creature he’d killed.
It certainly was bird-like, with a beak and beady black eyes. It had legs reminiscent of a chicken’s, but the talons were longer and sharper than any creature I’d ever seen.
It was also covered in brown, mossy green, and tan feathers that I assumed helped it stay camouflaged in the trees.
And it was big, the size of a turkey.
I lifted my gaze from the carcass to stare at Sebastian. He looked pretty smug, with his chest puffed out and his shoulders pulled back.
“I killed that for you.”
I cocked an eyebrow and for a long second just stared at him, but then I dropped the stone, covered my mouth, and started laughing.
His expression was one of clear confusion as he took a step closer to me. “What’s wrong?”