Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“Let my Kaj out, and she can take them all.” Dante’s lips quirk up as he looks over at me. I can feel his love and desire. “Kaja, when you get out, I want you to know that I release you from that whole no killing things that talk back. You can kill any asshole in this place. Except that one.” He points to Palgrave. “He’s mine.”
“Like you could take me,” Palgrave preens. “You’ve never been a fighter, Dellacourt. You might be able to take a lightweight like Doctor Wilson there, but I doubt you can take a royal.”
“I will kill you. You touched her. I would kill you if you had touched her with affection. I’ll take you apart for touching her in violence.”
Roan inches toward the cage. I prepare to pounce.
One of the security guards aims and fires his Taser unit at Dante. The air crackles with electricity, but Dante ducks, his body bending backward with grace and precision. The dart bites into the wall behind him. Dante straightens up, and his hand is on the tether that connects the dart to the hand unit. He jerks the line back, and the guard moves with it. Before he can think to scream, the guard stands before Dante. With a quick flick of Dante’s fist, the other man falls.
“Not so smart, Palgrave, but then I should have expected that from you. None of us killed your brother, you know.” Dante steps over the unconscious body of the guard.
“I know one of your cousins did the deed,” Palgrave spits. “I’m not stupid.”
Roan is close, so close. Dante seems to be trying to keep Palgrave’s attention on him. “Torin had a hag in the village. We believe she’s the one who called your brother to the Refugee plane.”
“You’re lying. And it doesn’t matter. I know what I know.” Palgrave strengthens his stance and holds the blade tightly.
The two guards behind him move forward.
Roan leaps across the distance, his hand reaching for the button that releases the door to the cage. Both security guards fire and hit Roan. His body jumps, spasming as the electrical current runs through it. Struggling, his hand moves forward. His teeth grit, but he slaps his hand on the button, and my cage opens.
Chaos reigns. The guards release the darts and bring their weapons back online. Palgrave moves forward, his sonic blade lifted and ready. Roan falls, utterly unconscious. I leap from the cage. My body aches, but it does not matter now. All that matters is getting Dante out of here alive. I attack the first person I see. The guard screams as I go for his throat. He tries to get the Taser unit to work, but he drops it as I dig my teeth in. I feel the blood begin to flow and let go. I do not have time to play with him.
When I look up, Dante has caught the second guard’s dart and has it wrapped around his throat, but Palgrave is coming for him. Before I can jump, Palgrave is thrusting the blade into Dante’s back. I smell the blood beginning to flow, feel the horrible pain, but I take it because it is halved. Dante is able to twist and block the next blow. He swings out, catching Palgrave in the chin.
I leap into action. I jump up, trying to get Palgrave’s throat, but he is fast with the knife. It catches my leg, and I fall.
“Kaja!” Dante screams my name, but I feel it more than hear it.
He gets to his feet and faces off with Palgrave.
“Give it up, Dellacourt. I have reinforcements coming. You can’t win.”
“You’re not leaving here alive.” Dante is unarmed, but he does not back down. “Kaja, you get behind me.”
Limping, I move to his side.
He looks down at me. “Yes, I suppose that is your place. I love you, Kaj. I’ve never loved anyone before. You’re half my soul and all of my heart. No matter what happens, I want you safe. When the time comes, you run and don’t look back.”
I hear the words, but I will not heed them. I will never leave him. If this is the end for him, then I will take out whoever I can, and then I will follow him. I do not know what comes after this life, but I will follow him.
Palgrave pounces. He races forward, knife out. He hits Dante with the full force of his bulk, and the two men go down. They roll, and then Dante gets to his feet. He is hit again, this time low in his gut. Palgrave moves, circling my husband. I growl and get ready to leap.
“Mine, Kaja. This kill is mine.” Dante bares those magnificent fangs my way.
“You’re not killing anything, Dellacourt. You’re bleeding out. You’re so fucking weak, I won’t even have to try this time.” Palgrave’s lips curl in a sneer.