Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t observe it myself, but Amell’s expression softens, and he appears empathetic. “You have to keep at it. Zora needs to feel safe and secure to crack the door open and let you in. The best way to do that is with patience and understanding.”
I nod. “I’ve got eternity, and there’s no one else I want.”
“Good,” he says and pivots on his heel. “Because if there were, I’d have to kill you. Now, let’s talk business so you can report back to Zora that you were a good little lackey. Has she told you about the uprising?”
“One of your Dark Fae subjects was going to try to finish Kymaris’s work by kidnapping Nyssa to force you to open the veil between the First Dimension and the Underworld. You called forth some badass fire dragon from the Crimson River and turned the usurpers to ash.”
“Pretty much,” Amell says as we reach his apartments. “Since then, there have been some breaches in the veil between here and Faere, but I’ve managed to seal them up. I’ve got teams checking them every day. I assume it’s Dark Fae attempting to escape en masse and the veil is being tested for weaknesses.”
The veil is what separates dimensions from one another. Some are easy to traverse, others near impenetrable. It depends on what stone magic was used to create the dimension in the first place.
“Any other concerns?” I ask as I’m invited in. Amell goes to a sideboard and pours me a drink.
“One. An immortal human priest who was closely tied to Kymaris. I couldn’t pin him to this uprising but I know he’s up to something.”
“Want me to kill him?” I volunteer.
Amell chuckles. “No. I’ve got people watching him, but if I do find out he’s plotting something, my river dragon is at the ready.”
“Fair enough. How about you take me out and show me where the breaches were in the veil, and then I can report back to Zora I did my part to help you out?”
“What?” Amell says, his mouth curving upward. “No words of advice?”
I flash a dark smile. “Yeah… kill the immortal priest before he does something.”
Amell laughs, and it’s actually genuine. I can’t help but grin in return.
“You know,” he muses as he pours himself a drink, “if I didn’t hate you so much, I might actually like you.”
“Ditto,” I reply.
CHAPTER 5
Maddox
Spotting Carrick, I walk across the grass to the gazebo. On the dais, the gods are talking and a handful of demigods mill about.
“I thought you earned permanent retirement?” I ask.
Carrick smirks. “Finley is hanging out with her friends today and I had nothing better to do.”
I elbow him in the ribs. “Married life that boring, huh?”
“On the contrary, it’s fucking fantastic.”
Everybody’s married and life is fucking fantastic.
My eyes slide to Zora, standing placidly with her hands clasped. Because this is a formal meeting, the gods are in white tunics, red capes with gold braided belts, and epaulets. Zora is the smallest of the deities, but not by much. Veda and Circe only have her by an inch or two. Onyx is almost as tall as I am, but Cato makes everyone look diminutive next to his seven-foot frame.
From thin air, Amell appears on the far side of the gazebo and right next to him is Deandra, the queen of the Light Fae. I’m shocked—I’ve never seen a fae allowed in this realm. I’ve been here countless times to meet with one god or another, but I’ve never seen anyone other than demigods. I don’t know what dimension we’re in or if we’re even in a dimension. If I need to have a formal meeting with the gods, I use an ancient incantation to arrive in this place. If they summon me, I will arrive here.
Whatever this place is, it’s always beautiful with perfectly warm weather accompanied by a scented breeze, rolling hills, towering mountains, and fruit trees all around. The gods don’t live here, but this is where we always meet in official capacities. The Council provides time like this to their most devoted servants—the demigods, for that is why we were created—to bring tidings of quests they are on or to make requests.
It’s why I’m here today.
For a request.
Amell walks toward me and Carrick, Deandra following. She’s a stunning fae beauty with raven hair and ice-blue eyes. Her outfit is outrageously sexy, a frothing pale blue gown with crystals along a bodice cut so low, it reaches her navel. The skirt is open panels that show her long legs when she walks. Deandra is a temptress but she’s also powerful—and dangerous. Lucky for us, she fought on our side in the apocalypse.
Carrick shakes Amell’s hand and kisses Deandra’s cheek. I give Amell a nod but then Deandra steps into me, pressing her lips to mine in a lingering kiss.