Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
He grins sardonically, holding my gaze as he changes into the queen again. Aruan exits the portal to find me pinning his mother down on the floor with a boot on her neck, her face horribly disfigured and her hair clotted with blood.
Aruan stops in his tracks. Rage contorts his features.
Tarix raises a pale hand to Aruan. “Aruan, help me,” he pleads in the queen’s voice. “Please. It’s a trap. I came to help Elsie, but look what she’s done to me.”
Shit. I know how this must appear. But then I look into Aruan’s eyes, and everything that’s happened passes between us without him or me saying a word.
Aruan turns his gaze on Tarix, staring at him and seeing the truth.
“Look what she did to me,” Tarix whines again. “Help me, my son.”
The hand Tarix holds out to Aruan starts to bubble and boil.
Aruan’s lips pull back from his teeth. “You dared to put your hands on my mate.”
The scream that leaves Tarix’s mouth is in his own voice. He can’t hold up the act any longer. He changes back into himself, showing his true colors.
Aruan extends an arm toward me. “Come here, Elsie.”
I don’t hesitate. I stumble over to his side and let him pull me against him. He brushes a kiss over my temple without taking his eyes off of Tarix. “All right?” His power rages, I can feel it, but he’s in control, our completed bond a steadying influence on him.
I smile through the pain. “You know perfectly well how I am.”
“I just wanted to hear your voice.” He kisses the top of my head. “Don’t look.”
“Don’t do it.” I place a hand over his heart. “Don’t melt him.”
A muscle ticks in Aruan’s jaw. “He deserves nothing less.”
“The people he betrayed deserve to hear his confession.”
Cradling his arm against his chest, Tarix splutters through sobs, “I did what I did for Zerra.”
Contempt distorts Aruan’s features. “I’ve heard enough.”
He looks over his shoulder at the open portal. “We have to get back to the portal my mother created.”
If she’s still holding it open.
I can read his thoughts, even though he doesn’t say it.
I brush my palm over his chest and offer him a smile. “In the worst-case scenario, we’ll stay close to my parents.”
His expression darkens. “Zerra needs us.”
Because I almost destroyed it. And I have to go back and fix what I can.
Before I can fully process that, he bends down and grabs Tarix’s good arm. “Hold on to me, Elsie.”
I cling to him as he takes us through the portal to the lawn in front of my parents’ house. I’m only grateful their car isn’t in the driveway, which means they must be out. I don’t want them to see the blood and gore.
Dragging Tarix along, Aruan rounds the neatly trimmed hedge. His chest expands with a breath when the circle of lights comes into view.
This time, as he pulls me through, I go willingly. Wholeheartedly. Because the only place I want to be is at his side. No matter where that is.
The immediate royal family waits on the other side. The king and queen, as well as Gaia, Kian, and Vitai, are gathered in the queen’s reception room.
Aruan shoves Tarix in front of his mother.
She clenches her hands. “You betrayed me.”
“I did it for Zerra.” Tarix repeats the same line over and over. “I did it for Zerra.”
“I trusted you to advise me,” the queen says. “Instead, you abused my trust.”
“He’ll destroy us,” Tarix exclaims.
“You’re wrong, Tarix.” The queen’s smile is grim. “Losing his mate would’ve destroyed us.”
“That’s not true.” Tarix glances between the queen and the king. “You’re believers. You know what the prophecy says.”
“Look around you, Tarix,” the queen says. “You almost destroyed Zerra by taking Elsie. If Aruan hadn’t found her in time, that’s what would’ve happened.”
Tarix glances out the window and blanches. “But the prophecy—”
The king lunges forward to grip Tarix’s nape. “The prophecy be cursed. I’ll hear no more about it.”
Tarix bares his teeth. “You’re weak, all of you.”
The king’s smile is cold. “We wiped out your slave trade operation and put an end to your pitiful rebellion. Tomorrow, at first light, you’ll be on trial for the crimes you’ve committed against the royal family and citizens of Zerra, whom you were supposed to serve.”
Tarix breaks free. “I won’t be judged for doing what’s right.”
The king’s smile stretches into a dark grin. “We’ll see about that.” He turns to Kian. “Take him to the cells.”
“We need to block the cell so he doesn’t try to escape with a portal to Earth,” Aruan says. “He can also change shape. He impersonated you, Mother. Don’t let anyone near him lest he tries to trick them.”
The queen reels at that.
“Now if you don’t mind,” Aruan continues. “I’d like to take care of Elsie.”
He puts his arm around my waist, leading me to the archway, which I dissolve.