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)
Lifting the tree’s lower branches out of the way for him, I walked out from the coverage, and the two guards came into full view.
Once again, I was happy to see that neither wore the obnoxious puffed waistcoats or pantaloons. Their tunics and breeches were still plum-colored, but their new uniforms were leagues above the former.
“I’ll tell you what,” one guard said as he turned to look over the garden. “That one is an odd snob—shit.” The guard reached for the sword at his waist as he limped forward with a wince. Tension bracketed his mouth, turning the corners white. “Stop right there.”
“The fact that I made it to the steps without either of you noticing is kind of concerning,” I remarked, glancing at the second guard. I recognized the fair-haired man in his third decade of life. Jamison was his name. “Don’t you think?”
“Listen here, miss, I don’t know where you come from, but…” Jamison’s eyes went wide the moment Nektas appeared behind me. His head tipped back as Nektas came up the steps. “Dear gods, you’re…enormous.”
“Thank you,” Nektas replied.
“Enormous or not,” the other gaunt-faced guard cut in as I opened my senses to him. His name came to me. Wil Tovar. That was all I allowed myself to know about the slender, dark-haired mortal. “Where is the rest of your clothing, my man?”
“Mortals.” Nektas laughed softly. “Always so preoccupied by the flesh that they don’t see what is right in front of them.”
“Mortals?” Jamison repeated with a chuckle, sharing a long look with the other guard. “I think my man has been in his cups tonight.”
Tovar’s laugh faded as I reached the top of the steps and stepped into the light of the lamps lining the wall. Our eyes met, and the man staggered back. “Good gods,” he gasped.
I smiled. I probably shouldn’t have seeing how Tovar paled, but it wasn’t often that I incited that kind of response.
I’d have to think long and hard later about why that amused me.
“What is your problem?” Jamison frowned. “Maybe you’re deep in your cu—”
“Shut up, you prick,” Tovar hissed, bowing his head.
“Don’t call me a prick, you fuck.” Jamison moved toward Tovar, his cheeks flushing.
“Look at her.” Tovar lowered himself, his face contorting as he pressed a hand to his side. “Look at her eyes, you fool.”
Jamison turned to me as I arched a brow. He squinted and then went rigid. “Oh…” His mouth fell open. “Shit.”
“The security here is impressive,” Nektas drawled from behind me.
I almost laughed, except these two shouldn’t be entrusted with guarding a bale of hay. “The bowing…” My lips pursed as they both dropped to their knees, Jamison moving much faster than Tovar—he seemed pained by his movements. “Is not necessary.”
“We are s-sorry.” Tovar’s voice quaked. “We didn’t know.”
“Yes.” Jamison’s head bobbed frantically. “Please forgive us. We did not mean to disrespect you.”
Whatever humor I felt vanished as I stared at the two clearly frightened men. Their response wasn’t exactly shocking. Most mortals behaved this way when confronted by a god. I could only imagine what they’d do if they knew I was a Primal.
Nektas frowned as he stared down at the two men. “It has been a long time since I have been around those in this realm,” he said, drawing a quick peek from Jamison. “I do not remember them behaving this way.”
“How did they behave before?” I asked.
“With joy upon seeing a god,” he answered. “Not nearly sick with fear.”
I imagined that wasn’t the case toward the end of the time when the Ancients ruled. He was likely speaking about when Eythos reigned as the true Primal of Life.
“Crossing paths with gods usually doesn’t end well,” I said, thinking about what the gods had done in the Garden District the night I’d been with Ash. Even if gods were in the mortal realm for different reasons, they tended to do as they pleased. “It shouldn’t be this way.”
“No, it shouldn’t,” Nektas agreed.
This wasn’t the first time I’d thought that, but I’d never been in a position to do a damn thing about it before.
Now, I could.
“It’s all right. You have not shown disrespect,” I assured them.
“Debatable,” Nektas murmured.
I shot him a look as neither man moved.
Nektas crossed his arms.
“Ignore him,” I said, turning to them again. Tovar was trembling. “It’s all right. I promise.” I ventured forward, doing something I rarely did in the mortal realm. I reached out and touched the man’s warm cheek.
Tovar’s head jerked up, his eyes widening even more.
“You may rise,” I insisted. “Both of you.”
The guard’s chest rose sharply as he inhaled. For a moment, neither of us moved. Tovar didn’t even exhale as he stared. My senses snapped open, and before I could stop myself, I…connected with the man.
I wasn’t sure what was happening. I didn’t see into his mind or his soul, and I wasn’t reading him, but I did sense…something. Pain. A sickness that had been spreading, eating him up from the inside…long before he felt the first twinges in his gut. An ache that eventually stole his appetite.