Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
“That’s it.” His voice was gruff and thick.
Biting down on my lip as the tension curled and twisted deeper, tighter, I buried my face against the crook of his arm. His lips brushed my cheek as he pressed his thumb to the tight bundle of nerves. My hips lifted from the bed as all the tension shattered. It was like lightning in my veins. The sweetest kind of agony, scattering my thoughts as the release rippled and eased as he withdrew his fingers. Sated and stunned, I went utterly boneless, exhausted and limp as Casteel gathered me close. The blanket settled over me—over us—as he pulled me against his chest. Under my cheek, his heart thudded steadily.
The heart I’d pierced not all that long ago.
Casteel held me tightly, closely, his hand continuously sliding up and down the length of my spine. I didn’t know if he even realized what kind of comfort his closeness or his touch brought. Maybe he did, and that was why he remained in the room even knowing that I could wake him at any point in the night. There were other rooms, other far quieter and definitely less complicated beds, but he was here. He held me, soothing my ragged nerves after chasing away the lingering horror of a night I wanted nothing more than to forget. He helped me forget while offering pleasure and bliss to replace the fear and hopelessness, and he did this while taking nothing in return.
I fell back asleep, into the darkness where I was just Poppy, and he was simply Hawke.
We were leaving.
For Atlantia.
Those dark, private moments in the middle of the night seemed like an eternity ago instead of mere hours as I took a too-shallow breath. I studied those with us. Naill and Delano were with Elijah, and I had no idea if they were in on the plan Casteel had concocted, so I remained quiet. I’d spent the better part of the morning stressing over how I was supposed to act. The concern that had faded in the aftermath of the arrival of the Ascended and everything else had now returned with a vengeance.
“Would you like anything else before we leave?” Casteel asked, and then I felt a slight tug on my braid. “Poppy?”
Realizing that he was speaking to me, I shook my head. “No. I’m fine. Thank you.”
Both Kieran and Casteel stared at me, and the silence stretched on so long that I had to look to see if they were still there. Looking over my shoulder, I found both of them staring down at me, their expressions near mirrors of perplexity.
“What?” I demanded.
“Nothing.” Casteel blinked. “You’re ready, then?”
I nodded.
Watching me as if I were a coiled snake about to strike, he extended his hand. I started to rise without accepting his palm but caught myself. A quick glance told me that the others waited near the door. Figuring that refusing such a simple gesture wouldn’t be a good start at convincing others that we were together, I placed my hand in his.
The contact of his skin against mine sent another charged jolt through me. My eyes flew to his, but there was no knowledge to be gained from his heavily hooded gaze this time as he helped me stand.
“Is everything ready?” Kieran asked.
“It is,” he replied. “Elijah thinks we’ll make it to Spessa’s End by the end of the week if we don’t make a lot of stops.”
“It’s doable,” Kieran agreed. “And advisable.”
“The people here have only a few days before the Ascended send others looking for her,” Casteel said as he reached between us, plucking up the edge of my braid. “They’ll send scouts and probably more knights.” Dropping my plait over my shoulder, he then reached for my satchel.
Kieran nodded. “Magda returned earlier this morning. She said she thinks most will be ready to travel in a day or so.”
“Good.” Casteel glanced down at me. Unsure what to do, I decided on silence as the best course of action. After all, it used to be second-nature, even though I’d struggled to remain quiet when I first donned the veil. Kieran thought I asked a lot of questions now, there would be a wolven-shaped hole in the wall in his desperation to get away from me if he’d known me when I was younger.
Sending me a curious look, Casteel started toward the others. Naill and Delano nodded in my direction, saying nothing. It was Elijah who spoke. “I haven’t gotten a chance to thank you for what you did yesterday—helping those who accepted it.”
Shifting uncomfortably, I cleared my throat. “I just hope I helped.”
“You did. Pain is the biggest obstacle healing faces, and you stepping in when you did is a big reason why we won’t be sitting around here for longer than we should.” A big smile parted his beard. “I also haven’t gotten the chance to congratulate either of you on the upcoming nuptials. To be honest, every day I half-expected to find the Prince sliced up in all the ways a man fears.”