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)
“I don’t know what this means, but Queen Rolfe is preparing for war.”
“You mean, another war.”
“I’m sure Ian and the others will return to HeartHolme. They’re too vulnerable at the outpost.”
“Hope you’re right. Wait… So that means you’re still going to leave?”
“We don’t even know if Necrosis will actually attack, so I can’t wait around. Getting the dragons is our top priority. Not having Ivory and me in the fight won’t change the outcome.”
“I know not having her around won’t change a damn thing.”
“She’s actually great with a bow and pretty decent with a sword.”
“Not as decent as I am,” she said coldly.
“I need you to be careful, Elora. Always have your armor ready to go. Make sure you’ve got your best weapon ready.”
“Psh, this isn’t my first time…”
“But treat it like it is. Confidence is the key to success. But arrogance is the path to failure. Don’t become complacent and lose your head. I’m not ashamed to admit that Necrosis is an enemy that I dread to face—even after all this time.”
With the serious tone as the backdrop, she ceased her sarcastic quips. “Come on, you know I’m always careful. I doubt I’ll be in this fight. I’m usually tasked with weapons duty…”
“And it’s a pretty important duty, Elora. Our lives depend on it.”
She gave a nod in appreciation.
I waved down the barmaid. “I’ll take another one of these to go.”
“You’re that hungry?” Elora asked, her eyebrow raised.
“Oh, it’s not for me.”
“That little girl can eat something like that?”
I gave a slight grin. “Like I said, I think you’d really like her if you gave her a chance.”
26
IVORY
I woke up to a scratchy beard against my face and soft lips against mine. My mouth parted, and a breath filled my lungs. Then my lips felt the pressure again, the caress of a lover.
My mouth reciprocated as my eyes opened to see intense blue eyes.
“Wasn’t sure if I should wake you or not.”
“If that’s how you’re going to do it, you should always wake me up.”
He walked away as he pulled his shirt over his head. “Dinner is on the table. I’ll get the fire going again.” He dropped his breeches too, getting down to just his underwear. Sculpted muscles on top of sculpted muscles comprised his strong physique. Even without armor, he was protected.
I noticed the little scars on his back with a twinge of anger. “What’d you get me?”
“Roast beef sandwich and mashed potatoes.”
“Oh my god…that sounds amazing.” I hurried out of bed and sat in the armchair near the fire. In his baggy shirt, I ate everything he brought me, licking the juice off my fingertips as I went. The squirrel in the cave never tasted this good. “How’s your sister?”
He sank into the other armchair, his massive shoulders like two boulders. “The same.”
“Which is?”
“A brat.”
I chuckled. “I know you don’t mean that. I have a brother too, remember?”
He kept his eyes on the fire.
“Really. How is she?”
“Still not happy about you.”
“Well, she’s gotta come around sometime, right?”
“I don’t know…she’s pretty stubborn.”
I scraped the potatoes out of the box with my fork, enjoying their buttery fluffiness. “What did you say to your mom at the castle?”
His eyes shifted to me. “I told her she needs to accept you.”
“Ha.” I took another bite. “Nice try.”
“She listened.”
“Doesn’t mean she’ll actually do it.”
“Said she’d try.”
“Well…I’ll believe it when I see it.” I would always be dirt underneath that woman’s shoe. She would be totally indifferent to me if she didn’t hate me so much.
“She doesn’t trust you, but I vouched for you.”
“She’ll never trust me—and that’s perfectly fine.”
“Ivory.”
The way he said my name silenced me. The fact that he said it at all silenced me.
“I got my mother to come to the table. Now I need you to meet her halfway.”
“And how do I do that?”
“Be yourself.”
“I’ve been myself this entire time…and she didn’t care for it.”
“Well, now she’s ready.”
I wasn’t exactly thrilled about having any kind of relationship with that woman, not after she’d tossed me to the Teeth and caused me these scars on my thighs for the rest of my life. But holding the grudge wouldn’t get me far, and this seemed important to Huntley. “Alright.”
He turned back to the fire.
“I’m actually more interested in a relationship with Elora.”
He gave me a side glance.
“You know, because we’re related.”
“You think I’m stubborn? You think I hold a grudge? I’ve got nothing on her.”
“Yes, I know… She was lovely last time we spoke.”
“Then let it go.”
“That’s hard to do, knowing she’s my sister.”
“She’s not your sister, baby. You’re related, but that doesn’t make you family.”
I could hear the protectiveness in his voice, the way he guarded her like she was the treasure that everyone wanted. It reminded me of the way he protected me against those who wanted my head on a pike. “Are you going to be gone all day tomorrow?”