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)
“I almost had his head. But I admit, he’s the most powerful opponent I’ve ever taken on.”
That left a stone of dread in the pit of my stomach. Huntley was the best fighter I’d ever seen, and if it was a struggle for him, then no one else could handle the Three Kings, let alone a single one.
“Haldir said he would take HeartHolme. Then kill every person I love, one by one…” The way his voice faded away, weak and broken, told me this wasn’t a threat he took lightly. It was potent in his blood, heavy in his heart.
“Then we need to return to HeartHolme as soon as possible.”
“I just conquered the Kingdoms. I need to rule these people now. I need to let them rest. I have no idea how I’m going to get the army to the bottom of the cliffs for this war. At least not if I want to make it in time.”
I didn’t have a single idea either. We could take the secret path, but that was a three-day journey, and we couldn’t bring supplies or horses. We could only bring men, and once we made it to the bottom, they’d have to make the rest of the journey on foot. If time wasn’t of the essence, we could figure this out. But we didn’t have that luxury. “I have an idea.”
As if our victory was now far in the past, he stared at me with cold eyes, the stress already getting to him. “I’m all ears.”
“The Teeth.”
His eyebrows furrowed.
“We take Pyre and Storm to the Teeth and convince them to fight with us.”
“And why would they do that?”
“So they don’t get eaten by two pissed-off dragons.”
“They are allies to Necrosis.”
“But if Necrosis is trying to beat us to HeartHolme because the dragons aren’t there, they aren’t going to have time to travel to the Teeth in the north.”
Huntley stared at me for a long time as he considered it, his expression hardening as he became lost in thought. His jaw was clenched. His eyes were empty. After a minute of silence, he gave a nod. “Let’s do it. And do it fast.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Elora
“Elora.” Bastian’s deep voice flowed over me like warm water.
I pulled the sheet farther up my body then pressed my face into his shoulder, keeping my eyes closed. He was warm to the touch, like the fire in my forge. I released a drawn-out breath and hooked my arm around his chiseled stomach.
“Elora.” He grabbed my hip and gave me a gentle shake. “You need to wake up.”
“Fuck me if you want…just don’t wake me up.”
“Your brother is pounding on the door.”
“So?” Now I was awake, but I kept my eyes shut. “Let him.”
“He seems worried.”
“Whatever…” I kissed his chest and then let my mind drift back to sleep.
This time, I heard my brother’s voice from downstairs. “Elora!”
Bastian gave a sigh. “Told you.”
I released a groan before I kicked back the sheets. “Gods, Ian. What do you want?” I grabbed the first piece of clothing I could find, an old shirt that had been sitting there for days.
His voice became louder as he moved up the stairs. “You aren’t at the forge, and you weren’t answering the door, so I got worried. Bastian is nowhere to be found, and my mind assumed the worst.”
Oh, trust me, it didn’t. “Give me a second.” I pulled on some pants then trudged downstairs, gripping the handrail because I wasn’t fully awake yet.
“It’s almost noon.” He stood there by the couch, dressed like a king with his sword on his hip. “Why are you still asleep? You never sleep this late.” He turned toward the fire, and he must have spotted Bastian’s clothes and shoes on the floor because he stilled briefly before he turned back to me. Now he wouldn’t make eye contact with me. “Anyway…”
“Yes, I have a fabulous sex life. And I don’t have to pay for it.” I walked into the kitchen and got the hot water going so I could make a pot of coffee.
Ian moved to the kitchen table and ignored what I said. “Where’s Bastian?”
“Why?”
“Because I still don’t trust him.”
“I trust him as much as I trust you, so you need to get over it.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you trust him so much?”
“Because I actually know him.” I placed the mug of coffee in front of him.
“Like I said…” He pushed the mug back at me. “It’s noon.”
I scowled at him over the rim of my mug. “Don’t break in to my house again, alright? Bastian isn’t going to eat me, so you need to chill out.”
Ian shifted his gaze out the window. “Queen Rolfe has returned.”
“When?”
“An hour ago. Another reason why I came to get you.”
“How is she?”
“Afraid for HeartHolme. I told her about the Ice, but she still fears the city will fall. I expected you to be in the forge working your ass off, but you’re sleeping off a hangover like a fucking teenager.”