Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
The force of the magic in my arrow carries him back effortlessly. I grin and form another arrow, ready to take out my next target.
“Get down,” Yanique orders. “He is gone. I will take over the reins.”
Henry. My heart clenches. My first instinct is to turn and save him, but if Yanique says he’s gone, there’s nothing I can do. I have to keep the rest of us safe.
I take out another rider, but their numbers are growing. I start with my split arrows, but they give me less precision as I have to split my focus to guide them to their targets.
I haven’t mastered that yet. A soldier slips by me and rides up alongside the front of the wagon. We hit a bump and I fall back onto my behind.
As I scramble to get back up, I note that the soldier has taken hold of Yanique’s long braid and is trying to use it to pull her down.
I aim and fire an arrow between his eyes, but not before my sister pulls one of her blades and chops her hair off to free herself. I gasp as her long, wavy locks fall away and float through the air.
“Yah,” she bellows at the horse and keeps going as if it’s nothing.
My attention is grabbed by the distinct sound of one of Annaniah’s chakrams returning to her palm. Blood drips from it as she grasps it and sends the other one flying.
Snapping out of it, I reposition myself and lift my bow. This time, I home in and guide my arrows to their mark. I take out the last few soldiers that Annaniah doesn’t get a chance to.
“Is everyone okay?” Yanique calls back as we ride a few yards without any further resistance.
“Your hair,” Annaniah cries out.
“A man has lost his life for ours. My hair will grow back,” Yanique snaps.
“I’m sorry. I know. I was just shocked.”
I place my fist over my heart. “May the gods grace you with favor, our dear Henry.”
“May the gods grace you with favor,” my sisters repeat.
“And also us. Where are we going?” Zandra asks.
“I don’t know. I’m following my heart,” Yanique murmurs.
I look at her and furrow my brows. I get the sense she knows something more. However, we don’t have time for me to inquire what? It is best to stay vigilant until we reach our destination.
Destroy
Hero flaps his midnight-black wings, propelling us forward through the night sky. The trip would have taken me twice as long by ground. I would have gone insane if it took me a day and a half to get back.
My heart is thundering in my ears. I can’t shake this feeling that something is wrong. My love needs me. I guide my horse to land in the woods outside the village.
The villagers would freak out if they saw me fly in on my horse. Stroking Hero’s neck, I coax him to retract his wings. They disappear, leaving a dusting of magic in their wake.
“Easy, boy,” I croon as he kicks up on his hind legs and whines.
When he returns to all fours, I take off, needing to get to the village as fast as possible. My heart tugs with the need to get to Venus. I must get to her as soon as I can. I have taught her and her sisters plenty of combat skills, but anything can happen in battle.
I smell the smoke before I break through the trees. A lump forms in my throat and my heart stops as the sanctuary comes into view. Bright orange and red flames consume the structure as thick, dark smoke billows out.
They have burned the sanctuary and the sisters’ homes to the ground. There are villagers still rushing about, trying to put out the fires to no avail.
I dismount my horse before he can come to a stop. Reaching out with my power, I pick up the faint essence of Venus and her sisters at the burning sanctuary. I rush closer, but I don’t feel them there.
My mind goes wild. Do I not feel them because they are gone? Or were they able to flee? My knees are ready to give as agony and anguish fill me.
“My father helped them escape,” a small girl comes to my side and says. She places her small hand in mine and squeezes my fingers. “I don’t think he’s coming back. Those men chased after them.”
“Alice, come,” a woman comes to tug the child away.
“What happened here?” I demand, stopping her in her tracks before she and the child can get away.
“The king’s soldiers came for them. Henry helped them escape through the woods. Then, they set fire to the sanctuary and their homes. I believe someone told the king about the healings they have performed.
“I am sure you will find them safe. My Henry will give his life for them. They have been a gift from the gods to us,” she says.