Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
SlthPrncRonin
Whether by accident or on purpose, the unseen headmistress cut me off from one friend, and one scheming vampire bastard. Ever since, Ronin’s promise to help me whenever I needed it rang louder in my head. From day one, the other demons have run scared of him. They don’t look in his direction. They don’t breathe when he’s sleeping. One word from him, and they won’t touch me.
But that word comes at a price, a voice whispered. A price you are not paying.
I tossed my head, shoving my phone away. I can’t trust Ronin Belphe. He’s had power over me before, and he did not use that power responsibly. What would he do to me when he had me under a spell I couldn’t break?
No. Ronin isn’t the answer. The answer is figuring out who the hallows are, collecting their weird-ass clues, and then getting my sister back.
My phone beeped. A message from Tristan flashed on the screen.
Tristan: I searched for your snake. I picked up the scent, but it’s weeks old. She left the area a while ago, and most likely returned to House Lucifer. No one but those loyal to Lucifer can follow her there.
I groaned, head falling back on my pillow. This news wasn’t too much of a surprise, but I have to admit I was hoping for a miracle. Sabrina was the reason I survived in this place for as long as I did. Without her, I felt even more vulnerable and exposed than I already was.
Me: Thank you for trying.
Gooooonnnnggg!
I about jumped out of my skin, dropping my phone. With classes out for the last few days, the gong hadn’t been rung signaling we had to get our butts moving if we wanted food before classes started. If they were ringing the gong again, that meant classes were starting again—
—and I had to leave this room.
I climbed off the bed, but didn’t take another step. My feet stuck to the carpet—sinking deeper and holding faster as their braying, animalistic cries echoed in my ears. What would happen to me if I went out there? Did I really have to risk it? If I was thrown out of Abaddon Academy, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe—
Maybe the vampires not under Radu’s order will kill me before they tear my limbs apart and lick the blood off my bones.
Groaning, I dropped to my knees—clutching my head. It wasn’t any safer for me outside these walls in a land that didn’t know the words kindness or mercy.
I have to stay, but I’ll be all right. I know how to defend myself. I know how to take care of myself. I’ve done it for years, I won’t stop now.
I repeated that over and over as I forced myself to my feet, then dragged said feet over to the cases. I didn’t feel the usual twinge of annoyance while I riffled through my ugly outfits, trying to put together something that wasn’t too embarrassing. Honestly, I wished embarrassing, ugly outfits were the only thing I had to worry about.
As I dressed and got ready, I listened to the movement and chatter outside the door.
Everyone seemed to be rushing about to class. I couldn’t hear any particular voices congregating outside my door. Even so, I waited until there was silence before dismantling my barricade, and stepping outside.
Our eyes connected immediately.
“Oh my gosh, Sabrina!”
She was curled up in front of the opposite door, still and patient like she’d been waiting for me.
“Thank goodness you came back! I couldn’t—”
“I don’t know who Sabrina is,” replied a smooth, honeyed voice. “But I am not she.”
I lurched back, clunking my skull against the doorjamb. “You!”
“What’s the matter, darling?” Lucifer’s voice flowed out of the snake’s mouth. “You don’t look happy to see me.”
“Fuck you!”
He chuckled, but coming from a snake’s maw, it was more of a whispery, hissy sound. “Forgive me, we would’ve spoken sooner but dreamwalking isn’t as easy as you’d believe. The god of dreams gets pretty tetchy about invaders on his territory,” he said. “Possession is much easier for me, but then of course, the enemy of a physical body is a physical gate. I had to wait until they opened the academy so I could slip in with the new students.”
Thud.
I whipped around, hand flying to my doorknob as I peered down the hallway.
“Jumpy, are we?” Another damn laugh. “But you needn’t be. After all, the headmistress and I discussed and made these changes to keep you safe.”
Slowly, stiffly, I turned narrowed eyes on the evil, red-eyed monster. “You,” I hissed. “You little—”
“Uh-ah,” he sang. “I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you. If you’re mean to me, I won’t give you your present.”
“What present!”
“What do you think?” You’d never in your life hear a snake sound so chirpy. “Your mother has been reading, working, and researching tirelessly over the last few days to narrow down the search for the hallows. She’d had me deliver all of her research to you so that you can get a jumpstart on her theories.” He scoffed. “She’s a bit of a coddler, isn’t she? Not a fan of the tough-love approach, she’s got to do everything for you.”