Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
She turned her face away, the nausea overwhelming her. She clenched her eyes shut. “Oh God,” she gasped, swallowing hard to keep from throwing up. “How many of you are there in your little group? Five of you are dead. Are there only six?” she forced out, desperation lacing her words.
“Four are dead,” Lukas corrected smugly. “Coron is still alive in the cells underground. I’ll spring him once everyone dies.”
Her chest tightened, her lungs struggling to draw in air. “You think the virus will kill everyone?”
“We hope.” He turned the UTV toward the river. “Don’t know, really.”
Her pulse hammered in her ears. “What’s in the virus?”
“I have no idea. Not my purview. I just cause chaos, and now we just need to wait to see if everyone dies. It looks good so far.” He grinned, a predator toying with his prey. “For now, you and I are going to have some fun.”
The UTV rumbled to a halt in front of a sweet-looking, newly constructed A-frame cabin nestled near the river. Snow clung to its sloped roof, and icicles dangled from the eaves, glittering in the cold light. Lyrica’s heart plummeted as Lukas turned to face her, his grin widening.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Vero halted his UTV in front of the lodge headquarters and quickly assisted the six mates out that he’d crammed inside. One by one, they climbed out, worry etched into every line of their faces. Normally, their chatter filled any space they occupied, but today, they moved in silence, weighed down by fear for their ill mates. He ushered them toward the lodge entrance, his promise to the soldiers echoing in his mind—he would return for them once the females were safe.
As the UTV door clicked shut, Silas limped out of the lodge, his steps heavy. His expression was grim, his words clipped, his hands shaking. “Lyrica’s gone,” he said without preamble.
Jonathan stumbled out behind him, pale and shuddering wildly. Blood trickled from a deep gash above his ear, his normally steady hands trembling as if they wouldn’t obey his commands. “I’m so sorry,” he rasped, his voice hoarse. “I tried to stop him, but I couldn’t.”
Vero froze, words catching in his throat before he forced himself to speak. “Who?” His tone was ice, dangerous in its calm.
“Lukas.” Jonathan doubled over and dry-heaved into a snowbank. No vomit came, just raw, wrenching gasps. He clutched his stomach, his voice breaking as he continued. “I figured out he’s one of the Defenders. Something he said, it just clicked. God, I tried to stop him, but he got to Lyrica before I could get her away.”
“You’re telling me that kid is one of the Defenders?” Vero’s fists clenched at his sides, his voice low and vibrating with restrained fury.
Jonathan nodded weakly. “Yeah. I think he’s the one killing the human females. And now he’s taken Lyrica.”
Rage shot through Vero like wildfire, hot and all-consuming. His boots crunched against the snow as he surged toward Jonathan, fists ready to make him pay for his failure.
Silas stepped in, placing a shaking hand on Vero’s chest. “Stop. Jonathan tried to save her. He fought hard. Look at him—he crawled back here, bleeding and puking, just to tell us what happened. He did everything he could.”
Vero stopped, forcing himself to breathe. His vision blurred with fury, but he stepped back, giving Jonathan a moment of reprieve. “Fine,” he growled. “Tell me everything.”
Jonathan wiped a pale hand across his mouth. “They headed east in the UTV,” he said weakly. “I tried to follow on his snowmobile, but I crashed into a tree. It wouldn’t start again. I passed out and… I don’t even remember crawling back here. I just knew I had to tell you.” He looked up, guilt etched deeply into his fevered face.
Vero’s chest constricted, fear clawing at him like a living thing. It was foreign, unwelcome, but impossible to ignore. He turned to Silas, his expression tight.
Silas’s phone buzzed sharply, breaking the tense silence. He answered immediately. “Hi, King Paxton. What’ve you got? You do? Okay, can you trace it back?” He paused, his free hand tightening into a fist. “You’re sure? Yeah, I’ll hold.” Seconds stretched into eternity before he nodded sharply. “Got it.” He ended the call and turned back to Vero. “As soon as Jonathan showed up, I called Paxton, and he had the Realm hack into the nearest satellites since I didn’t want to leave the main lodge and find a computer. Plus, the Realm is fast. Hope traced the UTV’s last location.” He rattled off the coordinates.
Jonathan groaned, his legs giving out as he collapsed onto the snow.
Vero went cold. “Stay inside and guard the females. I’ll be back.”
“Of course,” Silas muttered, crouching to lift the unconscious soldier. He hefted Jonathan’s limp body over his shoulder. “I’ll drag him into the kitchen,” he said, meeting Vero’s gaze. “King Paxton is headed this way, just so you know.”