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)
He stared past the wall for a moment. “She went out running at night. I’m still not entirely sure she meant to kill herself, but she did fall off a cliff. Either way, I blamed him. Still do.”
Nadia nodded slowly. “So you didn’t love her.”
“Not like you’re thinking,” he said truthfully. “But she mattered and would’ve had a good life if Bulwark hadn’t gotten in the way.”
“I get it.” Nadia glanced around the room. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
The words warmed something deep in his chest. “Thank you. I’m sorry you had to go out with Bulwark. Apparently, he didn’t understand the rules of this challenge.”
She looked up again, resting back on her hands. “Oh, he understood. The rules were that I had to survive it. Anything else was fair game.” Her mouth tightened. “Smacking me around a little bit seems to be okay? Not to me, of course. I’m just talking about the rules. I think the kiss might have been over the line. If Bulwark isn’t dead, maybe we can kick him out of this contest.”
Caidrik liked that idea a lot. He would kill his brother to protect Nadia, without question. It wasn’t something he wanted to do with his mother still alive. That might destroy her. But if the choice came down to Bulwark’s life or Nadia’s safety, there was no choice at all. He leaned in and pressed a light kiss to her nose. “Are you hoping I win?”
She met his gaze directly. “I’m absolutely hoping you win.”
He wanted to believe it was because she had feelings for him. There was no doubt she wanted him. He could see it in her quickened breathing, the faint blush, the way her pupils narrowed. But it wasn’t love—couldn’t be. Someone like her, so pure, sweet, and smart, would never love a killer like him. Still, he would protect her, and sometimes that was enough.
He leaned in and gently kissed the bruise on her cheekbone. She sighed softly. Then he lowered his mouth and kissed the one on her lip, trying to make it better.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Bussy snapped from the doorway.
Caidrik barely stopped himself from jumping and straightened, turning to look at her.
“You have to stop this.” Bussy threw both hands up. “This is not during a challenge. There must be no intimacy.”
He cocked his head. “What about during the challenge? Are you saying anything goes? That she can be attacked and it’s okay?”
Bussy’s eyes widened. “Of course not.”
“Well, she was.” He pointed at Nadia, indicating the bruises on her face and lip. “Bulwark kissed her without asking, and he threw her to the ground.”
Bussy jerked upright. “You are joking. That is terrible. Solomon!”
“What?” Solomon came into view, holding the leather-bound book. Did the man go anywhere without it?
Caidrik guessed he probably slept with it under his pillow.
“Bulwark hit Nadia and kissed her without permission,” Bussy said. “Can we kick him out?”
Hope surged in Caidrik.
Solomon frowned. “Not that I can think of right off hand, but I will look. Assault should be grounds for disqualification, without a doubt. However, as I can think right now, these laws are old, and they don’t cover every contingency. So long as you emerged safely from the tunnel, Bulwark might not be kicked out. But I will search for a way to do it. I promise.” His gaze shifted pointedly to Caidrik. “However, he might be dead. One of the rescue teams just called in, and they haven’t found him. In addition, explosives detonated in the tunnel and caused the cave-in.”
Caidrik stiffened. “You’re saying somebody tried to kill them?” Even Nadia?
“Yes,” Solomon said quietly.
Chapter 10
As she sat in the back seat of the Jeep climbing the mountain, Nadia’s face still ached, even though she’d put ice on her cheek earlier. So far, nobody had found Bulwark. She wanted to be a nice wolf, but having him be dead wasn’t a terrible thing. Even so, who had set those charges?
Bussy glanced back from the driver’s seat. “Are you warm enough, dear?”
“Yes.” As warm as she could be, considering she was being sent on another dangerous quest. “Did you hear anything more about the explosives?”
Margaret turned to partially face her from the front passenger seat. Snow pelted the front window and was swept away by the windshield wipers. “Just that the saboteur used normal mining explosives that we keep on hand in several places.” She shrugged. “I’m not surprised one of the challengers tried to kill Bulwark, but you’re supposed to stay safe. This doesn’t make sense.”
Nadia swallowed. “It might make sense. I feel like Isaac wants to mate with Taryn. Luca might be interested in her, as well. She’s very…tall.” And beautiful. According to Caidrik, Taryn was intelligent to boot. Whatever.
Margaret gasped. “You don’t think one of them actually tried to take you out of play?”