Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Her chest rose sharply, straining the thin material of her gown as the glow of eather pulsed behind her pupils.
“You’re not welcome here,” I told her.
Her gaze lowered, tracking over the vest and pants I wore. One side of her lip curled in distaste. “Nyktos has welcomed me here many, many times in the past.”
I took a step forward, smiling as she retreated. “The keywords there are in the past.”
She huffed. “That could change, especially when Nyktos grows tired—”
“That won’t happen,” I cut her off. “I know that seems foreign to you since you have no idea what it feels like to have someone love you.”
Her lips thinned, and the eather pulsed brightly, proving I’d struck a nerve with my admittedly nasty barb.
But fuck her.
For real.
“You know what I know?” Veses’ expression smoothed out.
“Can’t wait to hear it.”
She smiled. “I know how fickle the heart is.”
“That should tell you something, shouldn’t it? That a fickle heart is what you know?” I sighed. “Gods, I do feel sorry for you, Veses.”
She flinched as if I’d slapped her. “You’re a fool if you do. There is no reason—”
“There are several reasons to feel empathy for you, Veses.” I eyed the Primal goddess, remembering our conversation after I’d intervened on her behalf in Dalos. “And you know each one of them.”
Some of the color drained from her face.
“But let me make one thing clear. Even though I feel sorry for you, I still want to kill you, and you know exactly why.”
The skin above her eyebrow twitched as her eyes rose to mine.
“And you also know I’m fully capable of doing so,” I tacked on as the gates opened behind me. “I’m the Queen, Veses. No one would stop me, yet you came here to speak to my husband. So, who is the fool?”
She stiffened. “You are no Queen.”
“I’m the true Primal of Life.” The essence rippled through me as Ehthawn reared his head back. Silver embers fell to the stone. “Look around you. How can you deny that?”
Her gaze darted left and right, passing over the land now ripe with life. “You redecorated. How lovely. It means nothing.”
“It means everything,” I said. “Your failure to accept that, just like your failure to realize that Kolis is a piece of shit who, just like Nyktos, doesn’t want you, doesn’t change the reality.”
Her pretty face twisted into a sneer. “Then why don’t you kill me, Seraphena?”
“I’m trying to be a better person.” My hands curled into fists.
“Better than who?” Her finely arched brows rose. “Nyktos? I saw what he did to Kyn.”
“How—? You know, I don’t even care.”
“He needed blood,” she answered anyway. “After what was done to him.”
“You fed him after what he did to you?”
She shot forward as quick as a pit viper. “I told you before, I like—” Her hair blew away from her face as she skidded back several feet. “Bitch.”
“I remember what you said. You liked it.” I lowered my hand and stared at her. I would never understand her. Ever. “And to answer your question? No, I’m not better than Nyktos. He held back.”
Her hair fell back over her shoulders in perfect ringlets. Another reason to hate her. “You think you’re better than me,” she spat.
“I don’t have to try to be better than you.”
“Cute.” Her nostrils flared. “Especially when you have no idea.”
“About what? You? I know everything I need to know.”
“You don’t know shit, Consort.”
Rhain shot forward. “She is no Consort.” His voice vibrated with anger. “She is the Queen.”
Veses laughed, the sound like wind chimes. “I recognize no such title or crown.”
Rhain stiffened. “That would be considered—”
“It’s okay.” Lifting a hand, I stopped Rhain. “At the end of the day, her acknowledgment means nothing to me.” I lowered my arm, refocusing on Veses.
“Is that so?” Her head moved in a serpentine manner. “When you call yourself Queen and refuse to acknowledge the King?”
My eyes narrowed. Clearly, someone had been talking to Kolis or Callum. “Because I am Queen, and Kolis is no King.” Violent energy ramped up. Clouds gathered above us, thickening and dimming the sunlight. “Are you here on his behalf, acting as his little lapdog? Eager to please him despite his abuse?”
Her cheeks flushed pink as the sound of footsteps closed in behind me. “No, I’m not here on his behalf. But speaking of the King,” she said, “I’m sure he would reward me greatly if I brought you back to him as a gift.”
The air charged around me. “I would love to see you try.”
Her gaze flicked behind me, and then her voice lowered. I could feel her…essence and the anger feeding it. “After Kolis is done with you,” she said, “Kyn has big plans for you.”
In an instant, all I could see was silver-laced gold.
“Fucking Fates,” Bele hissed from behind me. “Do you want to die?”