Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Back in the library,” he demands.
I hesitate, for just a second, as I consider any and every thing I can do to free her, but then he presses the gun harder to her head. A dreadful whimper leaves her and I begin to walk backwards into the library. She shakes her head, as if she wants me to forsake her and save myself.
Never.
The general walks forward, and Selina with him, until we’re all in the library once more. The guards no longer even bother to pretend to be ready to shoot me. Why bother when the general now has the only thing that he actually can hurt me within his grasp?
“Bring the table in,” the general says to the guards.
Behind me, I hear a flurry of movement, and the scraping of the table I’ve been made to sit at each day being removed. I don’t turn to look at what they’re doing. It doesn’t truly matter. Only the female before me does. Her green and blue eyes stare into mine, brows drawn down, her body trembling. She’s so afraid, but I get the sense that it’s not for herself, but for me. I wish I could embrace her, comfort her right now, but I need her to be strong for just a while longer. Because, no matter what, we will be leaving here.
The grunts behind me say that the guards are bringing something heavy into the room. Selina’s eyes break away from mine to look behind me, and she cries out.
“No! Don’t do—”
“Shut your mouth, you useless whore,” her father insults her through clenching teeth while giving her head a harsh shake.
His eyes are on her, so I seize the moment and launch myself forward. Hands are immediately on me, trying to restrain me and attempting to hold me back. I thrust my left arm forward and two guards go flying, leaving me free to punch one guard on the right in the face. I feel the bones of his nose break under my knuckles, even as an arm wraps around my neck. I reach back, grabbing the clothes of that guard to throw him over my head, but the sound of a shot firing stills me.
I’m too afraid to even turn my head and look, to see if he’s murdered my mate.
“Bothaki, run!” she screams.
My eyes snap to hers.
Selina sobs. “Run, please.”
She’s not injured, but I see dust falling from above her, and look up to see what her father has fired at. The ceiling, leaving a hole clear through it. That could have been my mate, a hole in her head. And the General makes that all the more clear when he places the gun back to her head. She flinches and I hear the low sizzle of a burn at her temple. I roar but don’t advance.
The general smiles, knowing he has me right where he wants me.
“Take off the suit,” he says, with quite a bit of triumph in his voice.
I can survive nearly anything in my suit. Without it, well, I guess we’ll find out, because, with the General placing his finger back on the trigger, I have no choice but to obey him.
“Don’t do it, Bothaki. No, please,” Selina begs.
But my hand is already moving to my chest. The guards all let go of me as my hand reaches the square. I place my thumb to it, and the moment it recognizes my print and touch, the suit retracts. A feat none of these men could have done if I had not done it for them. The smile on the General’s face is maniacal.
“Yes, yes!” he exclaims. “Lay on the table.”
I look over my shoulder and see a long steel table, with shackles waiting to be placed around my hands and feet. I can tell they must have had it made just for me with how long it is. Perfect for my height. Perfect for making sure I don’t escape it. No wonder he’s treated me as well as he has for as long as he did—the table just wasn’t ready yet.
“Lay on the table, or I’ll put Selina on it instead,” he threatens.
I look back at him, scowling, but then I do as he says. What choice do I have? I must protect my mate, at all costs, and have already failed just by her being down here right now at the mercy of her sick father. I should have known she would be what he’d use against me. My act wasn’t enough to convince him that I didn’t care about her. Every ounce of pain she feels is my fault. It is my dishonor. I must do this, if it means saving her.
The steel is freezing against my bare skin. The guards are quick to shackle my hands and feet, and then another strap comes across my middle and chest. One guard moves down to strap my legs. Another moves to the top of the table. Before they strap my head down and all I can see is the ceiling and blinding lights, my last vision is of Selina crying and desperately trying to free herself from her father’s hold, reaching for me.