Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
I take the watch and nod. When I place it around my neck, it levitates away from my chest as it increases in size. It glows with a yellow beam of light before settling and dimming until the light is no more.
“I will see you soon, my friend.”
“Don’t fail her,” Dinesh says harshly.
“I don’t intend to.”
His features soften. “See you soon, my friend.”
Knowing my father needs my help, I force myself through the portal. I step through, right into my father’s bedchamber. I find him in his bed, just as the image in the orb revealed.
“Argon,” my betrothed cries from my father’s bedside.
She stands and rushes to me. The moment she wraps her arms around my waist, I notice how much weaker she is than I am, than my true soul match. How could the oracles get it so wrong?
“Coralo.” I free myself of her hold and take a step back. My link pulses angrily from her touch. I, too, don’t feel right with her arms around me.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s my father who I’m concerned with.” I begin to move toward his bed.
Coralo rushes to stand before me, blocking my path. I look at her and narrow my eyes. She licks her lips nervously before pushing a smile onto her face.
“It’s been so long. I was so worried. I didn’t know if you would return. We were worried that you had fallen to the same fate as your father.
“Now that you’re back, you can prepare to take the throne. We should move the wedding up. It will put the people at ease during this difficult time,” she says.
I push her aside. I have no concerns about a wedding or taking the throne. My father is still alive and I plan to keep it that way.
“You speak as if my father isn’t alive.”
“He has been very ill. We’ve tried everything. This monster he speaks of. We must punish her for her crimes.”
I spin on my heels and storm back toward Coralo. She takes a few steps back from me. My fists are clenched, and I can feel the rage coursing through me. No one will touch my Blaise.
“You know nothing of what you speak. I will care for my father. You can go,” I seethe.
“Your father said she imprisoned him, and you offered to take his place. He said she was awful. A disgusting beast. How can you not want to get justice for him?”
“Leave,” I say through clenched teeth.
She jumps as my voice vibrates the room. My powers have gained much strength already. Coralo looks at me in surprise. After blinking a few times, she nods and scurries off.
I turn to my father once again and rush to his side. He looks so pale and fragile. Brushing a hand over his head, I take note of the dark magic coming from his essence.
Blaise was many things, but dark she was not. I never once felt darkness in her or in the venom she passed to me. If that were the case, I’d feel the same source within.
“Son, Argon. Is that you?” my father says weakly.
“Yes, it’s me, Father.”
“Thank the gods you got away. Did she hurt you?”
I work my jaw. I hate that he sees Blaise as some monster. I ignore his question, not wanting to get into all of that.
“I thought you would be well by now, Father. What has happened?”
“It was that castle. It drained my power. I felt it as she placed me in that cell.”
“Yes, the castle does bind our powers, but you should have been restored once you returned. You weren’t there nearly as long as I was. My powers are already nearing their full strength.”
“I don’t know. I returned and tried to send you help, but no one would listen. I’ve grown weaker with each day. None of the healers or the potions have worked to heal me,” he says hoarsely and in such a small voice.
“We will fix this and I will get to the bottom of this treachery.”
I summon a blade to my right hand and prick my finger with it. Causing the blade to vanish, a cup appears in its place. Placing a few drops of my blood into some wine, I watch as my blood turns the liquid clear.
“Here, drink this,” I say as I take the chair beside his bed and reach for his head to hold it up.
As he drinks from the cup, the color comes back to his cheeks. His face starts to look fuller and his hair gains some shine. I smile and say a silent thanks to Blaise.
If she were truly evil, she wouldn’t have released me or given me the key to help my father. My smile falls as I realize she wouldn’t have had to help me if someone hadn’t tried to poison the king.