Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
There was no doubt he was completely in love with Finn Kelly and couldn’t see not being with him forever. But part of him was terrified over the thought of what that would do with his music. It wasn’t the limelight Finn had talked about. Mostly. He did love performing. Being on stage. Mostly though, he loved the creation. But to not share those creations with people? Just write in secret and…do what with it? He could sell songs to others, but he’d still have his identity, and a hundred years down the line, how would he hide that? Reinvent himself with new identities? How the hell did they do this?
He tried to think of anything else he’d enjoy doing. With that much time, he could find a new career. But there was also his having to leave BTC while still relatively young. Maybe they wouldn’t even still be popular at that point.
The problem was hundreds of years not spent putting his music out there.
But the alternative was unthinkable. Life without Finn?
No. Just no.
A life spent with that wonderful jinn—a long one—would be a gift.
There was really no choice. Ajax’s heart soared as he understood this was what he wanted. What he needed.
A leaf crunched behind him, and then Finn was settling onto the ground beside him. He looked at this beautiful being. Not human. Magical. Powerful. The disappearing sun created golden highlights in his auburn hair. His deep brown eyes pinned on Ajax.
He gave Ajax a smile that made his heart skip a beat. Ajax opened his mouth to tell him his choice just as there was a shout from the other side of the yard.
Finn jumped up. “Stay with me. Right behind me, okay?”
Ajax scrambled to his feet and ran with Finn as the sound of growls filled the air.
“Those aren’t regular dogs. Stay right here.”
Finn faded away right in front of his eyes as he had in the bedroom. It was incredible to watch. Unreal. Then what he saw stopped his breath.
Dax was fighting three…dogs. But they were unlike any dogs Ajax had ever seen. They were massive—their heads would come to his chest, and their shoulders were thick, bulging with muscle. Black coats looked matted with blood, and there were areas where the fur had been ripped off. Ajax could actually see exposed tissue.
A fourth dog appeared, this one just as large with reddish brown fur. It faced the others, lips curled back and fangs exposed. He realized that one was Finn.
How could he fight those huge monsters?
Because there was no doubt in his mind they were definitely monsters. In addition to their ratty, terrifying appearances, their eyes glowed yellow. For the first time in his life, he wished he had a gun because he’d be no help here. Those creatures scared him to death.
One of the black ones leaped, and the fight that ensued was hard to follow. Growls and snarls filled the air as they snapped and slammed into each other. Dirt flew into the air as Finn rolled with one of them and the other growled and bit at him.
Dax was fighting with the third one, picking it up and hurling it against a tree. But two were after Finn.
Ajax couldn’t breathe, terrified for the jinn he loved. Without even considering the consequences, he searched the ground for a branch, and when he found one, he snatched it up and ran toward the fight.
He swung the branch, hitting one of the black dogs hard enough to make it stagger away from Finn. Finn’s snout turned his way, but he was quickly pulled back into the fray when the other dog bit down on his leg. Finn yelped, yanking his leg away and snapping back.
The dog Ajax had hit crept toward him, head low and deep growls spilling from its mouth.
Those glowing yellow eyes filled him with terror. He lifted the branch, knowing he’d only get one shot, but right before he could swing, Finn leaped in front of the animal, growling fiercely. The two jumped at the same time, Finn viciously ripping into the hound’s throat. The other monster dog came running, and Ajax swung at it, swiping one leg clear off the ground. It lurched to the side but recovered quickly.
Finn left the dog now crumpled on the ground and before Ajax’s eyes, shifted into a tiger mid-jump. He landed on the hound, sinking even longer fangs into its shoulder. They rolled, dirt and clumps of grass flying everywhere. The other black dog wasn’t moving, but Finn was too scared of it to get closer to see if it was dead.
He felt so fucking helpless despite having gotten in two really good swings.
He glanced at Dax to see that he’d felled the third dog and was on his way back to Finn. But just then, the fallen one leaped to its feet and charged Ajax. Saliva dripped from razor-sharp fangs, its ears back as it ran. Ajax’s hands shook on the branch, and he readied to swing just as it jumped into the air.