Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 213974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1070(@200wpm)___ 856(@250wpm)___ 713(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 213974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1070(@200wpm)___ 856(@250wpm)___ 713(@300wpm)
I dreamt of my lake and the cool, dark waters gliding over my skin as I swam under the bright stars.
Dreaming of it didn’t surprise me. This place was a source of good memories, and I was relieved that my mind had decided to bring me here instead of someplace terrible, but I couldn’t exactly remember what had happened before this. I had been somewhere in Cor Palace, hadn’t I? I wasn’t sure. Everything existed just out of my reach, clouded in mist. And besides, this…
I knew nothing bad could reach, scare, or disturb me here. Because I wasn’t alone.
A wolf sat on the bank of my lake, one more silver than white. He watched.
And I knew I was safe.
CHAPTER EIGHT
When I opened my eyes, all I saw were bars above me and the fragmented glitter of light in the center of the cage’s ceiling. And I felt the softness of a blanket beneath me.
My brows knitted in confusion. How did I get back here? I’d been in a dark hall, with—
“You’re awake. Finally.”
The warm, summery voice sent a rush of adrenaline through me. I shot upright and to the side, losing my balance on the narrow divan. I started sliding off the edge.
Kolis caught me by the shoulder, his hand flat against my bare skin. “Careful.”
I jerked away from his touch, pressing into the back of the divan as I reached down beside me, my fingers scraping off nothing but the thick fur of the blanket.
Kolis knelt before me, his head tilted. “What, pray tell, were you grabbing for?”
My dagger.
Or the broken glass cock.
I’d been reaching for a weapon out of instinct and honed reflex. “I…I don’t know.”
“Hmm.” A single brow lifted.
Stomach shifting unsteadily, I eyed him from behind several strands of hair that had fallen across my face—pale hair now stained crimson.
Fuck.
The attempted escape, what I’d seen in the darkened part of the palace, and my subsequent failure came rushing back. My gaze shot to the floor behind Kolis. The shiny tile was clear of blood and gore. I looked toward the chamber beyond—
“If you’re looking for the guard you senselessly murdered with an object typically designed to bring pleasure—though I must admit that was somewhat impressive,” Kolis observed. “You will not find him.”
I stiffened, and the lingering cobwebs of sleep cleared. I focused on him. He was dressed much like before, wearing nothing more than the gold band around his biceps and loose linen pants.
“He has been removed,” the false King continued. “And the chamber was cleaned.”
Breaths coming in short, quick pants, I refocused on Kolis. “Senselessly murdered?” I winced at the hoarseness in my voice.
“What else would you call it?”
“Self-defense,” I snapped.
His cool stare flickered over my face. “Did he attack you?”
“No—”
“Did Callum strike you?”
“No, but—”
“Then how is what you did considered self-defense?” he countered.
My lips parted in disbelief. Was he seriously asking that question? “You are keeping me prisoner. I do not need to be attacked to feel threatened.”
“You’re not a prisoner.” His head straightened, sending strands of golden hair falling against his shoulder. “You’re a guest.”
“A guest?” I whispered.
“A troublesome one,” he amended in that same flat, arid tone.
All I could do was stare at Kolis. Part of me wondered if I was still sleeping or if the guard who’d rendered me unconscious had caused some sort of damage to my mind. There had to be a reason Kolis sincerely appeared to believe what he said. Unless he was simply insane.
Which was likely.
But at least he wasn’t referring to Cor Palace as my home anymore.
“You slept deeply,” Kolis stated after a moment. “As if you were at peace.”
I was at peace. I’d dreamt of my lake and the silver wolf—wait. “How…?” I cleared my throat. “How long have you been watching me?”
“Long enough,” he answered.
Disgust churned through me. “Do you have any idea how extraordinarily disturbing it is to know that you were watching me sleep?”
Warm light glanced off an arched cheek as his head tilted. “It bothers you?”
“Of fucking course it does,” I snapped.
“Your language.” His lips thinned. “It is far more uncivilized than I remember.”
“And watching someone as they sleep is civilized?” I shot back.
A shadow seemed to fall over the false King, darkening the very air around him. His expression hardened, his jaw clenched, and a cold, steely look settled in his eyes.
Kolis shot forward, slamming his hands on the divan beside my legs, making me jump. He smirked as he leaned in, and boy did the Primal know how to give a cruel smile. It was a cold, brutal twist of such a lovely mouth and face. I forced myself to be still as he invaded my space, fighting the desire to kick his head back.
Kolis halted, inhaling deeply.
A prickly sensation rushed across my skin. “Are you…are you smelling me?”
“You smell of…” His nose brushed my temple, sending a chill of revulsion through me. He inhaled again, and my pulse raced. “You smell of damp soil.”