Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Yes. You go straight to the people who love you most, and you tell them whatever you think will make them feel best.”
Will nods and takes a deep breath. “Okay. Yeah. That’s good advice.”
“Very well.” Amell circles his hand from which a shining light trails, creating a large circle in the air that grows bigger and bigger. The inside glows, then turns transparent, and I can see a small farmhouse sitting at the end of a gravel driveway.
“That’s my grandparents’ house,” Will says in amazement.
“Your parents are there, having their Sunday dinner,” Amell says.
My jaw drops in awe. “How did you know that?”
Amell shrugs. “I don’t question the powers Zora gave me. I just use them. I’ll let you two say goodbye.”
And then to my surprise, Amell walks back toward the castle doors, stopping about twenty yards away.
Allowing us a moment of privacy.
I don’t waste time because Will needs to get back to his life. I grab him in a fierce hug, and he squeezes me in return. “Thank you, Nyssa. There’s no way I could ever repay you.”
I lean my head back, hands going to his shoulders. “Sure you can. Have a great life.”
“I will,” he says and kisses my cheek. Then his eyes bore into mine. “I can look up your brother if you want. See how he’s doing. Not that I can let you know anything, but if he’s struggling in any way, I’ll help him. That’s how I can pay you back.”
“You’d do that?” I ask incredulously, my heart hammering with the possibility that the worry I’ve carried for the past fourteen years might be alleviated.
“Of course, I would. I’d do anything for you.”
“It will be hard. I’m sure the adoption records are closed and—”
“I’ll figure it out, Nyssa. I’ll use every resource I can, and I won’t give up until I find him.”
Tears prick at my eyes, and I hug him again. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
Will laughs. “That makes me feel special.”
“Well, you’re the only friend I’ve ever had…”
We both laugh before I release him and push him toward the opening between dimensions.
His smile turns nostalgic and his eyes stay pinned on me as he walks backward toward it. He doesn’t release my gaze until he steps through the opening and it seals, causing Will to disappear.
I wipe my leaky eyes with my fingertips and look back toward Amell. He reaches his hand out to me, and I move to him to take it.
“Are you hungry?” he asks. “Because once we get in bed, I’m not letting you out for a very long time.”
I smile with extreme happiness for what just happened. “Maybe I’m the one who won’t let you out of bed for a very long time.”
Amell chuckles and rather than walk back through the castle, he bends distance and we flop right onto his bed.
CHAPTER 19
Amell
While my mind is mostly on Nyssa’s desire to “taste” me, I’m a little put off that she had obviously shared something very personal with Will.
He knew about her brother.
Yes, I stepped away to give her privacy to say goodbye to her friend when it was time for him to leave.
Yes, I shamelessly eavesdropped because I’m the king and I do whatever the fuck I want.
I know about Nyssa’s brother, of course, because I have her collection of life events from the crystal. I knew they were separated when he was a baby and she was only twelve, but the crystal didn’t reveal many memories involving him. There was the initial separation after their mother died, and then they went into separate foster homes.
A few instances of her asking the social worker when they’d be together again, only to be handed vague answers.
Then learning about her brother being adopted.
By then, she was in a bad situation of her own, and the fact he was adopted and she was alone changed her. She cried when she learned that, but she never cried again after, even though she had good reason to.
“Does it hurt your wings to lie on your back?” Nyssa asks, and I jolt slightly. I’d been lost in my thoughts about her past.
“What?”
“Roll onto your back,” she commands, and it’s cute that she thinks a king would do her bidding.
And yet, I roll, folding my wings in tight.
Nyssa straddles my hips and places her small hands on my chest. She looks so serious. “Thank you again for releasing, Will.”
“We had a deal,” I remind her.
“I know,” she replies with a faint smile. “Which is why what I’m about to do has nothing at all to do with Will and everything to do with me.”
I watch mesmerized as she works the laces of my leather vest. I could make it disappear with magic, but I like watching her concentrate, and I really like the tiny caresses where her fingertips touch my skin.