Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
The king lay on the altar, but Sasha could see him still breathing. His blood had opened the door, and now he was a useless husk.
He had to make sure Devinshea didn’t suffer a similar fate.
“I can’t fly here,” Daniel said, running to keep up with the wolves. “The winds are even worse than the ones in our timeline.”
And he was still weak.
“I see a tent up ahead,” Lee shouted. The winds were picking up, and now that they were lower, it was raining again. It started to come down in hard pelts, a sure sign Rhys was panicking.
But in this case, if a storm held up the wizard, Sasha would live with it.
A hard wind whipped past him and then a softer one that warmed him. Ostara caught up, running beside him. Warmth spread over his skin as her gentle winds surrounded him.
There was a cracking sound as they made it to the tent, Neil leading the charge. A guard stepped out but Neil ran past him, leaving the man to his son, who immediately went for his throat. The guard went down in a gurgle of blood while Cassie took out the one beside him, gutting him with an ease he wasn’t sure he should be comfortable with. And yet Sasha felt a paternal pride in the young woman as she handled the guard and moved to her brother’s side, talking to him and seeming to ease his natural blood lust.
“Come on, buddy,” she was saying. “Time for snacks later. Save our auntie now.”
“Where is she?” Rhys asked the question as the winds picked up.
Sasha made it to the tent with Ostara and saw Daniel already had Zoey in his arms.
Neil growled at the wizard but every time he got close, some invisible barrier pushed him back.
The queen was sobbing in her husband’s arms, and that was the moment Sasha saw the body on the floor.
Devinshea’s body. Unlike his timeline twin, he was not breathing.
From the queen’s reaction, there was no life left in the priest.
“You are too late, Daniel.” Myrddin practically glowed. “You cannot take me down. You know it. Everyone knows it. That version of Lee is useless here. Shall I kill him? Or let him witness the new world rising?”
Myrddin snapped his fingers, and suddenly they were all back at the altar.
“I can’t reach him,” Ostara said, desperation in her eyes. “I cannot pierce the armor he wears. I don’t understand it. It feels…wrong.”
Likely because whatever spell he wore was from the Hell plane, and Ostara’s magic would be useless there. Myrddin had brought a piece of Hell to protect him.
“Rhys.” Zoey was on her feet, shoving aside her grief to get to her son. “Shy disappeared, but I don’t think Myrddin did it. I think she did. I didn’t hear what she said. I was…”
Rhys’s eyes were the deepest green as he turned to Myrddin. “Where is my mate?”
“What do you mean she’s gone?” Myrddin suddenly didn’t look so sure of himself. “Guards, find the seer.”
“Where would she go?” Ostara asked.
“To find help,” the queen insisted.
“There is no help to be found,” Myrddin countered. “I made a deal for safe passage for you and your family, but I can defend myself, and I never said I wouldn’t pull more energy off the vampires. I don’t think this one was outside the wards.”
He reached into his pocket and brought out an obsidian sphere.
Sasha immediately felt the effects. His heart rate slowed, and he could feel his strength waning.
Daniel hit his knees, Zoey falling with him.
“You cannot touch me, Green Man,” Myrddin said from behind his protection. “I am filled with demonic energy. I am whole with it. I renounce my angelic side. I am a true demon lord, and I will use your power to aid me. The king has given his blood to open the mountain. Now witness as I close the door on our oppressors.”
The mountain screamed and shook as a good chunk was blasted through and the door to Hell opened.
Sasha felt his vision begin to go and prayed he could survive the wizard’s assault.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Shy
I turn and despite the fact that I know I’m on a timer, I can’t help but wonder at the beauty I see around me.
Annwn. They call it the Welsh version of Hell.
The Welsh did not get the same memo the Christians did.
Life abounds here. Green forest and waterfalls. Mighty trees and soft ground at my feet. It’s stunningly beautiful. I find myself on the banks of a serene lake, the waterfall in the distance. All around me there’s some kind of festival going on. I smell pies baking and meat frying. Families sit on big blankets and enjoy the day.
Well, that’s not what I expected.
Devinshea. I feel him in my soul. I feel his sorrow, but he is calm. He refuses to give in to confusion and rage like so many others. What I really feel is his will to do the right thing.