Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
My eyes narrowed.
“It’s a dangerous place—”
“I don’t care. I’ll go.”
He kept his look down. “Ryker—”
“If my sister is down there—”
“You’ve heard my stories, but you have no idea what it’s like down there. It’s hell—frozen over many times. Even if you managed to find her, your odds of getting her back are slim to none.”
“I won’t abandon her down there, Father.”
He lifted his gaze once more. “If my theory is true and she is down there…she’ll return.”
My eyes narrowed again.
“She’s their key into the Kingdoms—and they’ll use her when the time is right.”
3
EFFIE
I hung the damp clothes with the clothespins, hooking them in place on the line so the breeze would move through the cotton and remove the moisture. A gust of wind came through, billowing my hair back behind my face, and it caught the shirt I’d been holding. “Rude.” I chased after it, stomping my boot down before it got another gust of wind and took off down the road for everyone to see. “At least it’s not my undergarments…” With the damp shirt in my hands, I turned back to the line where half of the clothes hung.
But now, a man stood there.
Ryker.
He wasn’t in his armor or the king’s uniform. He looked like anyone else in his breeches and tunic, as if he wanted to be just anyone else. When he caught me off guard, a subtle smile moved on to his lips. “Laundry day?”
I composed myself and attached the shirt to the line.
“Need any help?” He reached inside and pulled out one of my chemises. “Ooh…sexy.”
I snatched it out of his hand and quickly checked the windows at the back of the house. Thankfully, the curtains were closed because my parents were both napping. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” His grin widened.
I continued to hang up the clothes, watching him watch me.
He stood there, thoroughly entertained, even though he’d never had to take care of his own clothes a day in his life.
Not only was he the son of the duke who lived in a beautiful castle, but he was handsome too. He had thick, dark hair that was cut short, bright green eyes that looked as pure as gems, and he had the kind of smile that made women go weak in the knees. Myself included.
“How’s that dagger treating you?”
I continued to work. “I keep it tucked under my pillow every night.”
“Do you feel unsafe?”
“I’ll always feel unsafe after what happened.”
His smile disappeared. “You should always be on your guard outside Delacroix. But when you’re home, you don’t need to worry about that. The laws protect everyone.”
I rolled my eyes and kept working.
“You know something I don’t?”
“The law doesn’t mean shit if you don’t get caught. And if you try to report someone after the fact, they’ll just kill you. And even if they don’t kill you, what does it matter? The deed is done. The law doesn’t prevent crime.”
His stare was hard now as he listened to every word I said.
“The world is different for you, m’lord.”
“Don’t call me that.” He had a deep voice, and it became even deeper when he was serious.
I grabbed more clothes from the basket and moved farther down the line as I clipped them into place. He moved with me, always watching me.
“No sign of your sister?”
After a long pause, he gave his answer. “No.”
I could feel all his pain in just that simple response. It was in the tone of his voice. It was in the tightness of his face as he gave a slight wince.
“I’m afraid I’ll never see her again.”
“I’m sorry.” I stopped my work for just a moment, squeezing the fabric in my fingertips.
“Do you have a sister?”
“I do.”
“Hope nothing ever happens to her.”
She was a lot younger than me, so we weren’t close. But I’d be devastated if anyone ever took her.
“Why are you here?” I hung up the pants then took another step to find room for the shirt.
“Come on, sweetheart.” He stared down at me, wearing a sexy, brooding stare. “I didn’t come by to help you with the laundry or retrieve my dagger.”
“Well, I have a boyfriend.”
He didn’t even blink. “A boyfriend, huh?”
“Yes.” I kept working.
“What’s this boyfriend’s name?”
“What does it matter?”
“Because you’re lying and can’t give me one.”
I kneeled and grabbed another handful of clothes, unsure how to deflect the conversation. “Henry.”
“And what’s he do?”
I straightened and kept hanging the clothes. “Blacksmith.”
“Really? So, your boyfriend and your father are both blacksmiths? What are the odds.”
Shit, he’d done his homework.
“Come on, sweetheart. The son of a duke isn’t good enough for you?”
I’d officially run out of clothes, so now there was nothing else to do but meet him head on.
He stared as if he could do this all day.
“You aren’t my type, alright?”
“Really?” he asked, the playfulness in his eyes. “You like girls? Ooh…that’s hot.”