Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 145704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
I collect the leather piece. “Even you?”
He hesitates. “Those you least suspect.” Tearing a strip off the silk jacket he cast aside, he crouches to soak the material in water.
Is he referring to his brother? Because I suspected that snake’s ambitions weeks ago, only Zander wouldn’t listen to me. Or maybe it’s the captain of the king’s guard. “I can’t believe Boaz launched those arrows at us, even if he was aiming at me.”
“I can. Like I said before, Boaz is loyal to the crown, and clearly, he does not believe I should be wearing it any longer. He never approved of this marriage, or of allowing the Ybarisans to set foot in Islor.” Zander climbs to his feet. “Though I’m sure Lord Adley’s relentless whispers have not helped. Who knows how many minds that worm has poisoned.”
My anger surges at the mention of the vile nobleman’s name. “You should have had the Legion assassinate him. He deserves it.” Not even for the lies he’s spun into treason, but for all the crimes he allows in Kettling. Humans being bred and traded in the black market, sold as babies for feeding off their sweet blood, and likely a dozen other atrocities I don’t want to know about.
“Now you’re thinking like a queen,” Zander murmurs, his focus on my cheek. “A piece of debris must have hit you. Hold still.”
I wince at the sting of brine as he gently dabs the soaked cloth against my skin. “How bad is it?”
“You’ll live.” His eyes touch mine before shifting back to his task. “So, this is not really your face?”
“Not the one I remember, no. Same dark hair, but that’s it.” My irises were a brighter blue, my face rounder, my lips fuller. That woman I saw reflected within the apothecary’s mirror is striking, but she’s a stranger. And yet, if what Gesine said is true, that there is no going back for me, I had better get used to this new face because without my ring on, I’ll be looking at it for the foreseeable future—a reality that hasn’t sunk in yet.
He mumbles something I don’t catch before saying, “That must be quite unsettling.”
“Not much isn’t lately.”
Zander tosses the rag into the sinking skiff before giving it a hard push offshore. “Your wound will heal within the day on its own, but I’m sure Gesine can mend it for you if it does not. Assuming she has abilities similar to those of … other casters.” The muscles in his jaw tense.
He can’t bring himself to say Wendeline’s name. Will any justification ever dull the disloyalty he feels, caused by a woman he relied upon so heavily?
“Thank you.”
He grunts in answer. “How is that strap fitting?”
“I don’t know.” It’s long and cumbersome and likely sized for a man.
Zander’s deft hands take over, adjusting its position to sit a bit lower on my hips. “Did no one ever wear these where you’re from?” His tone is softer, conversational, but I hear his fatigue.
“Yeah … like, a hundred years ago.” The tiny knife I used to strap to my thigh was done so with a tidy nylon band that slipped on like a garter.
He tests the belt’s tautness, his palms smoothing over my hips. The simple touch stirs memories of the times he’s gripped my body like that but for different—intimate—reasons.
Zander’s hazel eyes meet mine. He must have caught that spike in my pulse, but unlike in the past, there’s no teasing smile to go along with his awareness, no hint that he might feel the same. His expression is stony, unreadable.
This wall between us keeps growing higher; I just can’t be sure which of us is faster at stacking the bricks. Part of me desperately hopes he’s changed his mind about leaving me, that he’ll stay by my side. But then I replay our conversation as we ambled through the castle’s secret passage, when he blamed me for him being blind to what Atticus would do, for not being able to think straight. In essence, Zander blamed me for him losing his kingdom.
And so quickly after, he was ready to cast me aside.
I clear my throat and with it, the heady thoughts. “Now people mostly use guns.”
“Guns?” He frowns. “What are those?”
“Weapons that shoot bullets.”
His frown deepens.
“Tiny metal objects that fly out of a chamber and move through the air really fast. All you have to do is point and shoot. Anyone can do it.” Every horrific news story of a toddler stumbling upon their careless parents’ loaded pistols has proven that.
“It sounds like any idiot can be lethal in your world.”
“You have no idea.”
He gives the belt one last tug. “All you need is a blade.”
I nod toward the karambit at his side. “I’ll take that.”
He reaches for it, but his hand stalls.
“I know how to use it. Abarrane trained me.” For all of an hour, and not to her satisfaction. And all I want is to hear the daunting commander tell me what a useless fighter I am. I hope she survived.