Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 130619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Zeke and Silas act quickly, easing him to his side, and there’s so much blood gushing from Micah’s remaining wound—too much blood. I use both hands again, pressing them to the wound and sealing it off. Watching the flow of blood halt is blessed relief. “On his back,” I order, and I use my magic to remove the vial of soto I’ve been carrying in my pocket.
Gabriella has joined us at some point and settles at Micah’s head, lifting it to her lap, and I have the fleeting realization that I don’t mind her touching him, but Celine is another story. There is something about her that sits wrong and screams of warning. She is not what she seems, my instincts scream, but I’ll analyze why later. For now, I reach for Micah’s mind, bully my way in, and say, I need you to wake up and drink the soto. Please. For me.
His lashes flutter open, and his lips twitch in what I think is supposed to be another attempt at a smile as he whispers, “For you.”
With shaking hands, I ease the liquid down his throat and toss the vial when it’s empty, pressing my forehead to his, speaking to him in my mind. Do not die on me. Do you hear me? But he’s already passed out again.
I sit back, and my gaze meets Zeke’s. “I can’t go to the garrison and risk leading Jeremy to it. I need another safe option.” No sooner do I say those words than a place and a location press into my mind, and I know Micah put them there. “Maine,” I say to them all. “He wants to go to Maine.” I grab Micah’s hand and rift us, reappearing outside a lighthouse with waves crashing on the rocks below, the water close, and the air bitterly cold. Demons don’t like the water, I remember Micah telling me the day we were on the beach in Elysium, and here we are, by the water.
Silas, Zeke, and Gabriella appear moments after us. Zeke kneels next to Micah but speaks to me. “You can use magic inside the lighthouse, but you can’t rift to get in. Me and Silas will get him inside and in bed. Gabriella can rift you down so you end up in the right spot, but first, you need to go tell the lighthouse to let us in.”
“Wait. What? How?”
“Because he’s the only person who can allow anyone to enter, and since you’re obviously bonded with him, I’m hoping like hell you can, too.”
I’m back to feeling a little ridiculous, but I can feel Sara inside me, almost encouraging me, a reminder that in my new world, the unreal is real. I rift to the heavy wooden door and press my hands to the hard surface. “Micah is hurt badly,” I say. “Can you please let us in?” The door swings open, and I breathe out in relief, motioning Zeke and Silas forward.
I watch as they ease Micah to his feet, one of them on either side, and they literally lift him off the ground and rush toward me. Once they’re at the door, Zeke takes over and eases him inside. I glance in, and they’re gone. Gabriella appears beside me, and we enter what looks like what you’d expect a lighthouse to look like. There are wooden stairs winding upward, and that’s it.
Gabriella pulls the door shut behind us and bolts it and then offers me her hand. A moment later, I swear we’re inside the house in Elysium, outside the two doors that lead to my room and Micah’s room. “How is this possible?”
“It’s a lot of magic mumbo jumbo I’ll explain later. Right now, Micah needs you.”
The door opens, and Zeke and Silas step into the hallway. “He’s resting but fine,” Zeke announces. “He wants Silas and Gabriella to go to the garrison and ensure their safety. I’ll stay here, though it’s safe here, Ember. The water, the spellcasting. It’s a double layer of protection.”
“One of us needs a blood link with you, Ember,” Gabriella says. “It needs to be me, and before we leave.” I open my mouth to argue, and she cuts me off. “You faced Jeremy and sent him running. I’m not afraid of the bond, but I’m the right choice. I’m the water to your flame.”
“I’ll do it,” Zeke interjects. “I’m personal guard to Micah. She’s linked to him, which means I’m now her personal guard as well.”
“Why don’t we all just fucking link up?” Silas says. “If she turns into a demon, we’re better off three against one anyway. If she doesn’t, we have a badass bitch on our side and at our beck and call.”
“You’re all crazy. No.”
“Yes,” they all say at once.
Blades appear in all of their hands, and they slice their palms, blood pooling red and beginning to roll across their skin. “No,” I say firmly. “No.”