Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115347 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115347 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Never should have deviated. Lesson learned.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MICAH RUSHED THROUGH his tent, preparing for the hunt. He scrubbed from head to toe, hoping to energize as much as clean up. He dressed in a clean tunic, leathers, fresh boots and the cloak, then loaded himself with weapons.
Every so often, he rubbed his thumb over the red stone anchored in the center of his wrist cuff. The newest addition to his accessory. An eternastone. The reason Vee could never escape him. Cut one of the rocks in half, and the two pieces forever called to each other, desperate to reunite, no matter the distance between them.
Some lovers wore the stones as a sign of their unwillingness to part. Never had Micah desired to do so. Until now. He doubted he would ever part with the thing.
The sandcats followed him through the enclosure. He allowed it, too busy to deal with their presence right now. They wanted to protect him? Very well. Let them. It wouldn’t save them when the time came. He had plans...
As he stuffed anything he thought he might need into a satchel, the felines inspected everything, pushed maps from the table, clawed at the cloth walls and got comfortable in the pallet of furs.
The cuff burned and tugged him in the direction Vee had flown. His thoughts whirled all the while. Do no harm to the innocent. Vee wasn’t innocent. Protect what’s yours. The creature she’d named Graves belonged to Micah now. Payment for the devastation her other “children” had visited upon his people throughout the centuries. Vee herself would spend her days in his dungeon.
Always do what’s right. Neutralizing her was for the good of all.
Never be without a backup plan. To stop her from creating more monsters, he must chain her or kill her. No other paths lay before him.
His tiny guards hissed when Norok stalked into the tent, pale hair damp with sweat. “I have readied Cavalry.”
Cavalry, Micah’s personal centaur. A cantankerous, difficult male with the bloodline of the ancients—the biggest, strongest and fiercest among the species. “I won’t be requiring a mount for this expedition.” He preferred to do this alone. “Fetch Elena and Sabot.”
“Very well.” Norok wrinkled his nose in distaste when he spotted the felines and reached for a dagger. “Shall I dispose of these little beasties before I go?”
The sandcats lunged at Norok, and the warrior reared back, yelping like a small child.
At any other time, Micah might have laughed. “Leave them be.” When the time came, he would be using them against Vee. Another reason he wasn’t taking a mount. Cavalry would stomp the two into powder at the first opportunity.
“As you wish.” Norok vanished, but reappeared a few minutes later. “The two you requested are on their way.”
A sullen Elena stalked into the tent. This was the first time Micah had seen her since the invasion of belua. From what he’d been told, she’d battled Vee and lost—epically—and only recently recovered. Sabot followed on her heels. Unlike other former viceroys, Sabot had never displayed a beat of resentment. He performed any task he was assigned promptly and without complaint. He always treated others with respect, no matter their station, earning Micah’s admiration.
“Micah,” Elena immediately rushed out. “I’m so sorry I allowed the—” she cringed “—queen to escape. So sorry I wasn’t able to warn you of her ability to—”
“We all made mistakes that night.” Time to issue orders and go. “Norok, you’re in charge during my absence. Be on watch for any new belua. Trap those who dare approach. I’ll deal with them upon my return.” Any able to grow fruit would be spared. All others would die.
His friend bowed his head. “It shall be done.”
“Elena—” Micah turned to her “—you’ll return to the palace to listen to Kaysar and Cookie. Sabot will accompany you, making himself known only if you have need of him.” Not even an oracle would notice her.
Sabot nodded, his gaze darting to the blonde and lingering. Heating? “No harm will come to her—you have my word.”
Excellent. “I shouldn’t be gone more than a few hours. No more than a day at most.”
“Are you sure you can imprison your queen, when the time comes?” Norok asked, as hopeful as he was curious.
Micah flinched at the title he had oh, so foolishly bestowed upon a treacherous female he could never fully sever from his life without heaping great dishonor upon his name. “I am very sure.” What other choice did he have?
Churlish, he stalked from the tent. The cloak’s hem whipped against his calves. As expected, the sandcats followed. They even shot ahead of him to take the lead. He could have flittered to the edge of Grimm Forest, but he didn’t want to risk losing his new shadows. Not yet. Not until they’d served their purpose.
As he stomped forward, his people scurried out of his path. Micah picked up the pace, jogging, running into Grimm Forest, where huge footprints offered a perfect trail. Straight ahead. The pull on his cuff continued to increase, his stone ready to be rejoined with hers.