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 anticipated all of it, so I hit his sword with mine, parried his swings, and spun around to take his sword right out of his grasp. It happened so fast that he didn’t even realize he was unarmed until a couple seconds had passed.
Ian’s eyebrows were high on his face in surprise.
I tossed the sword on the ground. “I told you to let me fight.” When I looked at Bastian, he didn’t have that somber look anymore. There was a hint of approval in his gaze, impressed by my sword-fighting skills. “I’ll take Bastian to Queen Rolfe now. Come with us if you want. Or take some fighting lessons—because you need them.”
Bastian came to my side, and we walked together, leaving Ian behind us.
I could feel Bastian’s stare on the side of my face, feel his blue eyes pierce my flesh.
I met his look.
“Not going to lie…that was pretty hot.”
“I build good weapons because I know how to use them.”
“Damn right.”
We walked awhile longer, spending that time in silence.
“I’m sorry about my brother.”
“I’d act the same way if I were in his position.”
“I doubt that.”
“I’d probably be worse, actually.”
“His concern is unwarranted.”
“Except it’s not, Elora.” He stared at me harder. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted another woman—but that makes me want things I shouldn’t. It’s ironic. The first time I feel something real for somebody, it’s accompanied by this animalistic hunger that I’ve never had to combat. It’s not fair.”
“It won’t be this way forever, Bastian.”
He looked forward again. “I can’t ask your family to capture rather than kill the First King. They would put themselves in greater danger by not taking the killing blow when they have a chance. It’s far more likely that this won’t work out in my favor.”
“It will if I ask them to.”
“And I’d rather you not.”
“After everything you’ve done for us, it’s the least we can do.”
He continued to stare ahead.
“We want you to have your soul back.”
“But not at the expense of yours.”
We entered the castle and moved past the guards toward the next floor. Queen Rolfe was there, sitting on her throne in her full uniform, the feathers woven into her hair as if she’d never left.
Her eyes were immediately on Bastian. A long stare ensued, her look calculating.
Ian appeared behind us then came to our mother’s side, acting as her guard.
Queen Rolfe continued her stare, as if she didn’t know what to make of him. “My son tells me that you’ve asked for asylum in exchange for the powerful Ice to use in our weapons. It’s not something I would have agreed to, but since my son was the ruler of HeartHolme in my absence, I will honor it.”
Ian glanced at her, her disapproval clearly stinging him. He always had a chip on his shoulder because of her. A bigger chip than I had.
“But make no mistake,” she said. “I don’t trust you.”
Bastian gave no reaction. “I understand.”
“He’s fulfilled his end of the bargain and has pledged to fight with us,” I said. “What more do you need?”
Ian gave me a scowl.
Queen Rolfe finally shifted her gaze to me. The stare was cold, but there was never a time when she looked at me with warmth. It was always with indifference, because I literally meant nothing to her. It was as if she hadn’t carried me in her wombs for nine months, as if we shared no biological relation. “He’s the predator and we’re the prey. A fact we can’t ignore.”
“If he captures the First King Haldir, he can get his soul back.”
Bastian turned to me, clearly annoyed.
“Then he wouldn’t be a predator anymore. He could be at peace.”
Queen Rolfe turned her gaze back to him. “Is this true?”
Bastian tore his gaze away from me. “Many years ago, Haldir became infatuated with my sister’s beauty. He took her from my village, made her into his own kind. When I went after her to rescue her, he nearly killed me, but my sister pleaded for an alternative. I became one of them—and I’ve been stuck ever since. However, if I can get him to the Bone Witch, I can reverse what was done to us. And not just us, but anyone who’s ever been turned by him. That’s my objective, and I need HeartHolme to accomplish it.”
Her fingers started to drum on the armrest repeatedly, her stare unmoving and cold.
Ian glanced at her then continued to look at Bastian, the rouge of rage still coloring in his cheeks.
“I don’t want to be Necrosis,” Bastian said. “I’ve never wanted this. I’ve tried to starve myself to death, but my body will put me into an uncontrollable eating frenzy. So, I stopped doing that. But the self-loathing grows with every meal. If I had my soul back, I could take my life and join my family in the Undying Kingdoms.”