Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 213974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1070(@200wpm)___ 856(@250wpm)___ 713(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 213974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1070(@200wpm)___ 856(@250wpm)___ 713(@300wpm)
“You’re likely not intelligent nor worldly enough to even begin to understand me,” she quipped.
I sighed. “Again with the silly insults. You can do better.” I met her stare. “You want Kolis, but since you can’t have him, you go after his nephew—who also wants nothing to do with you. You seize the first opportunity to turn whatever friendship or companionship you once had with him into a nightmare, yet you claim to protect him? As if you care for him?”
“I do care for him,” she argued, her cheeks flushing. “He hasn’t had the easiest life for a Primal.”
“And you really did your level best to make it worse for him, didn’t you?” I had to count to five before I continued. “Is it because they share similar features, and you can pretend you’re with the one you really want?”
Veses looked away, her jaw flexing.
Dear gods, could it really be that? What Ash had claimed? Telling her she was messed up didn’t even capture what was going on in that head of hers. “That is even more pathetic than your insults, and I actually mean that in the most unoffensive way possible.”
Veses’ head snapped back to mine. “I can’t wait to see you die.”
I didn’t even acknowledge that. “Since Kolis has no idea about the deal you made while you were supposed to be keeping an eye on Nyktos, it’s not because you want to make Kolis jealous.”
“Kolis may not know about the deal, but he believes I’ve kept a very, very close eye on his nephew for him. He thinks we’ve been intimate.” She smiled tightly. “Something Nyktos hasn’t made any effort to deny.”
“So, it is to make Kolis jealous.”
She shrugged. “You have nothing to say about Nyktos not swaying Kolis’s belief?”
“No.”
“Come now, you may be in this cage, and Kolis may call you his graeca, but I know where your interests truly lie.”
I arched a brow. “I know why he wouldn’t attempt to change Kolis’s mind.”
“And you would know that because you love him,” she said, her stare unflinching. “Kolis may not know any better and may even believe that you just harbor a fondness for his nephew…”
Fucking Callum.
He hadn’t been in the chamber when I struck the deal, but he’d somehow found out, either by eavesdropping or from Kolis himself.
“But I know better.”
“You don’t know anything,” I sneered.
“Did you forget that I was there when you had your little breakdown after seeing Nyktos and me together?”
All the air went out of my lungs.
“Nyktos and Rhain were far too focused on getting to you and thought I’d left as ordered. Of course, I didn’t, nor did I fully realize it was you causing the entire palace to tremble at first. But once I saw you use the embers, I knew it had been you.” Her eyes gleamed. “And no one who harbors just fondness for another reacts that way. I would know. I leveled nearly half my Court when Kolis brought Sotoria back to life.”
My lips parted.
“So, our…violent reactions regarding the ones we love is something we have in common.”
There was nothing I could say to that.
“So, whether you’re really Sotoria or not doesn’t matter. Your heart already belongs to someone else,” she said. “And once Kolis realizes that? You’ll know just how sadistic Kyn can be.”
I inhaled sharply. “You sick bitch.”
“I’m not sick, Seraphena.” Her chin lifted. “I’m just tired.”
“Then go take a fucking century-long nap,” I snapped.
Veses’ laugh was far too sultry for our discussion. “I could never rest that long. I am too afraid of missing out on whatever is happening in the realm of those awake.”
I shook my head as the ache moved down the sides of my face. “I’m almost positive your ten minutes are up, so what is the point of this conversation? Other than to be a living, breathing annoyance.”
“It’s to warn you.”
“Of course.” I sighed.
“I will not lose Kolis to Sotoria again,” she said, her voice low. “I’d rather see him alone than have that.”
“Guess you weren’t telling the truth when you said you were happy for him,” I muttered dryly.
“Make all the snide comments you want. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to do everything within my power to wake Kolis up to what is so clearly evident to most of the realm,” she said. “That your heart, no matter who you really are, belongs to another. And I will not regret what becomes of you after that truth comes out.”
“Shocker.”
“But what I will regret is what it will do to Nyktos. What it is already doing to him.” The mocking, vindictive smile left her face. “Once Kolis realizes you’re in love with Nyktos, he will find a way to keep him. He won’t release him until Nyktos accepts it’s time for him to move on and you’re effectively dealt with.”