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)
Casteel stopped once more, this time tugging me to my knees beside him. Cold snow seeped through the cloth of my breeches. Unease blossomed as my gaze roamed over the men on horseback. There were dozens, with at least half of them stationed around a windowless carriage that was nearly black in the glow of the lit torches. But I didn’t need special Atlantian eyes to know that the carriage wasn’t black, nor did I need better lighting to recognize the symbol embossed on its side. The mantles draped over the armored shoulders weren’t white, they were black.
And the carriage was crimson.
The emblem was a circle with an arrow piercing the center. The Royal Crest.
These men weren’t Royal Guards—they were the guard. Members of the Royal Knights.
“They brought knights,” I whispered the obvious, mainly because I needed to say it to believe what I was witnessing. I’d never seen a knight outside of the capital.
“Yes, they brought out the knights,” the Prince replied, his tone flat but carrying a razor-sharp edge as he let go of my hand. “So, what are you going to do, Princess?”
I could feel the intensity of his stare as I watched the keep’s doors swing open. Two knights appeared, their hands at the ready on the hilts of their broadswords as they led the inhabitants of the keep out into the cold. A mixture of disbelief and confusion thudded through me as the knights lined everyone up. I recognized Elijah and Magda immediately, as they were near one of the torches. For once, the man was quiet as he stood there, arms crossed over his broad chest. I didn’t see Kieran, nor did I see Naill and Delano, but there were at least two dozen outside the keep, and there were…oh, gods, there were children among them, shivering without their cloaks as a fine flurry of snow continued to drift through the air. What if Alastir and his men returned in the midst of this? They would have to see them before they were seen.
“Will you go to them? Shout and alert your presence?” Casteel demanded quietly.
“Why would I do that?” My head jerked in his direction. “I agreed to your proposal. I turned down Alastir’s help.”
“But that was before the Ascended were here. Right in front of you.”
“Yes, that was before,” I told him, my frustration forcing the truth out of me. “But that doesn’t change what I’ve decided. I have more of a chance of reaching my brother through you than I do them.”
Some emotion flickered across his features. “I still can’t believe you were going to try to do that by yourself. You would’ve gotten nowhere near him alone, Poppy.” His head tilted as his eyes narrowed. “Unless you weren’t planning to do it by yourself. Good gods, were you going to allow the Ascended to find you? Was that what you planned on telling the first person you came across when you tried to escape? That you were the Maiden? Did you think they’d take you straight to the capital? To him? If so, then you’re far more reckless than I ever gave you credit for.”
Air left me in a ragged burst. “I figured it would be easier to escape them than you once I got where I needed to be.”
He stared at me like I’d sprouted another head. “Once you got where you wanted to be, Poppy, you would be where they wanted you to be, alone and unprotected.”
“As if that is any different with you.” My lips thinned as I turned to the keep. One of the knights dismounted.
“You are protected with me, and you’ll never be alone,” he shot back.
There was a tug in my chest that I desperately ignored.
“And by the way, in case you were wondering, your plan would’ve turned out just as poorly as your little traipse through the woods did,” he growled.
“Do you think this is the best time to rehash something that doesn’t even matter?” I demanded.
“I think it matters.”
“Well, then you’re wrong.”
“I am rarely ever wrong.”
“Oh, my gods, I think I’d rather risk it with them than stand here with you for another second.”
“Well, it’s your lucky day. They’re right there. Go to them. Tell them who you are.”
“As if you’d let me do that,” I spat, twisting toward him.
“As if you have any idea what I would or would not allow.” His eyes were nearly luminous with his fury. “But you’re right. I wouldn’t allow that, because I refuse to carve your name into the wall down below.”
I shuddered as my wide gaze connected with his. Casteel cursed, looking to the keep.
The knight who’d dismounted spoke, apparently not one of those who’d taken a vow of silence. “Is this everyone who resides in this keep?”
“Everyone and then some,” answered Elijah. “We just finished dinner and were spending a little bit of time catching up.”