Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Enough of this. “You know why I did it. Do not tell me you would not do the same if he were held in an eternal abyss for three centuries.” I jut my chin toward Zander, acknowledging him finally. “I am surprised you returned.”
“To my kingdom?” he says coolly. He is exceptionally handsome. I can see why Romeria would be smitten with him. In another life, I might have been too.
“Well, what with your many current preoccupations.” What has happened in the fortified city? Did the Saur’goths secure it as Malachi expected them to? “How did your dragon fare?”
“Valk is fine.” He smiles as if he knows how much his taunting question from the other day still sits under my skin. “Tell me, how are you enjoying your husband these days?” His eyes flitter to my damaged cheek.
I clench my teeth to keep from showing my rage and granting him a victory, and quickly assess the situation. Three warriors flank their sides. One wears an eye patch, but I doubt that makes her any less deadly. The other two look like seasoned fighters. I am not overconfident enough to believe I could challenge any of them with a sword and win.
My strikes will have to be with words. “I see that you are no longer the oblivious street rat.” I tsk. “I still cannot believe you had no idea what you were.”
“And I can’t believe you had no idea what Malachi was going to do.” Romeria whistles, grim humor dancing across her face. “Three centuries, and I figured it out in, like, three weeks, give or take.”
“You can be exceptionally bright at times,” the male warrior with braids standing next to her deadpans, his steely gaze never leaving me.
“Why, thank you. I appreciate your kind words—”
“Enough!” I cut off their nonsense. “If you are here to kill Malachi, you will need to get through me, and I did not come this far to lose Elijah now.”
Romeria studies me. “I wonder what your husband would think of the things you’ve done in his name.”
“Who are you to judge me?” I snap.
“Nobody special. Just another one of your many victims.” Her sneer is full of challenge. “As for getting through you, I have Mordain, Ybaris, at least half of Islor, Ulysede, and three dragons as allies. Who do you have?”
Something skates across my ear, like a soft breath, startling me enough that my shield slips for a moment before I secure it again. I spare a glance to my left, but there is no one there. The tension must be getting to me. “Foolish girl. You think you will have nothing more to face than a handful of these Saur’goths? You think Malachi didn’t come here prepared for fierce defiance?” I let my mocking laughter go, hoping it will seep into their bones and keep them up at night. “You have no idea what is coming.”
Romeria and Zander share a look.
“So, why don’t you tell us?” Zander asks, his gaze again touching my bruised cheek.
“And spoil the surprise?” I pause. She mentioned having the favor of the guild, which means she could still be of use to me, if I play this right. “I met your priestess, Wendeline. She has been through much. She is quite skittish.”
Panic flashes in Romeria’s eyes. “What did you do to her?”
“Nothing. Yet.”
“If anything happens to her, so help me God …”
The priestess is clearly important to the little thief, so perhaps she is even more useful to me than I thought. “What if I said I would bring Wendeline here and you could take her back to wherever you came from so she can live out the rest of her sad, lonely existence in peace?”
Romeria studies me. “I would say I don’t believe you.”
“Come now. Have I ever lied to you?”
She snorts.
“I was not permitted to tell you more than I did.” And Malachi only told me what he felt I needed to know. “I will bring your priestess here on one condition.” Am I showing too much of my hand? Not that it matters. I have no other choice. “You must find out how to extricate Malachi from Elijah’s body without killing my husband.”
Romeria’s brow furrows. “How am I supposed to do that?”
“As you’ve said, you have the guild in your pocket. Surely, someone there has answers.” They followed their prophecy this far. “Gesine might know.”
Romeria flinches. “But what if it’s impossible—”
“It isn’t!” I inhale sharply to calm myself. It can’t be. “Elijah is trapped, this time in his own body. I need him freed.”
“And if we find out how, you will help rid us of Malachi and walk away from my throne?” Zander asks.
“This is not an alliance you can add to your long list. Just get me the answer I need. I am here each night, fixing all that you and your winged beast destroyed. Do not return without the information I seek—”