Total pages in book: 193
Estimated words: 184001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 920(@200wpm)___ 736(@250wpm)___ 613(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 920(@200wpm)___ 736(@250wpm)___ 613(@300wpm)
“Can we at least ditch this dude? I told you I don’t like him.”
“You don’t like anyone,” Thorin absently retorts as he assists Khalil with hooking him to the line that we’ll use to safely guide him back out.
“Yeah, but I really don’t like him. He doesn’t feel right.”
Both of them pause, and their heads turn at once to frown at me. “What do you mean?” Khalil asks in a low tone so that Green doesn’t overhear. “How off does he feel?”
“Like I need to go take a piss.”
Khalil and Thorin stare at me and I feel the temperature inside the cave plummet a few degrees, and it has nothing to do with the snow falling outside. Thorin tilts his chin toward the mouth of the cave, telling me to go. I don’t waste time and spin on my heel, passing the deputy who is now smoking as I go.
I make sure to walk far enough from the caves to become irresistible bait. And since I really do have to go, I don’t have to make a show of pulling out my dick and relieving myself. Once I’m done, I do make a show of poking around the bushes as if I’m looking for the campers. I’m buying time, but it only takes two minutes before that eerie feeling of no longer being alone skips down my spine.
I keep walking though, as if I don’t sense I’m being followed. I lead him farther away from the caves as I wait for him to make his move.
“You can stop pretending not to know I’m following you now,” he finally calls out after five more minutes of our cat-and-mouse game.
Turning around, I don’t bother feigning surprise as I give the deputy a dry look. “I thought you were enjoying the ambience. I didn’t want to be rude.”
“Hello, Ezekiel.” The deputy’s head tilts as he considers me. “Or is it Seth?”
“Does it matter?” I retort as I slowly back away, playing my part of the cornered prey. “What do you want?”
“I am Undying Daniel. A disciple of the Savior, and I want you to come with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. You can tell Zeke’s brother that he can go fuck himself.”
“Ah, so it is Seth then. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Now, about that message. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to tell the Savior yourself? No?” When I don’t respond, Daniel frees the binoculars from around his neck and offers them to me. “I want you to take a look through these and reconsider.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because she’ll die if you don’t. What was her name again? Ah, that’s right. Aurelia. The singer who’s supposed to be dead but isn’t.”
Swearing, I can’t snatch the binoculars out of his hold fast enough, and then I dance out of reach again as I lift them to my eyes. Automatically, I pan them toward our mountain in search of our cabin where Sunshine should be. I stop when I see fire. It’s eating away at the trees and climbing down the hillside. But the wild fire isn’t what sends my rage and terror colliding. It’s the origin.
Sunshine…
Reluctantly, I lower the binoculars as if keeping my eyes on the destruction will stop it from spreading.
“What the hell does he want with her?” I force past the knot in my throat.
“The girl? Nothing. He only wants you, Seth. Surrender, and she’ll be free.”
“How did Isaac find me?”
Daniel’s eyes harden at me using Zeke’s brother’s name. “The Savior has searched long and hard for his most precious sacrifice. No stone was left unturned.”
“Bullshit! Someone tipped him off. Who?” As in, who do I have to kill after I rip out Daniel’s intestines and wear them like a lei?
“I am not at liberty to discuss that information, but if you come with me, I can take you to the Savior.”
“You’re unable or unwilling to give me answers?” I echo for clarity as I glance behind him.
“I am forbidden.”
“What you are,” Thorin snarls, “is useless.”
The twin shadows converging behind the deputy split apart and then take form on either side of him. Khalil shoves Green onto the ground until he’s kneeling, and the deputy doesn’t try to fight or beg for his life.
Why?
Because he believes Zeke’s brother’s lies. He truly believes he cannot die.
“Who the fuck are you?” Thorin demands as he moves to stand in front of the deputy. “You’re not a real cop.”
Deputy fucking Green smiles. “I am Undying Daniel. A disciple of the Savior. A child of the Seeds—”
“Good enough for me.” Khalil sends a punch so vicious into the jaw of the deputy that I hear the bone shatter with a sickening crunch. The deputy’s screams are enough to turn stomachs when Khalil lifts him up by his broken jaw until they’re almost eye level. “You want to try telling us what the hell you want with him now? No?” Squelch. I don’t see the knife in Khalil’s hand until it’s already lodged to the hilt in Daniel’s lower stomach. Khalil’s eyes are cold as he holds the deputy’s gaze and slowly splits him open from gut to sternum. “Aight then.”