Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 114557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“The animals?” Grey sucked in a deep breath and rolled to his side like he was trying to get to his feet, but he didn’t get far. He swayed a little like he was struggling for balance as well.
“Fine. Ardette is dead. The animals are free. If they’re not under Baer’s control, they are running from here.”
“So…it’s just the pestilents…”
“Yes.”
“I know a spell…a protection spell from one of the books. We can try it, but…I need your help.”
“Anything!” Wiley’s heart skipped a beat as he grabbed on to the slender thread of hope Grey was offering him. “What can I do?”
“Find a stick or a rock. Something to draw a circle in the dirt around us.”
“Got it. Don’t move.” Wiley kept his hands on Grey for another couple of seconds, making sure the man was going to stay where he was on the ground before Wiley dared to step away from him.
As soon as Grey was settled and no pestilents were anywhere near them, Wiley shot away from him, moving toward the camp. His heart pounded in his chest so hard, he was afraid it was going to shoot straight through his breastplate. The dancing shadows from the raging fires made it difficult to see things. His head throbbed and his balance was still off. It was a safe bet that both he and Grey had concussions. Poor Dane was going to get a hell of a workout with his powers when they finally crawled home.
And they were all getting home tonight.
Wiley was determined to see all of his new family safely home again.
Crying out softly when he found a stick sturdy enough for his needs, he raced to Grey’s side. The Soul Weaver was sitting up a little more, holding his head in one of his hands. Blood streaked down Grey’s face like tears, causing Wiley’s stomach to clench.
“I’m back. I’ve got a stick,” Wiley announced.
“Draw an unbroken circle around us. Doesn’t have to be perfect or deep. Just connected all the way around.” Grey’s voice sounded a little stronger and steadier than it had been, but there was a sharp edge to it, as if he were fighting to hold his own panic at bay.
“Big?”
“Just big enough that we won’t accidentally step out of it.”
Wiley worked as quickly as he was able to, making the circle big enough for Grey to lie down within it comfortably. When he was done, he stepped inside and placed the stick on the ground as he kneeled beside Grey. “Done. Next?”
Grey reached out with his left hand. “Help me touch the circle.”
Gently grabbing Grey’s wrist, Wiley guided his hand until the tips of his fingers were within the circle. “There. You’re touching it.”
“Concentrate on protecting us. Pour all your energy into it.”
“Have you done this before?”
A rusty laugh broke from Grey’s throat. “Nope, but I figured we’re desperate enough.”
Wiley had to smirk. That was very true.
Grey took a deep breath, and Wiley did as well. He tried to push out all the worry and fear that were closing in on him. With his left hand on Grey’s shoulder, he kneeled over the taller man and pulled the handgun from its holster with his right. He believed the protection spell would work, but it wouldn’t hurt to try to take out some pestilents as well.
“Earth, air, water, fire, man, and beast
Let all go into me,
And then be mine.
Earth, air, water, fire, man, and beast
Power flow
And protect what’s mine.”
Grey repeated the chant over and over again. A tingle started slowly in the air. Just as Wiley was about to say something, there was a whooshing sensation all around him. A faint blue light started where Grey’s fingers touched the circle and then shot around them, filling the circle.
“Holy shit! I think it worked,” Wiley said in a harsh whisper, as if he were afraid speaking would disturb Grey’s concentration.
“Yeah,” Grey replied with a huff of laughter. He slowly moved his fingers from the circle, but the pale electric blue current continued to circle them. “I think it did. Just…don’t let go of me. I don’t have enough strength to keep this going by myself.”
It was only when Grey mentioned it that Wiley even noticed that Grey was sipping little bits of energy off him. He smiled. The Soul Weaver could take all that he needed if it meant the protection barrier stayed around them.
But this wasn’t going to last long. Grey was gravely injured, and Wiley was exhausted from clearing out the witch’s spell. Now he had a concussion and was losing the last bits of his energy. He wouldn’t be able to protect himself and Grey for much longer.
Closing his eyes, he mentally followed along his new connection to Baer. He needed his mate. He hated to disturb him, to pull him from his battle, but Grey’s safety was more important.