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)
Don’t worry, Dima. I’ve got it.
I put my view back on my father.
“There,” He zipped himself back up. “Much better.”
I didn’t move.
I didn’t speak.
I just stared at him, my breath steady and my mind calm.
More people must have streamed into the stands because even more murmurs rose in the air. It was a rippling hum of excitement and dread.
My father sneered at me. “Did I raise a coward? A man who won’t even protect the honor of those he supposedly cared for?”
I didn’t answer.
Words were pointless now.
He wanted a reaction, but all he got was silence.
Frustration flickered across his face.
I took one step forward, taunting him.
The crowd hushed.
Frowning, he moved his view to the stands. “Hmmm. Finally.”
I didn’t look.
I didn’t need to.
The slight curve of his mouth, the cruel glint in his eye, and the way he nodded almost imperceptibly told me everything I needed to know.
Moni.
She was here now.
The thought of her in the stands, exposed, vulnerable, set my blood humming but I forced myself to stay still.
My father was a master manipulator. He thrived on moments like these, twisting the knife where it hurt most.
Stay focused.
“When I kill you, son,” he raised his voice so the crowd could hear “I will finally give Monique the orgasms she deserves.”
My pulse pounded.
Ignore it. This is what he wants.
“The way I will make her moan.” He licked his lips.
Unable to help myself, I snapped. “She wouldn’t let you touch her.”
My father’s grin widened. “She wouldn’t have a choice. As my new Mountain Mistress, she’ll take my cock anytime I want to fill her with it.”
The world blurred.
Logic, reason, even my own carefully constructed discipline dissolved under the audacity of that statement.
My vision tunneled, focusing solely on him, on the arrogance in his voice, the smugness etched into his face.
He had crossed a line.
I lost control.
With a roar, I charged.
Soaring Precious sang through the air, the blade slicing a deadly arc toward his throat.
But he was ready.
Of course, he was ready.
He sidestepped at the last second, enough time to let his blade dart out and slice my thigh.
Hot pain bit through my flesh.
The crowd gasped.
I stumbled but only for a moment.
“So predictable,” my father circled me like a wolf. “All that anger. All that bravado. It always made you sloppy.”
“You are a pathetic human being. I can’t even call you a man anymore.”
He lunged.
I deflected the blow and the clash of our swords rang through the arena like thunder.
Sparks flew.
It was on.
We traded strikes in a flurry of motion. He was fast. I was faster.
I just couldn’t get my blade on him.
Our blades collided again and again and a-fucking-gain. Each strike vibrated through my arms.
The crowd roared with cheers and some screams.
Adrenaline surged within me.
He swung for my neck, I ducked as the blade whistled past my ear.
Then, I countered with a swift upward slash, forcing him to leap back.
He grinned. “Is that all you’ve got, boy?”
I didn’t answer.
Instead, I pressed forward forcing him to retreat as I unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes. The sound of our blades echoed through the arena, drowning out everything else.
He blocked my attacks but the effort showed. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his breaths came out faster.
Getting tired, old man?
Then, he shifted and spun Imperial Lament, flashing toward my ribs in a deadly arc.
Shit!
I flipped backwards narrowly avoiding the strike and twisting in the air.
Once I landed, he was back on me but I delivered a kick to his side. The impact sent him stumbling, his boots skidding across the tiles.
Some of the crowd erupted.
I didn’t let up.
I leapt forward, charging for him.
He swung wildly, desperation bleeding into his movements.
I ducked under his strikes and with a quick pivot, drove my blade into his side.
Fuck yes!
Blood sprayed. It was a dark, glistening arc.
A woman cried in horror and I knew it was one of my aunts.
He stumbled back and clutched the wound. His expression twisted with pain.
The crows in the tree erupted into cries as they beat their wings.
It’s finally time for you to die.
I advanced.
He gave me a cruel smile. “Surely, you don’t think this is the end?”
“Come closer. I can’t hear you.”
A dark chuckle left him and then with a burst of speed, he sprinted away.
Where the fuck are you going now?
Chapter thirty
Black Feathers, Red Blood
Lei
My father’s movements were erratic as he raced to the Great White Blossom.
Damn it.
I didn’t hesitate.
My feet pounded against the tiles and I chased after him.
I kept Soaring Precious in front of me. “Now who’s the coward!”
Ignoring me, he reached the base of the tree and leapt up in this impossibly graceful way.
I almost tripped.
Shit. Not the tree.
He grabbed hold of the lowest branch and climbed up fast.
The crows exploded into motion and swarmed him.
“Fuck all of you!” He swung his blade in wild, vicious arcs cutting through the dark mass and climbing up the tree.