Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
It’s all a frenzy after we leave Caz’s bedroom. Everyone hustles down the spiral staircase, and from there, Juniper, Maeve, and Rowan strap up to the teeth with weapons. Caz helps me put on the weapons he selected for me, then makes sure to cover them with my cloak.
Right after, we’re being shuttled into an SUV with Rowan climbing behind the wheel. Silvera hops in and sits in the middle, Juniper on the other side.
“Always be aware of your surroundings,” Caz says before I get into the car.
I nod. “I will.
“And if Mournwrath comes again, don’t let it touch you.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“Good.” He guides me into the car, and I sit on the seat, looking back at him. He looks me over, and I don’t know what it is about the way he looks at me, but it terrifies me. It’s like he’s looking at me for the last time.
“Hey,” I call, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. “Everything will be okay.”
He nods. Lifting my hand, he turns it over and runs his lips over my knuckles like he’s done before—not kissing them, just feeling my flesh on his lips—then he releases me and steps back to close the door.
He gives the passenger window a knock, Rowan bobs his head, and the SUV takes off. I look back as we go, and Caz and Killian stand in front of the house, watching us drive away.
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, fighting the wave of emotion running over me, but it’s hard, because with each mile away, I feel that ache building in my chest again. The one that longs for him, desires his touch, and wants to be near him, and I know he feels it too.
As badly as I’d love to stay in his house, lying in his big bed, staring at the ocean, we can’t. If we don’t figure this Tether out and find a way to get rid of Mournwrath, we’ll never be able to do any of that—so for the greater good, we’ll take this time apart.
Silvera rests her head on my lap, and I sigh, stroking the top of it while Juniper rubs her back. My eyes meet Juniper’s, and the words are spoken between us silently.
We’ll figure this out. We’ll be okay.
That’s what I hope, anyway.
Seventy-Two
CAZ
The Blackwater Train Station consists of numerous gray booths and grumpy Blackwater citizens behind thick glass, swapping tickets for rubies. Lots of robberies happen here, hence the thickness of the glass, but they won’t today. Not while I’m here.
It’s not surprising having everyone stare at me. Their monarch is amongst them, going about his business, to a place unbeknownst to them. I don’t often take the train to reach other destinations, I drive. But today calls for it. It’s much faster taking the flash train, going an average of 180 miles per hour.
After ordering two tickets to Luxor from a booth, I walk to Killian who is standing near the tracks. A train speeds by, powerful enough to knock a by passer down if they stand too closely. There’ve been many deaths because of the flash train—some accidental, others committed out of suicidal desires.
I offer Killian a ticket and he glances down at it, his arms folded across his chest. He faces ahead again, not taking it.
“Are you going to be this way the whole time?”
“What way?” he grumbles.
“Pouting.”
“I’m not pouting,” he counters.
“Yes, you are. Your arms are folded, and you won’t look me in the eye. You’re pouting because I whipped your ass earlier.”
He finds that funny because he smirks, then puts his focus on me. “You didn’t whip my ass. I let you win.”
I smile, offering him the ticket again. He takes it, then sighs, stuffing it into the pocket of his dark pants. I take out my case of blooms, offer one to him, and after grabbing it, he pulls out a lighter and sparks the end of mine first before lighting his.
“Sometimes I wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into by working for ya,” Killian murmurs, taking a pull.
“Ah, Kill. If only I knew.”
“This Tether of yours. It doesn’t frighten you?”
I look ahead at a mother with four children. She’s shuttling them forward like sheep, trying not to miss the train stationed on the other side.
“A little,” I admit.
“Do you think it’s wise to keep her here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I won’t lie to you. I don’t think it’s wise.” He exhales, a cloud of smoke surrounding him. “I think once someone finds out her attachment to you, you’re dead, brother. Or she is.”
“So, what do you expect me to do, eh? Send her back again? Forget all about her? I tried that and it damn near killed me, remember?”
“There has to be a way to break this Cold Tether—something that will set you apart from her.”