Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 99529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
That whole time, Xander may have slept in the sewers under my feet.
Now that moment seemed so far away and the woman I was then was someone I no longer recognized.
My little girls’ faces flashed in my head.
I’ll see them one day soon.
Once the Quiet King died, I’d return to my hometown of Zumaya, get my girls back, and try my best to not stab my ex-husband Ethan in the heart. Ethan knew way more than I thought about my enslavement with the Quiet King.
He’ll have to explain himself.
Hopefully, while I’m not holding any weapons. I couldn’t trust myself to not injure him. I imagined his shocked face as I stepped toward him wearing pants and wielding a dagger.
I’m not the same woman any more, Ethan. In just a few weeks, I’ve become something else.
I gazed at the wagon Xander rested in.
A nervous sensation washed over me.
Even though I hadn’t decided to have Xander with me, Ian demanded it.
Ian believed Xander and I should travel in the same wagon together, so that Xander could feed from me and not be stricken with anxiety that I was far away from him.
Xander and I agreed.
Still, I could feel the space between us widening.
How tense will this trip be with Xander?
A short human man with chestnut curls and green overalls approached me. He was part of Octavia’s day staff. “Queen, all is done. Are you ready to begin the journey?”
I blinked. “Please call me Camille.”
“The Horned King requested that we call you queen.”
The Horned King. I’ll never get used to that.
“Okay. Feel free to call me Queen then. And your name is?”
“Tote.”
“Nice meeting you, Tote.” I held out my hand.
He stepped back. “The Horned King also requested that we not touch you either.”
Of course he did.
“Well, nice to meet you anyway, Tote.” I lowered my hand. “Let me check something really quick and then we can start.”
Tote bowed.
I tensed at the formal movement and headed to Ian’s wagon. It stood behind Xander’s and mine.
As I got closer, I could hear Ian talking.
Dear Ambi.
“I can’t, Phinova. I simply can’t.” Ian’s voice drifted out from his compartment.
I leaned in closer and strained to hear what else he was saying.
“I’ll give you no blood unless the dominas agree!” Ian’s voice rose. “Other than that, we’ll have to wait and see what the mages say about your condition!”
He’s talking to her. The corpse.
This was worse than I thought.
“Enough. I’m going to sleep. I won’t talk to you anymore. Stay out of my head!”
I gently knocked on the wall. “Ian? Are you okay?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m fine. Are we going to begin? We’ve wasted too much time already.”
“We’re leaving in less than five minutes. I just wanted to let you know.”
“Fine.”
I scanned our line of wagons. Human drivers climbed on each one, waiting for my signal.
“Enough, Phinova.” Ian growled. “Enough!”
I have to stop this. We need him.
I knocked again. “Ian?”
Annoyance singed the word. “Yes?”
“Are you sure you’re okay, Ian?”
“I am perfect. Let’s begin.”
“But. . .do you need me to ride with you on this journey?”
“You come in here, little queen, and you’ll be riding more than my wagon.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s no need to be crude.”
Ian chuckled. “It seems you’re barely able to handle one king. You come in here and I won’t mind my manners. Especially not today.”
I rolled my eyes again. “Then get some rest.”
“You just focus on taking care of Xander and try not to slice him open until after he’s helped me kill my brother.”
“Then you better pray to Ambi that Xander doesn’t step out of place.”
Ian’s laughter soared out of his wagon. “You’re his queen.”
“Which means?”
“I don’t need to pray to any god. The queen rules the king’s mind and heart as well as his cock. You put him in line.”
Could I?
I stared at his wagon. “Ian?”
“What now, little queen?”
“Why are you talking to Phinova?”
Silence served as his only response.
I tapped against the wagon. “Ian, please talk to me.”
“Camille.” He let out a long breath. “I will figure this out by the end of our journey. Do you trust me?”
I did. . .before you started talking to a corpse.
“Camille?”
“Yes?”
“Do you trust me?”
I gritted my teeth. “Yes.”
“Then, let us begin and while we are on this journey, get proper control of your king.”
“I’ll try.” I headed back to where Tote stood. When I stopped a foot in front of him, I nodded. “We can go now.”
“Okay, Queen.”
I gritted my teeth.
Queen. I doubt I’ll get used to that, either.
I stepped onto the copper steps that arched out near the wagon’s door.
Next, I opened the entrance and quickly climbed in, trying not to let any sunlight in.
A bell chimed behind me and then a long line of bells rang out in unison.
This must be the human drivers’ method of communication.
Inside my wagon, dimly lit darkness mingled with Xander’s luscious tenna scent.