Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Trent sighed as though infinitely weary.
I hated that I was the one making him that way. I moved to stand in front of him, wanting to stave off his worries. “I don’t blame you. I don’t blame the baby. Hell, the truth of the matter is I’m sure I won’t blame Gray at the end, but you have to know I’m going to find a way out of this. I’m not going to let them have a connection to my child.”
“Our child,” Trent corrected. “And we’re already working on it.”
I had to be content with that for now. “How long will he stay away?”
“As long as you command, but you didn’t exactly give him a timeline,” Evan pointed out. “And you should know that his connection to Gray holds sway over everything else. You could tell him to do one thing and Gray another and he’ll do what Gray wants. Even telling him to stay away from you won’t keep him from Gray.”
So at least I knew the rules. I had to hope that Gray would keep our son safe. I would still study up on all the laws that bound a demon like Tix, but I had to let it go for now. For now I still had a mystery to solve, and being worried about the future wasn’t going to help me. Tomorrow the primals would be finished with their death rituals and we could focus on the prophecy I’d brought back. I needed to figure out who’d murdered Alvis and what those paintings had to do with it so I could focus on the fact that Myrddin wanted to gift the Earth plane to a bunch of demons and then nothing would matter.
I brushed my lips against Trent’s to let him know we were okay. I wasn’t sure what I would do with Gray, but Trent and I were cool. Then I turned and strode down the hallway toward the apartment that housed Relda and Jade.
“I’ll contact Hugo tomorrow and get him started on the problem with Tix.” Evan rushed to stay at my side.
“I would appreciate that.” The princess was infinitely helpful. “You should also call your parents.”
“I already did,” Evan promised. “They were being mysterious about something big going down tomorrow. Mom was hedgy, but I can tell something’s going on. Have they contacted you?”
“No, but I don’t expect them to.” It mostly worked the other way. I called the royals to let them know what was happening. In this case I was more of a trusted employee. They would tell me what I needed to know when I needed to know it. “And don’t be surprised if they don’t talk freely even over secure lines. There are always ears listening.”
“I think they’re leaving Frelsi,” Evan said quietly.
“Uhm, they’re totally leaving Frelsi,” Fen replied. “They’re going to Dallas tomorrow or probably now, given the time thing. Lee’s excited. He’s going to steal something. Oh, and it turns out Myrddin is Dean’s dad. That was a piece of hot gos.”
“What?” No one had told me.
Evan nodded. “Yeah, apparently Myrddin showed up and figured out that his son was back. Also Mom kicked our uncle in the gnads, and something’s up with Rhys and Shy. It’s a lot to take in.”
Trent growled a little. “You talked to Lee on an open line?”
“No, we’re on a secure text. Come on. You know we keep in touch,” Fen argued. “It’s always been like this.”
“But things have changed.” Trent never stopped walking. “The royals are back, and now things are infinitely more dangerous. We have to have new protocols, and that means being far more careful. There’s a reason we’ve used the mirror system sparingly. If the queen has something she needs to steal, we should be quiet about it.”
I knew exactly what she would be going for. My mind was still whirling about the news that Dean was Myrddin’s son, but I shoved it to the background for now. We needed to concentrate on getting back our weapons. “She left some magical bag in her apartment at the Council building.”
“She’s going after Myrddin’s grimoire,” Evan said.
A thrill of hope went through me because there was more than a magical book in that bag according to the queen. “And Gladys.”
I might get my sword back, and I couldn’t wait. It felt wrong to be on this plane without her.
I rounded the corner with renewed vigor because I trusted the queen. If she thought this was the right time to steal the bag, then I would have Gladys back as soon as I returned to Frelsi. One more reason to get this job done as soon as I could.
A hand reached out to stop me. Fen had his nose up. “I smell blood.”
“Me, too,” Trent agreed.
I jogged down the hallway, praying they were wrong.