Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 131364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
And despite knowing she literally couldn’t open to the mating bond, Eleri had wanted to attempt it, wanted to jump into his arms and hold on, forget that her brain was in the process of its final evisceration—and that all that would remain of her in a few days was a screaming nothingness.
Today, as they ate in the privacy of his rooms inside the Canyon, she drank him in with an unquenchable thirst. She’d watched him deep in the dark hours, too, after she woke too soon. She’d been glad of her insomnia for the first time, because it gave her time to just look at Adam while he rested, his lashes dark shadows on his cheeks.
Who, she’d allowed herself to think, would they have been to each other had they come together the first time they met? They’d have grown together, become together. Would she have laughed with him as Saoirse had laughed after her initial shock? Would his niece have jumped into her arms in excited hello as she’d jumped into Adam’s? Would she have become so familiar to the fledglings that they’d think nothing of landing on her arm or shoulder?
Then she’d let the dream float away, where it couldn’t hurt her in the morning light.
Now, she tried every small bite Adam offered her but tasted little because her attention was on him, and she kept on lying that one lie that made her an oath breaker. Today, she’d go to the inn with the excuse of removing all her security devices, and use the time to make sure those who’d carry on her work would have all the data she’d collected.
It galled her that she hadn’t finished her last case, but she couldn’t be sorry for helping Jacques, or for the time she’d had with Adam. The task force would be in Raintree late this afternoon, so she’d done that at least, brought the team here, to the killer’s home ground.
The team was excellent, and now that she’d led them here, she had every confidence that they’d find the Sandman. She knew Adam wouldn’t let go even if, for some unknown reason, the task force failed.
This was his territory, his to protect, his to shield.
She planned to send him a time-delayed message with her Sandman files so he’d have every piece of knowledge at her disposal. That done…she’d drive out. It’d be hard to avoid falcon eyes en route, but she’d planned it down to the wire. She’d tell Adam she was going to meet an associate, would be back by darkfall.
All aboveboard.
She’d also write him the letter she’d already composed in her mind in the silent hours before dawn, telling him exactly why she’d made the choice she had. She’d add that letter to the time-delayed message. And she’d hope that one day, he’d find room in his wide-open heart to forgive her one final time.
“Come on, we’ll go grab your security equipment,” Adam said after breakfast. “You can work as well from up in the Canyon—your computer’s still locked up in the car, safe and sound.”
Eleri’s mouth was dry but her resolve unshakable under the weight of the whispers at the back of her mind, the awareness of the bulging inward of her translucent telepathic shields. “I’m driving out to speak to a profiler associate of mine today.”
Adam frowned. “You sure that’s safe?”
“Adam.” A soft rebuke, a reminder that she’d walked this road a long time.
He scowled but didn’t argue. “When are you planning to leave? I’ll join you on the wing after I clear up a little clan business.”
“Probably in a couple of hours,” she said, certain she could get far enough out and lost enough in that period to throw him off the trail.
Adam nodded. “I should be able to join you an hour after you start out.”
Too soon, far too soon.
Eleri twisted and turned her plan in her head, knew she could still evade him if she went at speed. “Is it all right if I visit Jacques before I leave?”
“I was planning to drop by anyway.” A deep smile. “I’m hoping I can harangue him into waking.”
While that didn’t work, Jacques did look far better than the last time Eleri had seen him. His skin glowed with health, and his physical readings were excellent. When she brushed his hand, she sensed only the same wildness as Adam. “His shields are fully operational.”
“Good. Now, wake up, you asshole, so I can introduce you to my mate,” Adam said before they left.
Eleri waited until Adam stepped out to chat with Naia for a moment to lean down and whisper, “Watch over him, Jacques. He’s going to need you in the weeks and months to come, so wake soon, and watch over him.” She wished she could stop her mate’s pain, wished she could turn back the clock.