Total pages in book: 401
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
“The lamaea aren’t an old wives’ tale,” I said, shuddering. I would have to be disturbed by that realization later. “And neither…” I swallowed thickly, looking at the piece of torn flesh dangling from Malik’s arm. “Neither are gruls.”
“Poppy?” Casteel said, tearing off a piece of his cloak.
“Yeah?”
“Stop staring at his arm.”
“Yeah.” Blinking, I looked away.
“Can someone fill me in?” Malik asked, his voice tight.
“They’re corpses,” Kieran said.
“No shit,” Malik retorted. I peeked and saw that Casteel had wrapped his arm.
“Reanimated corpses,” he continued, his lip curling. “They’re like Craven and a type of Gyrm. Not the kind conjured by magic—”
“But made by a god,” I finished, remembering the smooth, featureless faces of the other Gyrms.
Kieran nodded. “Gyrms created by gods are usually created for a purpose—to fight, hunt, or serve. But gruls…”
I inhaled sharply, for once wishing the vadentia had stayed silent. “They’re used in the Abyss to feast on the flesh.”
“Spiritual flesh,” Kieran corrected. “But, yeah.”
I looked at him. “Thanks for the unnecessary clarification—”
Shouts erupted from outside, drawing my attention to the door.
Casteel turned. “How many did you notice this happening to?”
“This was the first house I saw it in,” Perry said, reaching for the short sword attached to his back. “So, they’re killed like Gyrms?”
“Sever the spinal cord or destroy the brain,” Kieran answered.
The father jerked up, reaching for the person closest to him.
“Kieran,” I shouted, snapping forward. I reached inside the folds of the cloak for my dagger—
The tip of a bloodstone sword erupted from the man’s face, spraying oily black blood that smelled of stale lilacs.
Dropping the father, I watched as Casteel withdrew his sword. “I had it covered,” I grumbled.
Casteel winked. “I know.” He turned to the mother, driving his sword through the center of her head.
A pain-filled shout echoed from outside, spinning me around.
“Shit.” Naill unhooked a short sword as he stalked forward. “I’m willing to bet everyone is letting themselves get chomped on like Malik—”
“Fuck you,” Malik ground out.
“—because they don’t realize what they’re dealing with.”
“Fuck you again,” Malik muttered as Naill raced into the hall.
Casteel frowned at his brother.
“Is it possible not all will turn?” Perry asked.
“It’s too much of a risk,” Casteel said. I hated to admit it, but I agreed. “Kieran, get my brother back to Wayfair.”
Kieran and I stiffened.
“And make sure the generals and commanders are aware of this,” he instructed. “We have no idea if there are more like this out there who just haven’t been found.”
My stomach sank. I hadn’t even thought of that. Thank gods Casteel had. It made sense to send Malik back since he was still bleeding like a stuck barrat, but Casteel could’ve sent Naill or any of the other guards with him.
That’s what he would’ve usually done.
“Here.” Kieran tossed me one of his bloodstone swords, his expression locked down. “You won’t have to get too close since they are…bitey.”
“Thank you.” The lightweight sword and the feel of the smooth metal against my palm felt good. I glanced at Malik. “You could try fixing,” I said to Kieran, pointing the sword at Malik’s arm, “that.”
Interest sparked. “True.”
“Let’s get this done.” Casteel stalked past Kieran, then stopped. “Be quick and careful.”
Kieran nodded, then motioned at Malik. “Come on.”
My gaze swung to Casteel as what Malik had said to me returned like a quiet but undeniable whisper. Knowing this wasn’t the time to question Casteel, I firmed my grip on the sword. We quickly made our way to the entrance and…
Walked into chaos.
“Oh, my,” I murmured.
The air was filled with the sickening sounds of ragged growls, thin hisses, and the savage clack of snapping teeth as a child raced past us, leaping to land on a guard’s back. A man with a gaping wound across his throat sprinted out of the house down the street while several ran toward a group of stunned guards. Others darted in every direction, their bare feet slapping off cobblestones.
“Destroy the brain!” Naill shouted from our left, his sword dripping dark blood as a woman fell forward. Others darted in different directions as Emil stumbled out of the house next to us, blood dripping from his hand.
“Emil,” Casteel barked. “You good?”
The Elemental turned to us, his face as pale as a white shroud. “I just…” He swallowed. “It was a child,” he said, his voice hoarse. A pang of sorrow pierced my heart. “He bit me, and I…I had to.”
“You did nothing wrong,” Casteel was quick to say.
A woman rushed out of the shadows, the front of her cotton sleeping gown stained with dried blood. I moved forward as Casteel grasped Emil by the shoulder. The snarling woman didn’t even seem to see me until I was right in front of her, but I saw her. She was young, possibly only in her second decade of life. A curtain of tight braids slapped against her cheeks as she jerked back, her head cocking. Something seemed to move inside her milky-white eyes right before I drove the sword through her chin.