Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Duck caught that and eyed Banks.
Chen continued to watch Lei.
My stomach clenched in confusion, but I put my focus back on Lei.
On the branch, his body swayed, his hands moving slower now as if the poison were stealing every ounce of energy he had left.
No. No. This isn’t alright. I can’t just sit back and watch this.
I thrashed against Duck’s grip. “Let me go! He’s dying!”
They didn’t let up.
Ignoring me, Duck yelled. “Lei, watch out!!”
I checked back to the tree.
Leo kicked Lei hard in the chest, and Lei fell.
Oh my God.
Lei’s body tumbled from the branch and he tried to grab hold of another, but his hands slipped. I watched, helplessly as he plummeted.
“No!” The word ripped from my throat, raw and broken.
It wasn’t just my voice either.
Aunt Suzi screamed too.
When Lei hit the ground, I thought my heart stopped. For a moment, everything in the arena blurred—the roar of the crowd, the shouts of Aunt Min and Suzi, even the tight grip of Duck and Chen on my arms. It all faded into a dull hum as my focus tunneled on him, crumpled and unmoving on the blood-streaked ground.
Baby, we’re supposed to have our happily ever after.
Terror laced Duck’s voice. “Get up, Lei! He’s climbing down!”
My eyes darted to the tree.
The monster slowly descended.
Sweat dripped from Leo’s face. He looked wild and unhinged. His grin stretching wide. His teeth bared in a twisted expression of triumph.
Two big crows darted at him. Their sharp cries pierced the air. They attacked with relentless fury, delaying him a little.
Leo swung his blade in wide, vicious arcs, but his strikes were slower now.
His first swing of the sword missed them entirely.
The crows were relentless, pecking at his shoulders and clawing at his head. One of them managed to rake its talons across his cheek, leaving a fresh gash that oozed blood.
Leo snarled and swung again, narrowly missing the bird as it veered sharply to the side.
That’s right. Get him, crows!
I checked back to Lei.
He lay there crumpled on the ground, barely moving. The sight of him, so still, sent a wave of cold terror through me.
“Get up, baby!” I shivered. “Please, get up!”
The crows attacked again, one of them diving for Leo’s head. This time, he was ready. With a quick twist of his wrist, he slashed upward.
The blade caught the bird mid-flight.
Blood sprayed across the white bark, and the lifeless body tumbled down, landing with a sickening thud on the ground below.
The second crow screeched and backed off, circling above as if considering its next move.
Leo didn’t wait for it to strike again. He gripped the branch beneath him, using it as leverage to drop down to the next one.
He was almost on the ground now.
“P-please, Duck.” More tears spilled from my eyes. “He’s going to kill Lei.”
Duck’s voice broke through my haze of panic. “You can’t go out there.”
“He’s going to kill Lei and you’re just sitting here doing nothing!”
Chen’s voice cut in, low and tense. “Moni, listen to me. If you go out there, you’ll only make it worse. Lei needs to do this on his own.”
Duck widened his eyes. “Lei’s moving. Look. He’s getting up.”
We all turned back.
Lei was indeed trying to push himself up from the ground. His movements were slow, sluggish, but there was an undeniable determination in his eyes that was impossible to ignore.
He steadied himself with one arm, the other hanging limply at his side. It was apparent he was in pain but he didn't let it hinder him.
"Fight, Lei!" Duck roared. “Imperial Lament is six feet away!”
But then, Lei's body went limp, collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud. His face contorted in pain.
“Oh, hell no! Let me go!” I fought harder against Chen and Duck. My nails clawed at Chen’s wrist, and I could feel the burn of their hands bruising my arms. “He’s going to kill him!”
“Stay here, Moni!” Chen growled. “You’ll only get yourself killed!”
With a speed that stole my breath, Banks turned around quick and launched himself at Duck.
What?!
Banks’s fist slammed into Duck’s chest like a battering ram. The force sent Duck stumbling back, and his grip on my arm loosened for a fraction of a second.
“What the hell?” Duck snarled and recovered but was still holding me.
Oh shit. Banks hit him again, so I can get free!
Chapter thirty-two
Against All Odds
Moni
Banks didn’t waste a second, throwing a punch that caught Duck square in the jaw.
Duck staggered but recovered quickly as he finally let me go and his eyes blazed with fury.
Okay. I just have to deal with Chen.
Duck lunged at Banks, and their bodies crashed into each other with a sickening thud, causing people to scream and race away from their seats.
They grappled for control, grunting and snarling.
Aunt Suzi cried, “No, God. Leo don’t take him from us! Please! Please!”