Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Let’s get that coat off you. Slide your arm out of the sleeve.”
May slowly followed his directions. Soon the coat dangled from one shoulder. It was way too big. Maybe there would be enough material to wrap around her hand to trap the chemicals in the fabric instead of releasing them into the air.
“I’m going to come closer and wrap the coat around your hand. Then you’re going to pull your hand out slowly. How did they get your hand in this?” Rogan asked to give her something else to focus on. She was already stiff with fear. He wound the coat tightly around her hand.
“They’d already stuffed a bag in the pocket when they put it on me. They made me put on a glove and then slide my hand into the container. I was supposed to grab a handful, or the whole packet, and throw it at you.”
“You’re too close, Rogan,” Keres called.
Rogan waved him off. Tell me something I don’t know. There’s no other way to do this.
“Okay, at the count of five, I’m going to pull this off you. Keep your fingers straight. Once your hand is free from the pocket, wiggle them around to wipe off any powder clinging to your hand.”
Brooks. I have a situation here. Stay where you are. I’m taking care of it. I love you, Adventurer.
“One. Two.”
Daddy?
“Three. Four.”
I love you!
“Five.”
Rogan whisked off the coat and stared at the strips coated with powder attached to the glove. They’d added double-stick tape to make sure she pulled out some of the lethal substance. He stripped the glove off and dropped it. Grabbing May’s arm, he ran toward Keres.
Gray tinged the edges of his vision, and Rogan lost his orientation to the space around him as everything whirled chaotically. Pushing May in front of him as he fell, Rogan called, “Take her, Keres.”
Daddy!
Chapter 11
Please let him be okay.
Brooks studied the still figure stretched out in his bed. He reached forward to brush his hair from his eyes. His fingers lingered on that red streak.
He has to be okay.
After the first message, Brooks had jumped to his feet and raced for the square. He found Keres holding a limp figure, with Drake in dragon form spitting fire down the alleyway. Drake had blocked him from running to Rogan.
When Drake stopped the flames, Rogan hadn’t moved. They’d brought him to his mansion, hoping for the best. Brooks guessed from their faces, they didn’t think he’d recover.
Daddy? Can you hear me?
Brooks tried communicating through their connection for the millionth time. Rogan didn’t answer.
Struggling to hold on to hope, Brooks dropped his forehead down to Rogan’s hand. He had to get better.
The press of Rogan’s hand against his skin reminded him of the tour through his head. That door. Three locks secured the door. His connection with Rogan had strengthened when he’d opened that second lock. What would happen if he unlocked the third? He’d never asked.
Could he find his way back to the door? He had to try.
Brooks focused on Rogan’s hand pressing against his forehead. He followed the steps Rogan had coached him through. When he faced the darkness of his mind, Brooks searched for the red light. It darted here and there, eluding him. Stubbornly, he focused.
There!
He traced the light back to his door. The sight of the heart with his and Rogan’s names made his eyes water. Brooks ignored his tears. He could cry later. He reached forward to that third lock.
Expecting it would be as tough to rotate as the second was, Brooks powered it open. A rush of sensations flooded him as the lever turned easily. Suddenly, he had access to Rogan’s mind.
Nausea welled up inside him as absolute dizziness struck him. How was Rogan surviving this? Brooks had no idea which way was up. He tightened his fingers on the soft bedding on their bed. That tethered him slightly, slowing down the spin of the images swirling around him.
Brooks?
Daddy. I’m here. Help me find you.
Get out of my mind, Brooks. It’s too dangerous for you here.
I’m not going anywhere.
It took every ounce of his concentration, but Brooks searched for something to help him. A red flash appeared on the fringe of his sight. Before he could lock in on it, the light was gone, but now he had a plan. He ignored the topsy-turviness around him and tried to spot it again.
The third time, he had the red streak fixed in front of him. Wading through the chaos streaming around him, Brooks ignored everything except that light. With each step he took, Rogan’s presence grew stronger.
Daddy. I’m coming. Look for me.
Brooks, the longer you stay in here, the harder it will be for you to escape. Go now, mate. I love you.
To hell with that. You’ve fought this long. Fucking swim through this nightmare to meet me. Come now, Daddy.