Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“They’re good men. Just like their father.”
I gave a nod. “Wish I could have met him.”
“He was a wonderful man. I still dream of him…every night.”
A love that lived on after death. It reminded me of what I felt for Bastian.
“I want things to be different from now on.”
I lifted my chin and looked up at her.
“I can’t love you like a daughter, not the way I love Huntley and Ian. I won’t give you false hope. I won’t make promises that I can’t keep. But I could love you in your own way, perhaps like a niece. Would that be okay?”
It was better than nothing. And it was real. “I’ve always wanted an aunt.”
She smiled at me. Actually smiled.
THIRTY-THREE
Ivory
When we walked into the room, Queen Rolfe was sitting on her throne, still pale and feeble, but with her old strength in her eyes. She was in her usual uniform, the feathers in her hair, her majesty unquestioned.
Huntley didn’t express himself with words. He did it with the change of his breaths, with the tightness of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes. He showed all the love he had for his mother when he rushed to her and cocooned her in his arms.
She gave a smile before she secured her arms around him, her eyes soft and a bit wet.
Ian did the same, coming to her on the other side.
The three of them held on to one another, a family.
I stood there and watched, grateful that I could do this for Huntley, that I could keep his family together. It wouldn’t have been possible without her own resolve, without her refusal to die. Life and death were often separated by determination. Some people passed away because that was what they wanted. They didn’t have the fight anymore.
She kissed both of her sons before she looked at me.
I was put on the spot with her gaze, frozen to the spot.
She pushed her arms against the armrests and forced her weak body to her feet. Huntley was there, his hand moving for her arm to help her remain balanced. He walked her to me, his eyes on her face the entire time.
Queen Rolfe stopped in front of me. “You defeated death with your magic. I’m still here because of it. You’re a queen worthy of the crown—and I bow to you.” She bent her body forward, giving me a slight bow. “Your Highness.” She straightened again, looking at me with authority but also affection.
I had no response. None whatsoever.
Queen Rolfe seemed to understand I was speechless. “My injury cripples me, but I’m strong enough to discuss our next move. Let’s congregate at the dining table—and plan our journey to the south.”
Queen Rolfe sat at the head of the table while Huntley and I were on either side of her, across from each other. Ian was there, along with Elora and Bastian. The servants placed an array of food in front of us, along with wine and the stronger stuff that Huntley liked. No one had celebrated our victory over Necrosis, not when Queen Rolfe had still been battling death over the last few days.
“Do you know how to find the Bone Witch?” Queen Rolfe asked Bastian.
Bastian’s features screamed Necrosis. His high cheekbones. His stern jaw. The lifelessness in his eyes. “Yes.”
“And how certain are you that she’ll help you?” Queen Rolfe asked.
“Very,” he said. “Necrosis is despised—even from within.”
“How will we transport Haldir?” Elora asked. “The dragons?”
“I wouldn’t allow him anywhere near our dragons,” I said immediately. “We’ll travel by horse.”
“In a carriage?” Elora asked incredulously. “We’ll have to release him to take care of his bodily needs. That sounds dangerous.”
“I can give him a potion that will make him disoriented. He’ll be able to complete simple tasks and communicate, but he’ll also be confused and weak. We’ll be able to transport him without issue.” I turned to Bastian. “Will the remaining Necrosis give us any problems?”
“No,” Bastian said. “Those that remained behind were too weak to fight or were responsible for other tasks. When they see us arrive, they’ll know Necrosis has fallen. Those turned by Haldir will be free.”
“And the others?” I asked.
Bastian remained quiet.
“We must kill them.” Queen Rolfe stared at him. “We can’t allow a single Necrosis to survive. They can turn more people, and in another hundred years, Necrosis will be in full power once again.”
Bastian still didn’t speak.
“You must understand this.”
With Bastian’s eyes still on the table, he gave a nod. “I didn’t have a choice…I had to kill Kronos. Elora had to kill Vanquil. If we’d captured them, we could have freed more people…but it wasn’t possible.”
Elora’s hand moved to his on the table.
“We’ll take care of it,” Huntley said. “Ian and I. You won’t have to see it.”
“We should bring more men with us,” Ivory said. “Just in case.”