Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Mars finally sunk deep and I sighed in contentment at the feel.
And his eyes came to mine.
“Brazen,” he muttered on a false complaint.
“You may thank me later,” I told him.
His mouth twitched before he pulled me off his shaft and set me on the ground.
My husband made certain I was steady before he moved away, tucked himself in and began to do up his pants.
He looked so handsome in his leathers and mantle, his sword scabbarded at his back.
Which was why, upon seeing him, I had instigated what had just happened.
Then again, he always looked handsome.
He was almost to the door when I called, “Should I wait for you to have breakfast?”
His eyes came to mine.
“Yes.”
I smiled brightly at him.
His face softened.
And then he was gone.
Prince Cassius
Outside Highgate, Sky Bay
AIREN
Mars moved into position next to Elena.
When he was there, Cassius leaned forward and said, “Good of you to show up.”
“My queen was in a mood,” Mars muttered.
“So was his,” Elena stated, jerking her head toward Cass. “So we got started early.”
“We did as well,” Mars retorted. “She just wanted seconds.”
Elena burst out laughing.
He could hear True at his other side groaning about such words uttered regarding his cousin.
But Aramus was on the other side of Mars, and he was chuckling.
Cassius clenched his teeth.
He then looked down to the plain which was covered in snow.
And lines of battle-ready AG soldiers.
He turned his gaze right, looking beyond True, to where the entirety of the road up to Highgate was lined with Airenzian, Nadirii, Firenz and Dellish soldiers.
His eyes went up, and there he saw two of Frey’s dragons.
One was seated on an outcropping halfway up the cliffs, tail stirring, tongue lolling. The other lay regal across a back balcony of the Citadel, its neck arced tall, wings at rest high at its back, clawed front arms crossed at its breast, tail curled about its flank, red eyes aimed at the plain.
The silhouette of Frey stood on the railing next to it.
Cassius’s head turned left.
Beyond Ellie, Mars, to Aramus, Tor, Lahn…
Apollo.
As if sensing his attention, Apollo leaned well forward.
“I would not lose another woman or man,” Cassius called.
Apollo said not a word.
He wheeled his horse and rode back through the Highgate.
Watching him go, Cassius raised his gaze to the cliffs beyond the gate that had, for centuries, been the first bastion of defense for the all-important Bay.
Along it stood manned cannons.
And amongst them, ordinary citizens.
Some who had come to watch.
Some who held bows in their hands and quivers of arrows at their backs who had come to help if it was needed.
It would not be needed.
“They will lay down their arms.”
Ellie saying this brought his attention to her.
“They will not lay down their arms,” he replied.
“They will lay down their arms.”
“My darling, they’re not going to lay down their arms.”
Her gaze swung to the plain. “We are not outnumbered this time.”
They would not lay down their arms.
He did not repeat himself.
He ordered, “You do not leave this position.”
Her eyes jumped again to him.
“We agreed,” he reminded her. “We do not leave this position. The rulers of all realms, including the Princess Regent of this one, stands still, watching their defeat, gaining it not having to lift a finger. Yes?”
She didn’t reply.
“It’ll be over soon,” he muttered, his eyes drifting back to the plain.
“They must know this is futile. Why won’t they lay down their arms?” she asked.
“I don’t know the answer to that question,” he told her, not taking his attention from the thousands of men lined before him. “For, honest to the gods, I do not know why they’re taken up in the first place.”
His wife shuffled her horse closer to his.
He remained steady on Caelus.
They sat their steeds.
And waited.
Marian
Silbury Henge, Argyll Forest
AIREN
“What is this place?” Marian asked carefully as she watched him move from stone to stone, touching each with a reverence she had never seen of him.
Nor would have ever expected.
He did not answer at first.
“Daemon, I do not get a good feeling about this place,” she warned, when he was standing at the last, great stone that protruded from the ground.
It was one that had part of it shorn by time or other earthly element, the great slab that had fallen away embedded in the earth beside it.
And he was glaring at it with distaste.
He turned to her, his expression changing, and she absolutely did not get a good feeling about that new look on his face.
She started backing up.
“You should not run, for you know I will catch you,” he said.
She continued backing up.
He shrugged, the apology all over his expression screaming in her face even if he was fifteen feet away.
“I needed your magic, of course,” he said.
“You cannot have it,” she replied.
He nodded his head, slowly moving her way.
She started backing up much faster.
“I know,” he told her. “Thus, I shall have to take it. It is too bad he escaped. I could have perhaps…eased things for you if I had his magic too. It was rather strong. Not as strong as he liked to think. But it was strong. Indeed, I hope yours is enough. I would hate to have to delay, having to find another witch.”