Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 255(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 255(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estrella stiffened at the insult, as did majority of the preters in the room.
"To play by the rules, then how the hell can we feel safe, knowing it could snap anytime—-"
"Your kind and mind have lived amidst volcanoes that can explode at anytime," Domenico interjected silkily, "and yet I do not hear of any human squads torching or bulldozing them into extinction."
"It's not the same," the reporter blustered.
"Is it not? Volcanoes are of the earth, and so is Ammon. Volcanoes are ancient, and so is Ammon. Volcanoes have the power to kill, as does Ammon. But unlike volcanoes, Ammon is a force of power that can be leashed. Through Lysander, we can reason with it. Even have the beast fight with us. So if anything, the Fae prince offers significantly better odds than any volcano."
The reporter was nearly purple with rage. Everyone was either laughing or gazing at him with pity, with the way Domenico Moretti seemed to be toying with him. "Enough about the goddamn volcano—-"
"If it brings you any comfort," Domenico said in a hard voice, "then go ahead and think of Lysander as the monster that's always been living in the periphery of your existence. He's the monster that can eat you alive. The monster that you'll never see coming. He's the kind of monster that's more terrifying than all your worst nightmares combined. So if I were you, Mr. Gluck—-" Domenico's contemptuous gaze flicked to the man's name badge so he could properly address the idiot. "I'd suggest you don't do anything that will invite this monster into your life. Because if you do—-" The Lyccan prince bared his fangs. "Trust me when I say you won't survive it."
A few hours later, with dinner over and the ball in full swing, and people were still talking about Domenico's earlier speech, which had officially become viral with over two million views on YouTube...and counting.
Apparently, Domenico - upon learning from Misty about the possibility of Lysander having his soul fused with Ammon's - had made the rare gamble on the prince's return.
The Lyccan prince had always been known as the type to take only the most calculated risks, but his trust in Lysander had been such that Domenico had been willing to play the long game, racking up early losses as human offenders were allowed to walk scot-free while preters were left no choice but to suffer.
But that era has finally ended, Estrella thought happily, and a new one has now begun. With Lysander no longer bound to the rules of L'Alliance, her husband was able to work independently, and humans that sought to cause trouble against preters would now have an ancient beast to contend with.
Lysander was going to be everyone's guardian angel in other words, Estrella thought dreamily as she allowed her husband to take her hand and lead her to the dance floor, and no role could be more fitting.
The prince's lips pressed together as his wife's thoughts took an increasingly whimsical trend. Words like 'real-life Avenger', 'John Wick with horns', and 'Mr. Danaerys but sane' were now popping in her mind. Whatever makes her happy, Lysander thought. Right now, he was just damn happy himself, with how Estrella was once again relaxed and confident in his love for her.
Three months had passed since the deadly trap that had almost killed Lysander and his men, and almost all of those days had been an uphill battle. The first weeks, she had kept her guard up with him at all times, and he had let it be, knowing that it was the least he deserved.
Instead, he worked tirelessly to regain her trust and prove his trust in her in return. At first, she had been reluctant to resume her role as the Faes' ruler, but he had been adamant, and he made it a point to not only require her presence in their internal strategic meetings but to also ask for her opinion.
And in the times he would catch a flash of pain in her eyes...he would be by her side in a snap, whispering words of love to her ear just before dragging her to the nearest room with a door so that he could fuck his love into her as well.
As for Estrella's response, she had been tentative and wary at first, her confidence increasing gradually.
Until finally...they were now back to normal. Her thoughts were once again completely his to see, she was once again his internally squealing wife, and he would never fucking risk losing this again.
WHEN ESTRELLA OPENED her eyes the next morning, it was to the rare sight of finding herself awake before her husband.
Oh.
Lysander looked so much younger and innocent when he was asleep, and just gazing at him made her heart feel close to bursting. Life was really good these days, so much so that she sometimes had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming any of it.