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)
Vero didn’t think he could keep his brother away. “Call him and tell him to remain with the Realm soldiers on the perimeter when they finally arrive.” Hopefully in time to protect the territory from any oncoming threat. “I don’t want to see him until tomorrow night, in time for the Convexus. Remind him to fucking stay safe.”
“Yes, sir,” Silas said, sweating profusely and staggering under Jonathan’s weight.
Vero nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ll be back with my mate…and answers.” He ran to the UTV. The frigid air bit at his face, but he barely felt it. His mate needed him, and nothing—not snow, not Defenders, not death itself—would stop him.
* * * *
Lyrica fought with every ounce of strength she could muster as Lukas dragged her from the UTV, his grip unrelenting as he hauled her toward the cabin. She shrieked, her legs kicking wildly, and managed to drive her elbow into his groin. He let out a strangled curse and dropped her. Scrambling to get away, she had barely moved when he recovered, grabbing her hair and twisting hard enough to make her scalp burn.
“Stop fighting,” he growled, dragging her across the icy, rocky ground. Each sharp edge and jagged patch of ice tore into her thighs and legs, shredding her jeans. Lyrica clawed at his hands, her nails biting into his gloves, but he only chuckled.
“Feisty. I like that,” he said, yanking her roughly up the two wooden porch stairs. The door creaked as he shoved it open, and she tumbled into a sofa table. Pain radiated through her temple as she slammed into the edge.
Lukas kicked the door shut and turned to face her, his grin stretching wide. “I made it nice and toasty for you.” He gestured to the roaring fire crackling in the stone hearth.
Lyrica staggered to her feet, one hand braced on the sofa table for balance. She forced herself to look at him despite the pounding in her skull. “You’re seventeen,” she spat. “You can’t seriously be a psychopathic rapist and killer already.”
“Oh, but I can,” he replied cheerfully, spreading his arms wide. “I’m just getting started. Think how good I’ll be in fifty years. Or two hundred.”
The thought churned her stomach. She glanced around frantically, searching for a weapon. The coffee table held nothing more than a few magazines, and the quiet kitchen gleamed with its pristine, untouched countertops.
Lukas followed her gaze and smirked. “Yeah, this place is brand new. No one’s moved in yet. I figured you and I could make good use of it. Well, until I strangle you and freeze you.”
His words hit her like a punch. “You’re insane.”
“Not even close. Do you have a favorite snowbank in mind? I’ll let you choose your resting place. But first, we have some fun.” He started toward her, and she took a step back.
“What about the virus?” she asked quickly, desperate to buy time. “Will it kill everyone?”
He paused as if willing to play with her a bit. “Maybe. Like I already said, that’s not my department.”
“Whose is it?”
“You don’t know him. A guy named Laker, who is some genius virologist.” Lukas tilted his head, as if considering her. “He’s not here, though. Stays outside the territory.”
Her mind raced, trying to place the name. She came up blank. “He brought in the victims, didn’t he? The ones we couldn’t identify.”
“Oh yeah. I’d meet him while on patrol and then report in all was well since our satellites weren’t live yet. We’re supposed to patrol in pairs, but as a kid, I can take off on my own and nobody really cares. So, if I went hill climbing and met my buddy, no one was the wiser.” He snorted. “The human females didn’t like the several days of riding to get here, but by the time they reached me, they still had some fight left. That made it more fun.”
Lyrica gagged, pivoting slightly, readying herself to strike. “Who were those poor women?”
“My playthings,” he said. “Laker found them in different cities, both homeless and probably sex workers.”
She had to get out of there and track down their relatives. Somehow. “You’re sick,” she snapped, her voice shaking.
“You don’t have any training, do you?” Lukas’s expression turned almost pitying, though his amusement remained. “That’s what I thought.” He sighed, his face dropping into something colder. “Too bad. I do love a good fight.”
“What about Genevieve?” she asked, grasping for any leverage she could. Had she been mated long enough for the mating allergy to have kicked in? Hopefully? “Genevieve loves you.”
“She’s a stupid female,” he said with a scoff. “But she was a good cover. I’ll kill her next.”
Lyrica’s stomach twisted violently. “Lukas, this isn’t who you want to be.”
“It’s exactly who I want to be,” he said. “Now, take off your clothes.” His hand lifted. “Or I’ll do it myself.”