Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
“The place looks like it would collapse if someone sneezed too hard,” Adrian muttered under his breath.
Hours had passed with nothing happening. Haru’s body was stiff and sore from being trapped either watching the boring building or being stuck in that single-room apartment. He needed to get out and move, but Adrian had commanded them to stay and watch the boring building. The only time he’d been allowed to get a little exercise was when Adrian sent him around the corner to the small market to pick up some food for their lunch.
With nothing more than a flick of his wrist, Adrian conjured up a silver throwing knife using the magic he’d gained through his connection with the God of Hope. He never moved his eyes from where he watched the other building, but his fingers flawlessly moved over the red apple, carving out a slice. It was the last bit of food left from the sandwich, water, and fruit he’d bought for them. Adrian poked the chunk through the skin with the tip of the knife and held it out to Haru, offering him the first piece.
“Definitely couldn’t survive a dragon’s sneeze,” Haru added. His lips quirked as he took the apple slice. He bit into it, the sweet and tart juices seeming tastier because it had come from Adrian.
Since they’d started traveling together, he’d noticed that anytime Adrian had food, he gave some to Haru first, even if Haru had his own. He didn’t know if Adrian worried he wasn’t eating enough in his human form or if he always shared his food with others because of something from his childhood, but he looked forward to uncovering the answer to that question one day.
“No. Not even close. Thankfully, there are no dragons here to knock this building down around our ears.” A hint of a smile played on Adrian’s lips, but he wouldn’t let it come out completely. He was stubborn, and Haru adored that about him. He loved Adrian’s fighting spirit. Nothing could ever stop this man.
“Do you think Shey is in there?” Haru inquired, dragging his mind to the reason they were in Bellcairn. His gaze dipped to Adrian’s hands as he continued to deftly slice up the apple. He would feed himself a slice and then offer the next to Haru. Adrian might have an expression of complete calm on his face, but he was anything but just below the surface.
“Honestly? No. But we can’t toss aside even the smallest chance of finding him.” He threw the apple core to the floor, letting it roll into a pile of rubbish against the wall of the dilapidated apartment. Adrian offered him the last apple slice, but Haru turned it down with a shake of his head. Yet, with the apple gone, Adrian continued to turn the knife as he spoke, his eyes unmoving from the building as he spoke. “Besides, we can always try to squeeze our message sender for information. Even if they don’t have Shey, they might have seen him.”
“At least I have a chance of having a little fun.”
Adrian smirked. “But not too much.”
Haru was preparing to explain how too much fun was a physical impossibility for a dragon when Adrian pushed to his feet from where he’d been crouched by a window. “Let’s go.”
“You take the front. I’ll go through the back,” Haru declared, already moving ahead of him to the door.
“What?” Adrian gasped. “There is no door in the rear.”
“I have it covered. Don’t worry, my Adrian.”
“No wings, Haru.” He made a grab for Haru’s arm, but the dragon remained out of his reach. “I’m serious. No wings.”
Haru smiled and slid out the door before Adrian could stop him. It was better to keep the human guessing. Haru didn’t want to risk him becoming bored.
Haru rushed across the street and behind the building they had been watching. The shadows were growing longer, but there was still plenty of daylight left. Their goal was to strike prior to people on the morning shift returning home from work but after the night shift workers had left for their jobs. Adrian reasoned that this way they would endanger the fewest number of innocent people.
The space between the apartment building and the next building was a narrow, damp alley that smelled of rotted food and human waste. Not a place anyone would choose to visit if they could help it. Haru wrinkled his sensitive nose against the rank odor and glanced around to make sure there was no one about to see him.
With a grin, Haru held up both hands, palms facing him and fingers slightly curled. A heartbeat later, his trimmed fingernails turned into long, hooked red talons while his fingers became enveloped in dark burnt-orange scales. Haru dug his claws into the rough brick of the building, climbing up the side with ease and speed. Muscles burned with exertion, but it felt good. This was as close as he was going to get to spreading his wings for a while. Maybe after they’d retrieved Shey, he could steal Adrian away to the Isle of Stone. For a brief vacation. Adrian would have earned it, and Haru wouldn’t have to worry about maintaining his human form all the time. And if Adrian just happened to remain on the island permanently, that would be fine too.