Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
She hissed at him.
“You heard the woman,” Taliyah said, clapping her hands. “To the dungeon. Chop, chop.”
The Commander heaved a sigh. “Lock him up.”
For the time being, Rathbone wished to remain accessible to the oracle, in case she required another infusion of blood.
He kept as many mátia on her as possible as two males hauled him to his feet and led him away. He didn’t protest their actions, but he did maneuver to turn, forcing the males to drag him backward.
She displayed cold disdain as she witnessed his departure, her head high and her shoulders squared.
“I understand your anger, carrot,” he told her. “That’s why I’m giving you twenty-four hours to visit me. Then I’ll come to you. I can’t promise I’ll leave survivors.”
Before he snaked around a corner, he thought he detected excitement in her eyes.
“You won’t be going anywhere,” Azar assured him. “When the Astra lock you up, you stay locked up.”
“Ah, but you’ve never caged the King of Agonies. Trust me. When I want out, I’ll get out.” One way or another. Nothing would keep him from Neeka.
Nothing.
* * *
No, no, no! Rathbone couldn’t be Neeka’s consort. But he was. But he shouldn’t be. But he was.
He wasn’t someone she’d found in the flames. Unless her father’s prophecy referred to the heat of adversity rather than actual fire. Or he’d lied about what he’d seen.
Argh! Neeka stomped around her old room, catching sight of her reflection as she passed the full-length mirror. The image made a motion, as if to say, Well? They were eager to converse about their new Rathbone-less future, but they had company. The General sat by the hearth, sharpening an array of daggers. Neeka was on house arrest until Taliyah convinced Roc of her trustworthiness.
Had Neeka changed the future at least?
Though she’d done her best to force a vision, she’d failed.
Dang Rathbone! He’d screwed up everything, showing up out of the blue, acting the hero. As if he wasn’t the one who’d endangered her life in the first place! And the way he’d watched her when Azar and Halo escorted him out of the foyer, possessiveness seeping from his pores...
He had no right!
They were over. Utterly done. No hope for a second, third or fourth chance. Thanks, but no thanks. Rathbone might relish the idea of being her consort and receiving free oracle services for eternity, but he didn’t like her. The bare minimum necessary for having a relationship with her.
Why did he wish to speak with her, anyway? There wasn’t a good reason. But oh! Curiosity was getting the better of her.
No, no. She must stay strong. In fact, Neeka’s next move was obvious. Find the remaining bones and protect those she loved.
If you wish to save everyone, Neeka, you need only—
The final words she’d heard in the Hall of Secrets whispered through her mind, a thorn in her side. She didn’t recognize the voice, because ears. Had she spoken to the female directly? A past conversation she’d forgotten?
What else had the mysterious stranger said? What did Neeka need exactly?
Silly question. She needed Lore vaporized, that was what. “Did Azar find an orb when he searched Rathbone?” Guaranteed the Astra performed a thorough frisk before locking up the king and throwing away the key.
“Nope.” The General continued swiping a blade against a stone. “Why?”
“That orb houses most of Lore’s skeleton, and Rathbone is the key to open it.” So what had he done with the thing? Pacing faster, she inquired, “You told Roc about Grenwich, yes? How she’s willing to let both our people die to ensure I suffer.”
“Yep.”
When her friend offered nothing more, Neeka tossed up her hands. “What is with these one-word answers? Does Grenwich remain on the Astra’s payroll or not?”
“Yep,” Taliyah repeated, still sharpening. Swiping, swiping, back and forth. “Roc said the decision to work with her is Azar’s, and the Memory Keeper is determined to keep her.”
Dang it! “I hate the thought of her looking forward to a payday. And it’s a good one, isn’t it?” Better than Neeka’s? Well, her former payday.
“Oh, yeah. Amazing. Azar promised to deliver Rathbone’s head on a platter...and to facilitate your return to Ahdán. Speaking of, the Phoenix is alive again.”
Neeka swallowed a screech of frustration. More trouble. Great. If something didn’t break her way soon... “I’ve got to find those last bones and change the future,” she said, forging ahead. Because what else could she do? Give up?
“You mean you aren’t planning to visit your consort to prevent him from hunting you down?”
Shivers cascaded over her. An embarrassment to the nth degree. But it wasn’t her fault. The promise he’d made was just so danged sexy. Judging by the heat in his mátia, he intended to do things. Sensual things. An outcome she must guard against.
Cherry Bomb could make mincemeat of her insides with only a few words. As he’d proven on several occasions. Let him have another go at her? No! Never again. He’d abandoned her, ending any hope of a romance between them. His loss.