Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 152616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 610(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 610(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
“Yes,” I forced out.
“Good.” He didn’t so much let go of me as shove me away. I stumbled back, caught by the arms by Lord Samriel. His grip was firm but not nearly as painful as I knew it could be. “Take her to her quarters and make sure she stays there while the horses are readied. We will leave as soon as Lord Arion confirms what is claimed.”
Lord Samriel began to move, and I wasn’t given much of a choice. My stare desperately clung to Grady’s unmoving form. What were they going to do to him? I didn’t dare ask out of fear of giving Prince Rohan reason to break his oath.
“Your Highness.” Hymel spoke up, unfolding his arms. “What about the Prince of Vytrus? He left to escort his knights to Archwood. They will be returning by tomorrow night, at the latest.”
My heart skipped. In the panic and terror, I’d forgotten the return of Thorne and his knights.
“They will run into some unexpected trouble en route, which should give us time,” Prince Rohan said with a smile, and that quick burst of hope deflated. He looked to me. “Don’t worry, my dear. We will keep you safe from the Prince of Vytrus.”
My mouth dropped open. Of all the things I might have expected the Prince to say, that was not it. “Keep me safe from him?”
“It may not seem that way now, but we are saving your life,” Prince Rohan said. “After all, it’s Prince Thorne you should fear. You are his to kill.”
CHAPTER 36
Thrown by what Prince Rohan had said, I was barely aware of Hymel leading Lord Samriel to my quarters. There was no way what the Prince had said was true. I wasn’t Thorne’s to kill. He wasn’t a threat to me. I wasn’t scared of him. I felt safe with him.
But Hyhborn couldn’t lie.
They could kill, though.
My chest hollowed as I walked, the slice along the bottom of my foot a dull burn. Everywhere I looked, no matter how quickly I averted my gaze and despite the fact that Hymel took us through the staff halls, I saw bodies. I saw blood streaking the floor and pooling in the crevices. When we reached the hall to my chambers, it was devoid of gore and bloodshed. If not for the faint smell of burning wood, one could almost pretend that such violence hadn’t touched us, but I could still hear the moans and whimpers, and distant screams.
My vision had come to fruition, but it hadn’t encapsulated the true horror of what had come to pass.
Lord Samriel ushered me into the chambers after Hymel opened the doors. Hymel started to follow, but the Lord held up his hand. “Leave us.”
My heart stuttered as my gaze flicked to Hymel’s. He hesitated, his gaze bouncing between the Lord and me, and good gods, I’d never thought I’d prefer his company, but here I was, wishing it weren’t him closing the doors and remaining in the hall.
Alone with the Lord in a chamber that no longer felt familiar and was strangely cold, I was too aware of the Lord’s stare. It was much like Thorne’s. Intense. Unflinching. I folded my arms over my chest and backed up against the settee. Several moments of silence passed as the Lord watched me. I peeked at him. The silvery-blond hair was longer than it had been when I last saw him, reaching the middle of his back and a shock against the leather-adorned black armor protecting his chest and shoulders. He looked . . . curious and perplexed. Did he recognize me? Like with Thorne, I doubted it, but the same instinct that warned me to stay quiet resurfaced.
“Sit,” Lord Samriel instructed.
Not wanting to tempt the Lord’s ire and endanger Grady, I sat on the edge of the settee, curling my feet beneath the hem of my gown.
Slowly, he sat on the settee, his long and lean body angled toward mine. “Your name? It’s Lis?”
I nodded.
“Is it short for anything?”
Pressing my arms close to my waist and chest, I didn’t want to answer him, but the risk of lying was too great. “Calista.”
“Calista,” he repeated, and hearing him speak my name drew a shiver down my spine, but not the kind elicited from Thorne. “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”
Fingers pressing into my sides, I forced myself to respond. “That is kind of you to say.”
His answering smile was tight and knowing. “You worry for your friend?”
My stomach dipped and twisted. “Yes.”
“The Prince will not break his oath unless given reason to,” he told me. “You just don’t want to give him reason.”
“I won’t,” I swore.
“Relieved to hear that,” he replied. “Tell me about your abilities, Calista.”
“I . . . I can do as Hymel said,” I told him. “But I’m not a conjurer.”