Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“There is nothing to be sorry for.” Hassha raises her chin, a smile gracing her lips. “Everyone’s life must come to an end one day, even those deemed immortal.”
“I don’t stand a chance against her.” Caz finally speaks again, looking into Hassha’s eyes. “She has powers unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”
“But you have more. You are filled with the blood of every single Regal, Caspian. You are so much more than you know. Just like a weapon, you must learn how to use it.” She presses a hand to his chest. “Yuri knows your needs. He knows your strengths. He will not fail you. You just have to trust him to take over.”
“How am I supposed to learn any of this?” my mate asks, raising his hands and staring at his palms. “I’ve tried controlling it, but I can’t. It only works when I feel like my life is in danger or the life of someone I love.”
“Then that is exactly what you use to draw it out. Everyone you love is in danger. Practice is all it requires, and soon enough, it’ll become second nature. Trust in your abilities. Korah and I will be here to assist you as much as we can.”
Caz nods, though I sense wariness. I don’t have to read his mind to know he’s not confident in these new abilities. There’s now more pressure on his shoulders. He’s the key to saving Vakeeli, and if he fails, we’re all as good as dead.
That is so fucked up.
“Is there anything else you and Korah are keeping a secret from us?” Caz locks his gaze on Hassha as he stands next to me.
Hassha puts on a boastful smile. “In fact, there is.”
“What is it?” he asks.
“We plan on training Willow too. We need her to be able to defend herself during the times you can’t be there.”
“What?” I gasp.
“No fucking way!” Caz shouts at the same time.
The rest of the clan retort just as loudly with deep frowns on their faces.
“I am not letting Willow get in the middle of this,” Caz declares. “My mate will go nowhere near the mess Selah creates.”
“He’s right, Hassha,” I add as I push out of my chair. “I’m not a fighter. I’m not saying I’m useless, but from where I come from, there aren’t just magical fights and brawls breaking out on my streets. It was generally safe. I’m not sure it’s wise to add me to this, plus it’d be a waste of your time.”
“Korah will guide you.” Hassha provides a gentle smile. “Many women on my island didn’t believe they could protect themselves, but they surprised themselves. It’s inside you. Don’t doubt it.” Her eyes soften while maintaining urgency. “I will also bring your brother’s ashes to Blackwater for you to do as you wish with them.”
My throat closes in on itself at the mention of Warren. With all this talk of the unknown Regal Yuri, the past of Vakeeli, and Caz being the chosen one, I allowed his death to momentarily slip my mind.
I swallow to block the emotion, but my throat is still thick. Caz shifts closer to me, the back of his hand brushing against my forearm.
It’s all right, I hear him say.
As if she senses the buildup of emotion too, Hassha walks around the table to take my hands in hers. “You must believe me when I say if there were any other way, Willow, I’d have spared Warren. I promise you. The last thing I wanted was for him to die. Things with Selah were never supposed to escalate this soon. We thought we had more time.”
“It still wasn’t right. You should’ve let me see him one last time, at least,” I tell her, voice cracking.
“It wasn’t safe.” She pauses, like she’s searching for the proper words. “The closer you were to him, the easier you would’ve been to taint. Your mind would’ve become just as corrupt as his did. That’s what Selah does. Those whispers she plants into your head, the nightmares, the lies—it morphs into something that cannot be tamed or controlled. Warren was lost long before we made our decision. We just held out and hoped things would change the harder we tried. They never did.”
I sigh. Though she’s being kind, I’m still pissed about what she and Korah did without even telling us. They could’ve at least let me make the decision to put him down, but they didn’t.
At the end of the day, they murdered him, and I’ll never get to see or speak to him again. He was the only blood relative I had left—the only one I relied on. We were siblings who shared a womb. A bond like that doesn’t just go away.
“I understand your anger.” Hassha steps back to press her lips. “But we still need you. If there is anything I can do to make it up to you, tell me and I will do it. Whatever it is, it will be a debt I am willing to pay.”