Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Just. . .please. . .help me return to her.
Chapter 24
Deadly and Determined
Fatou
After the feast, musicians gathered around us, plucking stringed instruments, beating drums, and hitting hollow gourds. Then, several performers appeared and danced within the moonlight.
Delighted, Jade jumped to her feet and clapped. Zoe joined her.
After the performance finished, they bowed and smiled at my daughter.
Then everyone headed to their rooms for the night.
My mother’s servants led Zoe to his guest room down the hall.
Hand-in-hand, Jade and I went to my old suite. Shadows filled the wing as we passed through a maze of royal corridors. Torches burned in their sconces on the walls, sending little golden glimmers into the darkness.
It was odd being back in the castle. Nostalgic memories played out in my head and made my heart ache. I had to push them away and remember why I had come in the first place.
We washed up and prepared for bed.
Jade looked at me. “Mommy, is something wrong with my power?”
“No, baby. You are a blessing from God.”
“But. . .the bad sorcerer and the vampire. . .and even Grandfather?”
“None of them matter.” I kissed her forehead. “Only focus on our love and the fact that you are beautiful on the inside and outside. Those are the only things that will ever matter in this world.”
She blinked. “Will you leave soon?”
“Yes, but I will be back.”
Jade’s bottom lip quivered. “I’m scared that you won’t come back.”
“But, I must. You are everything to me. Now that I have you with me, I will survive. There is no other option.”
“When will you leave?”
“As soon as you go to sleep.”
Her eyes watered. “And when will you come back?”
“My goal is to be back before you wake up. If not, then it will be a little later.”
Hope filled her eyes.
“I love you, Jade.”
She lay her head against my chest. “I love you, Mommy.”
Nothing made me happier than to have my arms around her. As she slept, Jade’s power rose and radiated around me. It pulsed with a warming glow that even the cold night air could not touch.
It scared me.
If she had this much power as a child, how much more would come as an adult?
My nerves flared on edge at the possibilities. I ignored my anxiety and slowly let go of Jade, making sure to not wake her.
I kissed her forehead.
I promise, little one. I will be back. I must.
I left the bed and went into my secret closet where I had stored weapons, hoping no one had found them.
Thank God.
The dark, two-foot-long sword rested at the back of my closet. The tip was adorned with a unique pattern of red swirls. Gold served as the hilt.
This sword had been given to me by my grandfather on his deathbed. He had told me to keep it safe and use it to protect our people.
Long ago, I had killed many with this sword. When my parents kicked me out, I had no time to grab my sword.
I grabbed it and headed away. Part of me wanted to take one last glance at my daughter, but it hurt too much to leave her.
Azar. Focus on saving Azar.
I opened the door.
To my shock, my mother’s top guards stood in front of my door, armed and holding weapons. There were eight warrior women and two male fire sorcerers.
Each six-feet tall, the warrior women were dressed in plate metal armor with only their heads visible. Each had a red cloak that flowed in the gentle breeze moving in the hallway. Their braided hair outlined their faces and held sharp razors at the ends.
I knew that if the metal armor were gone, I would see rippling muscles. They had long fingernails that could cut and slice through meat. Their entire childhoods had involved weapons training, fighting tactics, and exercise. Their only focus in their adult lives was to serve and protect the queen.
The two male fire sorcerers stood a foot shorter than the female warriors. Their skin was the color of earth. Their eyes glowed orange like two balls of flames. Leather covered their small frames.
I stepped out into the hallway.
In unison, they backed up.
I shut the door behind me and gripped my sword. “What is this?”
One woman warrior spoke, “We are here at the queen’s request.”
“And what is her request?”
“To help you with your mission.”
“Does my father know?”
“He does not. We are to hurry back before the King makes his rounds in the afternoon.”
“Let us hurry.” I headed off with a newfound hope moving through me.
Thank you, Mom.
I thought I would have had to do this with just Zoe. The odds would be out of our favor on so many levels. I didn’t let that deter me. But I planned to save Azar, no matter the cost. I also had to return Jade. There could be no other option.