Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“They meant to kill me.”
He nodded in agreement. “Yes, that’s why they stabbed you with a big old knife right in the chest. That’s what would have killed you. The truth was they could have stabbed you anywhere. The spell would still have worked. And that was only what? An hour or so? Lily was in Hell for what seemed like forever having her body ripped apart, her magic feeding demon after demon, and I’m fairly certain there’s a reason she’s celibate to this day. She didn’t have an angelic presence beside her the whole time. She saw the darkest things a being can see and when she was freed, she found the light.”
I hated every word that came from his mouth. Mostly because they were like a mirror. “There was no light to be found.”
“Because you’re weak. That’s what I learned. I saw you as this incredibly strong woman like Kelsey or my mother. I put you in that class. But your goodness was a façade. It’s easy to be good when you’re surrounded by it. It’s hard when the world falls apart and you find yourself on the wrong side. Some fought. Like my grandmother.”
He was accusing me of rewriting history? “The Queen of the Seelie Fae didn’t fight at all.”
Lee’s head shook. “I wasn’t talking about her. I was talking about my witch grandmother.”
It took me a moment to connect the dots. “Christine? She worked for the master for years.”
“She was a spy.” There was an arrogant smirk on his face I longed to wipe off. “Christine Wharton gave us everything she could. She never betrayed us. She seemed like a bit of fluff my grandfather loved, and when her world fell apart, she found the strength to become something incredible.”
Christine? She was a minor witch. I’d been surprised she had any power at all, but she’d worked her way into a middle position in the coven.
I’d been heartbroken to see her there, cheering with the others. And then I’d thought if she did it, why shouldn’t I? I’d seen Christine as practical. Her husband, Harry, had been killed while trying to attack Myrddin, but she seemed to take that with equanimity. I’d admired her calm acceptance of the situation.
She’d been fighting us all along?
“She gave her life for me and my mom that day,” Lee said quietly.
I had a bone to pick with this kid. “The day Alexander apparently stole the Dark Dagger? Yes, I’ve heard that tale. You trying to create a myth around your transition? That sounds like your Fae father at work.”
If there was one thing Dev Quinn knew how to do it was build an excellent lore. Every king needed a story, and Dev could weave one that had his followers willing to die for their king. It appeared he meant to do the same thing for his son.
Lee pulled his shirt over his head. Before Lee had become a vampire he’d been covered in scars from years and years of battle. He’d become a soldier at the ripe age of eleven, taught by Sasha and Trent and taken across the planes to learn how to wage war. He’d lost an eye to a group of Fae who’d come for his twin. When I’d seen him for the first time after years, I’d…well, I’d felt nothing more than pity because if he hadn’t fought, he’d have been fine.
“Is this a myth my father created?”
I stared at the dark scar on his chest. It was right above his heart. I knew that mark and what it meant. Only a few weapons in all the planes could damage a vampire in a way he couldn’t heal. “Alexander Sharpe had the Dark Dagger? How did he steal it from Myrddin’s vault?”
“He didn’t, Liv.” Lee pulled his shirt back over his head and gave me an exasperated look. “He didn’t steal anything. The dagger was placed in his hand because Myrddin wanted me dead. Had my mother not gotten me behind Sarah’s wards, Alexander would have used it on me when I turned, and that would have ended my threat to your master. He would have taken my mother into custody and used her to prime the Sword of Light, and then it’s game over for the Earth plane.”
We were back to that again. “I don’t know how Alexander got the dagger. Do you still have it?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know? Wouldn’t it be an excellent weapon down here on the Hell plane?” Lee stalked close to me, looming over me. “I know it will kill you, though you should understand that I don’t need a weapon made from the Morningstar’s bones to get rid of you. I can do that with my own two hands.”
“I’d love to see you try.”
He stared at me, and I saw a hint of fangs when he spoke. “If you do anything to harm my sister or Dean or anyone I care about, your wish will be granted. I might be here to do a job, but I can handle a side project. I’m good at it.”