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)
“What?” I turned sideways to him. “What’s so funny?”
“Liessa,” he all but purred. “While I would appreciate you discussing such things as this with me first, I also expect that your temperament will prevent that on occasion.”
I eyed him as if he were growing another set of lips. “Expecting that doesn’t make it okay.”
“It does when I have no problem with it,” he remarked. “And I also know that when it’s something you think I may not agree with, you will consult with me first.”
He was right, but still. My eyes narrowed on him. “Are you being so understanding because I should be dead instead of alive and standing before you, making reckless oaths?”
“Making exquisitely reckless oaths,” he corrected, brushing strands of hair back from his face. “And perhaps that has played a role in my understanding.”
I huffed out a short laugh as I turned back to the Rise. One of the guards shouted to another, reminding me of what had just occurred. “By the way, something different happened a couple of moments ago. You see that guard there?” I straightened, pointing at Eamon. “I looked at him and knew his name—knew more than that. Like I knew his life.” My head swung back to Ash. “His soul.”
“Godsdamn,” Ash murmured, his jaw loosening. “My father could do that, even after Kolis took the embers. It was the only ability of the true Primal of Life that remained.”
“I think it’s a part of the vadentia growing stronger.” At least, that’s what I thought based on what Nektas had shared with me. “I’m kind of surprised it’s happening already.”
“I’m not.” Ash picked up a strand of my hair, eyeing it quite seriously in the sunlight. “Is that what you were thinking about when I arrived? I could sense your unease.”
I tensed. You’re safe, now and always. I sucked in a short breath at the memory of the nightmare. My gaze flew to his. I’d dreamed of hearing his voice last night. Hadn’t I? It hadn’t been real. At least, I prayed it wasn’t and that I hadn’t woken him.
I cleared my throat. “I’m really getting annoyed with that talent of yours.”
“I know.”
That was all he said. He waited, and I had a pretty good idea what he was talking about.
It wasn’t nothing.
Feeling my stomach twist sharply, I looked away, searching my mind for a reason. My gaze landed on the crimson leaves of the Red Woods. Seizing on that, I said, “No. Something else happened,” I lied far too smoothly. “I was looking at the Red Woods and thinking about the entombed gods. That intuition thing kicked in,” I told him, sharing what I’d felt. “I was seconds from waking them and…”
His fingers slid down the strand of hair. “And what?”
“And killing them before Kolis could, like…summon them,” I admitted.
“Why didn’t you?”
My head cut toward him. “Is that a serious question?”
He raised a brow. “It is. As the true Primal of Life, you could’ve done it. And you would be within your rights to do so, whether any of those gods have changed or not.”
I gaped at him. “If I’d done that, it would’ve been an entirely different kind of recklessness.”
“Not to sound repetitive, but whether or not it was reckless wouldn’t matter. You are the Queen. If you wish to wake all the entombed gods, that is your prerogative.”
“Just as whatever Kolis decided to do was his?” I countered. “He was within his rights to do a lot of shitty things just because he was King.”
Ash curled my hair around his finger as he said, “And because he was King, did it make what he did right?”
“Obviously not.”
He stared at me, waiting…
“What? Why are you—?” Then it hit me. Rolling my eyes, I sighed. Considering what I’d gone through with the riders, I should’ve figured it out a lot sooner. “I didn’t do it because I knew it wasn’t right, even though it really felt like it was.”
“Glad you figured that out.” He tugged on the strand. “I was starting to get worried.”
“Shut up.” My glare dipped to Reaver as he made a low huffing sound. “Your laughter only encourages his nonsense.”
Reaver plopped his head against my leg.
“I get the point you were making,” I said. “But I think you also keep forgetting something.”
An eyebrow rose. “Is that so?”
“You are my King—the King. I decreed it. That means it’s not just me making decisions. I don’t have supreme power or whatever.”
“That is right.” His silver eyes glimmered.
“I’m beginning to think you didn’t forget that and just wanted to hear me say you’re my King.”
One side of his lips tipped up. “Maybe.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously in love with you.”
My heart felt like it tripled in size, and I wanted so badly to show him, with words, my body, and even my tongue, just how much I loved him. The desire to do just that was strong, but I had to be stronger. Responsible. I also didn’t want to traumatize poor Reaver.