Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
A weakness I can exploit.
My gaze cuts to the cages, but I can only see the farthest two holding Circe and Veda. Neither god is moving but it doesn’t mean they won’t at any time.
Rune shrugs out of his leather overcoat and unbuttons a leather vest underneath, dropping it to the ground. Ariman has obviously given him some power from the stone as Rune is healthy looking. Well-muscled body, skin glowing with vitality, and a confidence in his bearing that increases my despair. His hands are loose at his sides, his bare chest puffed as if he’s trying to replicate his bearing as a god.
Ariman positions himself before Rune, facing him. The snake is still curled around Ariman’s neck and with a flourish of his hands, a glowing orb the size of a softball appears in his open palm.
A wind flows around us, ruffling Ariman’s long hair. He holds the glowing orb up high and chants in Aramaic. It gets brighter, its glow starting to cover Ariman’s body. With his other hand, he palms the dark red jewel, and with a sharp yank pulls it free from the chain. Rune’s eyes are pinned on the gemstone, glittering with anticipation.
Ariman continues chanting, the words so low I can’t hear them. I can’t think of anything related to the Blood Stone other than what I already knew, that it’s been strengthened by the sacrifices Finley and I made. Now holding light and dark power mixed with the infinite power of the Crimson River in which it was dipped, there’s no telling what it can do.
At this very moment, despite being chained to this altar and my powers depleted, I’ve never felt more inept because I can’t even call forth knowledge from which I might glean some important help.
My attention is drawn to the stone, which now glows a bright crimson. The gold filigree edging, as well as the bail, fade away until there’s nothing left but the faceted jewel itself.
Ariman holds it up, rays of scarlet light shooting from the facets and playing across Rune’s bare chest. I gasp when Ariman suddenly thrusts both the glowing orb and the Blood Stone toward Rune… actually slams them right into the center of his chest. A bright light flashes and the orb is gone but I can still see the red gem pulsing under Ariman’s fingers.
Rune’s head falls back and he groans as if in great pain, his fists clenching tight. The stone glows impossibly brighter, more light streams shooting out of each facet and coloring the walls of the dark cave.
Rune’s face contorts in agony and Ariman screams, reeling backward. He holds his hand, now scalded red with blistering skin.
My eyes slide to Rune’s chest and I’m stunned to see that the Blood Stone is stuck there. No, more like recessed in with pink puckered skin around its edges.
It’s become a part of him.
The rays of light draw back into the gem and it pulses… turning dark, then light, then dark again.
Like a heartbeat.
Rune sucks in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, his fists unclenching. His head raises, gaze pinned on Ariman, and a smile breaks slowly across his face. “It worked.”
Ariman doesn’t seem surprised and inclines his head as if to say, “You’re welcome.”
Rune claps his hands together and rubs them with a gleeful smirk. “Now, let’s get to the real fun.”
His eyes come to me and I struggle against my bonds, even though I know it’s hopeless. While Ariman moves to the end of the stone slab where my head rests—that foul snake watching me with hunger—Rune comes to the side. My attention flicks back and forth between the two of them, knowing I’ll scream if one of them touches me.
“The timing is critical,” Rune says.
“I’m well aware,” Ariman replies, irritation in his voice.
Rune’s eyes blaze with unholy power. “Then what are you waiting for?”
Ariman nods and moves closer to me. He bends and places his hands on the sides of my head.
I thrash, trying to dislodge his touch. “What are you doing? Don’t touch me.”
His hands clamp hard, preventing me from moving. He bends over me so when I look up, his face hovers close. As he stares at me, he directs Rune. “Get on top of her.”
Those words make me fight with all my might. “No!” I scream, thrashing as Rune climbs on top of the altar and straddles my thighs. “Get off me.”
“Relax, Zora,” Rune murmurs as he places his hands on the stone at my shoulders and bends over me. “I’m not going to take what you think I’m going to take. At least not right now.”
I buck hard, catching him by surprise, and almost dislodge his body, but he doubles down by sitting upright. All his weight goes on my thighs and I’m pinned flat. His own hands hang loose at his sides as he stares down at me.