Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“Let her go,” Hannon said quietly, a tear trailing down his cheek as well. “She’s had enough.”
Weston was beside me in a moment, helping me out of the chair and walking with me toward the door, his arm wrapped around me protectively. I breathed in his scent as I fell into his comforting embrace. Vemar followed as Hadriel took a little detour toward the crates.
“Boop,” he said, taking one of the products.
“Are you serious right now?” the queen asked him just as he caught up to us. Weston opened the door.
Hadriel turned and called out over his shoulder, “I’m telling you, it’s a good time.”
Vemar went back for one as well. “Boop.”
“Unprofessional,” the queen hollered as we all exited into the hallway.
“Don’t worry about any of that,” Hadriel offered assuredly. I let Weston guide me. I didn’t care where we went, as long as it was away from that room and those people. “We have time, Aurelia. We can do anything given enough time, even change their minds.”
“Was she a fairy?” I asked a moment later, thinking back to the woman with the white-blond hair.
“Yes,” Weston answered. “She’s a member of the high court. She was in the demon dungeons with me, and also with Hadriel and the queen.”
“At least I finally got to meet a fairy,” I murmured, my lip wobbling at the magnitude of that. Of what my mom would say to hear that, how happy she’d be. “Or at least be grilled by one. Though if that lantern was intended to be a slight by the fairy court, why would they care if it was stolen?”
“A pile-on for these proceedings, maybe? Who knows,” Hadriel said. “Don’t let it worry you, love. I can get you a better one, I’m sure of it. She might even give that one back, since you can use it.”
I didn’t want that one back. I didn’t want any of the gifts I’d gotten from Granny over the years. They all felt cheap now, dirty. Tainted. I wanted to put all this behind me and try to heal my tattered heart.
“What do you say we head to my quarters? It’s only fair I let you poke around my things for a while,” Weston offered. “Then we can run you a hot bath and maybe read for a bit. Or would you rather head back to the tower? Or . . . somewhere else?”
I could hear in his voice and feel through the bond his desire to help me. He worried over my wellbeing. He even offered me the space I’d thought I needed, giving me time to reflect on my own if I wanted.
I didn’t want those things right now. I wanted him. Needed him, maybe. Craved him, definitely. I didn’t give a shit if it was a true mates thing. I wanted to relish in his support and his body.
I leaned a little harder into him. “I guess I do owe you a snoop.”
“Hadriel, tell Leala to bring her some things,” Weston said, slowing at a corner. “I’ll place an order for dinner.” He looked down at me. “Or would you rather cook?”
I smiled, reaching out for his hand. “Tomorrow, maybe. Not tonight.”
“Tomorrow, then.” He threaded his fingers into mine. “We’ll get you a room that can be set up for cooking, how’s that?”
“Goodbye, Captive Lady,” Vemar said, giving me a thumbs-up as he and Hadriel continued down the hall. “Keep your head up, okay? The mind-fuck is still weird, but I’m getting used to it. I feel a little like Hannon around you, I think.”
“He keeps going on about a mind-fuck,” I murmured as Weston tugged me with him.
“Is that why you got into an altercation with him earlier?”
“No. Well, yes, kind of. I think he was poking at me to see if I was being genuine, and I . . . snapped. Rather, my wolf did and I went with it. It took me a moment to come to my senses.”
“He was impressed by how fast you moved.”
“I doubt he was as impressed by the scissors sticking out of his leg.”
“You don’t know dragons very well.” He stopped at the end of a corridor. The double door was painted a deep forest green befitting a wolf.
“No fuchsia?”
“Not in this life.” He took out a key to unlock the door. “The queen was mystified at how you were able to get out of the tower. She was captive there for a time. She had to be let out.”
“She was a captive? Is that the love language of you people?”
He didn’t answer, instead pushing open the door and stepping aside. “Enjoy your snoop. I think I’ll grab a book.”
“Wow.” The interior was enormous, at least twice the size of my cottage—and that was just the main sitting room and dining area. He had a sliding glass door that led out onto a little patio where I could see a tiny garden with vibrant pink and red and yellow flowers. Through an archway in the back was a large bedchamber and attached washroom. The bed was the biggest I’d ever seen, and from what I could see at this vantage point, the bath was just as absurd.