Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
The receptionist behind the main desk smiled widely. “Oh, Nadia, it’s so good to see you.” The female came around the desk and grasped both of Nadia’s hands. Today Glynis wore a pretty pink flowered skirt and a yellow sweater, the colors bright and cheerful. Stylish brown boots peeked out beneath the hem, and her brown hair was piled high on her head. “This is so kind of you. I don’t know if anyone’s said how much we appreciate what you’re doing for the pack.”
“Yes, I’ve heard it all day,” Nadia said, her voice soft but sincere. “It’s nice to feel like I belong.”
“Of course you belong. You’re one of us.” Glynis pulled her into a quick, rose-scented hug. “Now go on into the conference room. There’s coffee, water, and soda. Would you like anything else?”
Nadia’s stomach rolled. “No, thank you. I’m really not hungry.”
“I don’t blame you. This is weird. Don’t worry. We’ll get past it.” Glynis gave her a gentle nudge around the counter.
Nadia stumbled and righted herself before walking down the hallway and turning into the largest conference room. She stopped short.
All four remaining challengers sat around the long slate table, eating donuts.
“Hello, dear,” Bussy said from the corner, where she stood beside her sister and Solomon.
Solomon wore a slate gray suit with a purple tie. The women had chosen slate-colored dresses with purple accents. They all matched. Nadia looked at them, momentarily thrown.
Bussy smiled. “We went with the theme of the day, which is slate. It’s so boring that we had to add some color, and we figured why not purple. Don’t you think?”
“Sure.” Nadia had absolutely no idea why any of it mattered. Her gaze snagged on Caidrik. He was studying her openly, his color fully returned, his posture relaxed but alert. She cleared her throat and forced herself to look at the other three. “How’s everybody feeling?”
“Fine,” Bulwark said shortly.
Isaac nodded. “Never better.” He glanced at Luca, suspiciousness in his gaze.
Luca lifted one shoulder in a loose shrug and winked at Nadia. “I honestly didn’t poison anybody. I wouldn’t stoop that low. I just don’t like tea.” He flicked a look toward the other males at the table. “I’m surprised you all drank it. It was fricking tea, gents.”
Nadia tried to center herself. Somehow.
The slate conference room table looked too tight for the number of males packed around it. The long table anchored the space, its smooth surface reflecting the overhead lights in dull bands. Donut boxes sat open and half-emptied, the sugary smell clashing with the tension crawling through the air.
Caidrik crossed his arms, his body language closing off as his eyes glowed faintly. He looked less like a hopeful Alpha and more like a brewing storm. “Could we get on with this?” he asked, his voice sharp.
“Why? Are you ready to die?” Bulwark drawled.
Caidrik turned his head slowly toward his brother. “It’s a good thing your father’s gone, or he’d be mourning you already.”
“You’ll meet your bastard father again before I see mine in hell,” Bulwark shot back.
“Enough.” Bussy snapped the word like a whip. She raised one hand. “Boys, please behave. So, you have to fight to the death. Big deal,” she went on briskly. “Get over it.”
Nadia stared at the older woman, disbelief tightening her chest.
Bussy shrugged. “Sorry, dear. Facts are facts.”
Solomon moved then, lifting the grimoire from a side table. The leather cover creaked softly as he placed it at the head of the conference table. The ladies flanked him automatically, forming a quiet wall of authority.
“All right,” Solomon said. “We had five challengers. Now we have four. I’ve searched all the rules.” He flipped a page. “If one of you poisoned the tea, you didn’t break any guidelines. Sabotage is perfectly acceptable.”
Nadia wanted to lean against the wall but stood tall instead. Well, tall for her. “That’s just great,” she muttered.
“Wait a minute,” Bulwark said. “I thought we couldn’t kill each other outside of the trials.”
“Oh no,” Solomon replied calmly. “You can kill each other now that the challenge has started.” He peered down at the grimoire. “Feel free.”
Bulwark’s body bunched, muscles tightening as if he might launch himself across the table.
“Hold it.” Solomon raised a hand. “Let’s at least get through this part first. Then you can fight to the death.” He didn’t sound like he cared.
Nadia did. She cared very much. “I’m trying to find a way out of this for everyone.”
“You can’t,” Solomon replied.
“Maybe you can’t,” she shot back, her pulse hammering. “But I have a code deciphering that ancient language that apparently only you can read. I think you might be making it up on the spot.”
Solomon reared back, clearly affronted. “I would never do such a thing. Feel free. I’m happy to translate for you anytime.”
“Good,” Nadia said. “Let’s meet after this. I have questions that might help my algorithm.”