Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Somewhere along the line in all these weeks of travel, danger, and chaos, I’d stopped thinking about Nylian as a character I’d created in a world I’d designed to pay my bills. Nylian had become real. His pain and joy were real. The danger and betrayal were real. And so was the love growing in my heart for him.
Regardless of magic coins and fate, I couldn’t leave here. I had to find a way to stay. I belonged with Nylian, and nothing was going to change that.
Chapter 25
Bad Blood
Not surprisingly, I woke first.
I crawled out of bed, content to leave Nylian to catch up on some much-needed sleep, and dressed quickly. I eased out of our bedroom and went in search of a servant who could get me a broom I could use to clean up the glass on the floor, and maybe something to eat.
Sure, I could send the servant in with the broom, but Nylian was naked in bed, and I didn’t want anyone else in the room with him while he slept. Yep, all that elf hotness was mine, and it was gonna stay that way. We’d pitched the idea of the harem out the window, and I was staking a claim on that sexy man.
We were definitely in screw-the-book territory now.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find a servant because Captain Elion found me first.
“His Grace requests your attendance on a matter,” the man said without an ounce of warmth.
An icy chill swept through me and I nodded, motioning for the captain to precede me. I didn’t like this. A meeting alone with Nylian’s uncle seemed like a terrible idea. With any luck, he was going to question my intentions toward his nephew, and I would have to reassure him I wasn’t some evil, scheming douchebag who wanted to hurt Nylian.
But instead of going to the study or a library for a chat before a fire over some whiskey or tea, Captain Elion led me outside to the main courtyard in front of the castle, where the black sky was still turning gray with the rising sun. The area was silent, lit by a handful of flickering torches. A few servants hurried here and there, going about their early-morning chores with their heads down. There was a bite to the air as we left the last bits of summer behind. If we had been camping, I imagine I would have woken to see wispy white mist winding between the trees.
There was no mist. Just the duke standing alone in the middle of the courtyard with his sword clenched in his right fist.
My stomach dropped and my steps slowed as I approached the duke dressed all in black. His long white hair was pulled away from his face to reveal a cold hardness that rivaled the darkest winter night.
“You wanted to see me, Your Grace,” I greeted as calmly as I could manage.
“I challenge you, Prince Victor Montcroix. Prove yourself and your honorable intentions toward Prince Xeran Elrich.”
My mouth went dry, and I stumbled back a step. “What?” Movement to my left jerked my attention over to see Captain Elion bringing me a sword. He was fucking serious. He wanted to fight me.
“I don’t understand. How is a duel going to prove that my intentions are honorable? It’s a matter of who’s the better swordsman. I could beat you and still be dishonorable.”
“That true, but we both know that you won’t beat me.” A razor-sharp half smile lifted one corner of Thallan’s mouth and, for a flash, I thought he bore a small resemblance to Nylian. Particularly that night I’d admitted I wasn’t Victor Montcroix. But the similarity disappeared in a flash as the captain held the sword out to me. “Pick up the weapon. Prove you’re worthy to stand next to my nephew.”
A fine trembling ran through my right hand as I reached out and wrapped my fingers around the hilt. I hefted the sword, testing its weight. It was lighter than the sword I practiced with. It was closer to what Nylian used, which meant that I had more speed at my fingertips but less power.
Not that it was going to make much difference.
As soon as Captain Elion took two steps away from me, the duke charged. I barely had enough time to raise the sword to block his first few strikes. The ring of metal clashing with metal echoed through the early-morning silence, piercing my ears while my heart hammered wildly.
I kept up with him for a few blows, but the fourth slashed across my upper arm, slicing through cloth and flesh. A hiss of pain shot out between clenched teeth and I sidestepped, putting some much needed distance between us so I could regather my fragmented focus.
Thallan had me painfully outmatched. I’d been studying the art of swordplay for a couple of weeks while the man in front of me had been wielding a sword for a lifetime. There was no way I could survive this fight. I only hoped to buy time for Nylian to save me or to talk my way out of this mess.