Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
I didn’t want to think about if those slits had been a necessary addition. Once I was certain my foot was stable in the narrow opening, I lifted a hand from the railing and reached for a groove to grip. My stomach tumbled, then I let go and swung to the arrow slit.
Wobbling a little, I pressed my forehead against the stone. “Good gods,” I whispered. “This is idiotic.”
Planting my feet against the wall, I began to lower myself once more. All those years spent alone, climbing trees, walls, and anything even remotely vertical out of pure boredom had actually paid off. Glancing at the spiral staircase’s railing below, I went for it, swinging myself down.
I landed on the railing and nearly toppled backward. Catching myself, I hopped down onto the landing. A wide smile broke out across my face. Proud of myself and somewhat surprised that I hadn’t fallen to a gruesome, painful death, I wheeled around and hurried down the steps…and right into a dead end.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Of course, I’d chosen a staircase that, for some godsforsaken reason, didn’t go to the actual ground.
Leaning over the railing, I gauged the drop to be about seven feet. Shifting so I could hang from the railing, I said a little prayer to myself and let go.
There was a brief second of weightlessness, nothing but the bright stars overhead, and the rush of air on my skin. It felt like flying, and for a heartbeat of time, I was free—
The impact rattled me from the tips of my toes to the top of my hooded head, knocking a low grunt out of me. I stumbled forward, catching myself with my palms before I kissed the ground. I remained there for a couple of seconds, dragging in deep breaths as surprisingly dull spikes of pain darted through my knees and hips. That should’ve hurt more.
But I did have Primal blood in me.
Straightening slowly, I then took off for the gate, knowing there wasn’t that much time between patrols. Within minutes, the packed earth gave way to the crunch of gray grass, and then I was under the canopy of leaves the color of blood and no longer within view of the House of Haides.
And I was one obstacle closer to fulfilling my duty—my true destiny.
Chapter 6
Killing Kolis wouldn’t be easy.
Obviously.
Even if Kolis recognized Sotoria’s soul—saw me as her—I doubted it would be as simple as me plunging a dagger into his chest. I would have to be sure that he loved me first, and I couldn’t even let myself think about what that would involve as I ran under the canopy of crimson leaves. If I allowed myself to entertain those ideas, I would be vomiting all over myself. So, I filed that away.
I didn’t even know what killing Kolis would do—what kind of impact it would have on Iliseeum and the mortal realm—but Holland wouldn’t have told me what he had if it were something catastrophic. The fact that Nyktos was a Primal of Death must mean there would still be balance.
Until I died.
Which would likely be as soon as I succeeded in thrusting my shadowstone dagger into Kolis’s chest. I imagined that he, too, had draken that would immediately retaliate.
But right now, luck was on my side for once. I entered the Dying Woods without any issues. Probably because I’d run the whole way. The hood of my cloak had slipped, but I left it down as I doubted I would run into anyone in an area occupied by Shades—souls who had entered the Shadowlands but refused to face judgment for deeds committed when they were alive by passing between the Pillars of Asphodel. I had yet to see a Shade, and I really hoped that didn’t change, considering I’d heard they could be bitey.
The muscles in my legs and stomach were beginning to cramp, forcing me to slow as I continuously scanned the thick rows of bent and broken trees. Each breath I drew reminded me of the Rot—stale lilacs. At least there was no ache in my jaw and temples or dizziness. I had no idea how long I had before the mixture of herbs—chasteberry, peppermint, and a whole bunch I couldn’t remember—wore off, and the effects of the Culling set in once more. But when it did, I would have to do what I always did.
Deal with it.
Just like I knew Ezra would if she learned there was nothing to be done about the Rot. We might not share even a drop of blood, but she was resilient. Like me, she wouldn’t give up. Nor would she pretend as if the end weren’t coming, or hope for a magical fix like I knew my mother would. Ezra would do everything in her power to ensure that as many people as possible survived for as long as they could.