Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Now that I’ve found my soulmate, life has never been better…
But of course as a Cold Tethered couple, happiness doesn’t always last.
Soon, my nightmares are being haunted, my future threatened, and my bond with Caz could slip right through my fingers.
I hate that it’s come to this, but we’re now facing the biggest fight of our lives.
Limits are tested.
Blood is shed.
Hearts are shattered.
My only hope is that, through it all, everyone I love makes it out alive.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
ONE
CAZ
The dream I have is no different than the last.
Like always, it haunts me like a bad omen.
I stand alone on a desolate dirt field, the sky a fiery red with no clouds in sight. The ground trembles beneath my feet. There is no sign of life around me. All I can hear is my own beating heart—my pulse swimming in my ears.
The ground splits open to reveal bubbling molten lava. A burning sensation builds in my hands, and when I look at them, they’re glowing bright red.
Veins of the same color spread up my arms, and I feel an intense energy coursing through me, making my blood rush and my heart pump faster. It’s as if one wrong move could set me off like a bomb, potentially destroying the entire world.
Suddenly, a piercing screech tears through the air. I look up, heart still drumming in my chest, but there is nothing to be seen.
At least, not at first.
A creature with massive wings flaps slowly, creating its own wind that has now become an eerie, echoing melody. As the screeching intensifies, I finally find my feet and run, my footsteps crushing the splintering ground beneath me. My body moves on its own accord, propelled by some unknown force or instinct.
I sprint ahead with a sense of urgency, being chased by something I can’t escape. Though I have no idea where I’m going, I know deep down that I must reach my destination at all costs.
But just as I’m about to arrive at this unknown location, the winged creature appears before me. Its massive form lands with a powerful thud, quaking the ground with oversized taloned feet.
I freeze as I stare up at this beast made of metallic red scales, sharp horns, and pointed ears as it fixes its fierce amber eyes on me.
Its mane of fire seems to dance in anticipation as its serrated teeth gleam. I take a step back, unable to tear my gaze from it.
Then the dragon speaks in a voice that rumbles like thunder. “Your blood will be mine!”
A gust of flames erupts from its gaping mouth, and without hesitation, I throw up my hands and summon a burst of scarlet to deflect the fire.
As the flames fade away and the creature disappears into thin air, that’s when I finally wake up from the nightmare with my heart beating a frantic rhythm in my chest.
TWO
CAZ
I sit up in bed, gasping as I press a shaking hand to my chest.
I’m home. Still in Blackwater. It was only a nightmare.
A hiss escapes me when I feel the heat in my palm searing my skin. Once again, my hands have come alive with red light, veins visibly pulsing beneath my skin.
“It happened again.”
I whip my head left, spotting Willow standing on the other side of the room. She tugs a shirt over her head then eyes me.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “Where this time?”
She points across the room, and I turn my head the opposite way. In the corner, my chaise has been split apart. One half has been disintegrated while the other half remains intact; however, the ends of the remaining threads are lit with fresh embers.
“Fuck,” I curse again. I swallow and study my hands. The red glow wanes, and I let the relief settle in the pit of my stomach.
“You’ve gotta get that fire of yours under control, babe.” Willow climbs onto the bed and sidles up to my side. She wraps an arm around me, and I hold her in return.
I’ve been worried that this newfound power of mine will hurt her, but it hasn’t. While it only happens when I sleep, it seems that it purposely avoids her, as if it senses she’s a part of me and shouldn’t be harmed.
“Was it the same dream?” she asks in a soft voice.
“Yes.” I blink, trying to rid myself of the large, amber eyes. The thundering voice. “I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.”
She’s quiet a moment.
When she finally speaks again, I feel a tightening in my chest. “It’s been a month, Caz. How have we not heard back from Hassha about Warren yet?” Sitting up, she looks directly at me, and it’s now I notice the worry in her eyes. I feel her heartbeat quicken and her mind drift to worst-case scenarios.
“Willow, no.” I grab her hand and squeeze it. “Don’t let your mind wander to the worst. I’m sure your brother is fine.”
She nods, but I can tell she doesn’t accept my words. “I know this is going to sound awful, but I think something’s wrong. I just…I have this feeling, you know? Almost like how it felt when I was on Earth and had that hunch he was still alive. Something’s going on, and we have no way of finding out.”
“I know.” I drag a palm down my face. “I’ve tried reaching out to Milandra—not only about these damn nightmares, but also Warren. There hasn’t been an answer, so I understand your worries. But this is Hassha we’re talking about. She’s probably telling her warriors to avoid our calls while she works her magic.”