Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
He flinched, stumbling back a step, and Sorcha gaped at me.
“Yes, Callen,” she rushed out as soon as she recovered. “Render judgment against her or let the others do it for you.”
I lifted my head and met his stare, my heart drumming. The moment of truth. Would he judge by head or heart?
He returned to his spot, wonder and fury in his gaze. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I love you.” Truly loved him. And if these were my last minutes on this earth, I wanted them filled with honesty and respect.
“How dare you?” Sorcha hissed. “He is my husband.”
He worked his jaw.
“Did anyone bring popcorn?” Malachi asked. “This is better than my soaps.”
Snickers abounded among the kings. The lone berserkatrix yawned.
“You heard Queen Isobel. She offered the decision to me, and I’m ready to render it,” Callen called to one and all.
Sorcha smirked. I winked at her, if only to throw her off. Which I did. The smirk fell into a scowl.
Callen slid his gaze to the other woman and announced, “Isobel, you betrayed your king with his brother, a crime more grievous than the falsity you’ve accused Elizabeth Darcy of committing. As the photos you referenced prove, she was once our enemy. Betrayal from her was a given. But not from you, my once trusted companion. Therefore, my marriage to you is null and void. You will be imprisoned until I decide the best place for you. A mercy I suggest you accept.”
Shock blasted from Sorcha. And me!
He captured my gaze. A second later, his entire body jerked, as if he’d been rammed with a weapon. His head fell back, his arms spread, and his feet lifted several inches off the ground. Azure light exploded from him, zooming across the land, knocking down everyone in its path. Even I toppled, hit by a force of wind I couldn’t resist.
What was that?
Only Callen remained upright, his big, big body seemingly in the grips of a berserkerage.
The kings and queen jumped to their feet while I climbed to mine.
Sorcha scrambled away, distancing herself from Callen, before standing. “Whatever just happened, I—I’m your firebrand. Don’t forget that.”
As he floated to the ground, he squared his shoulders. Up went his chin. The same azure light crackled in his irises, making him impossibly beautiful. Pure power radiated from him, now embraced by peace. I pressed my hands against my fluttering belly.
“My firebrand you are not.” He even sounded different. Fiercer. So strong and intractable it inspired fear in everyone around him. They muttered their surprise.
Sorcha was right. Something had happened to him. But I wasn’t afraid. Not the slightest.
“A mark doesn’t fade on a fate, yet you no longer bear mine.” He met the gaze of each royal, maintaining contact and daring someone to naysay him. “A judgment has been issued. Your presence is required no more. Go.”
“Callen,” Sorcha cried. “You canna do this to me. I’m yours!”
“What will you do with the brunette who somehow does bear your mark?” Malachi asked, ignoring the ex.
Callen canted his head to the side. “Elle pledged her services to me, and I accepted. Nothing more concerns you.”
“You are correct.” The speaker smiled, though it was tight. He knew there’d been a switch, but he wasn’t pressing the issue. I didn’t have to wonder why. I wouldn’t want to go against this unrufflable Callen, either. “Until next time, gentleman.”
“So no one is dying today?” another king asked, glancing about.
“Bummer,” someone replied.
My mind whirled as the audience vanished in succession. Forget Callen’s one-man light show. He’d trusted me. Had chosen me. Elizabeth. With zero proof—well, other than my mark and our connection—he’d sided with the woman he’d seen holding a knife over his wife’s fallen body.
Grinning ear to ear, I hurried over and threw myself at him. He caught me and wrapped me in his arms, hugging me tight.
Sorcha released a sound of rage and sprinted in our direction. Buzz swooped in and caught her from behind, ending her attack before it started.
“I regret my treatment of you and beg for your forgiveness,” Callen rasped, burying his face in my hair. “I was so afraid of making a mistake.”
He’d arranged for my escape. Tried to save me. “You’re forgiven.”
He lowered to his knees and fit his hands on my waist, and my eyes widened. Determination glinted in the depths of his irises. “I love you, Elle. I want you in my life, always. Need you.”
I blinked rapidly, one thought tripping over another. “What happened to you?” Seriously. What brought on this change in him?
“I decided to trust my connection to you, and suddenly the calm waters burst from their dam.” Awe coated his words. “The waves quieted the constant hum of rage. More power than I’ve ever experienced now flows within me. I almost canna contain it and yet nothing has felt more natural. For the first time in my life, I know who and what I am. Your man.”