Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
I blinked slowly.
Casteel chuckled deeply. “You’re not the only one. I expected to be picking up pieces of myself.” He glanced down at me, his lips slightly parted. “But I was once told that the best relationships are the ones where passions run high.”
My brows started to pucker.
“I wonder who told you that,” Kieran said.
“It was me.” Elijah laughed as he clapped his hand on Kieran’s shoulder, causing the wolven to stumble. Skin crinkled around golden-brown hazel eyes, and even though I wished the topic was about anything other than this, I was happy to see him smile and laugh after what’d happened here. But it made me wonder if it was because he’d become so accustomed to the death that the effects weren’t long-lasting. “Told him that if a woman fights with that kind of passion and makes you work that hard to earn even a smile, then that’s the kind of woman you want by your side in and out of the bedchamber.”
My mouth opened, but I truly had nothing to say.
“I’ve always thought you had a wolven somewhere in your bloodline,” Kieran commented.
Elijah scoffed. “Told you before, there’s just piss and whiskey in my line.”
“Maybe that’s the real bloodline you descend from,” Casteel murmured as he led me past them.
I raised my brows but said nothing as we entered the empty hall and then exited out into the yard. The snow had stopped, but my breath formed misty clouds. I was so going to regret leaving my cloak behind, even soaked with the stench of Craven blood.
As we made our way to the stables, unease formed upon the sight of leaves that glistened like rubies in the sunlight. No one was out there staring at it this morning, but I could swear the blood tree had grown even wider than it had been the day before. Crimson hued sap still seeped across the snow in a network of thin lines of red, reminding me of veins or roots.
Three horses were led out already, their ears perked as a stable hand held their reins, nervously glancing toward the blood tree. Casteel walked us past them, where Setti waited inside the stables. The massive black horse had been named after the God of War’s warhorse. I used to think that the beautiful horse had big hooves to fill, but now, knowing the truth, I imagined Setti filled them just fine.
As we approached the horse, Casteel let go of my hand. My palm missed the warmth, which was something I’d never share. I walked up to Setti as Casteel walked around to secure my satchel to where his own bag hung. My gaze crawled across the barn, stopping on a pole with a deep groove. Knowing what had caused that mark, I resisted the desire to look away from where Phillips had been killed with a bolt fired by Casteel. But I made myself look, to remember. Phillips had somehow figured out the truth, or at the very least, that Casteel was not who he claimed. He’d tried to help me escape, but I hadn’t listened. I had no idea if Phillips had known the truth about the Ascended. He could have, but that didn’t matter. He was dead, regardless.
Exhaling slowly, I saw the very same bow attached to Setti’s side. It was curved like the ones I’d used, but this one had a handle and an arrow already nocked in place. The weapon was unlike any I’d ever seen. It had to be Atlantian.
I extended my hand to the horse, allowing him to sniff me. “Remember me?”
Setti sniffed as Casteel finished with the straps. The horse nudged my fingers, and I grinned as I gently patted the bridge of his nose.
“I think he missed you.” Casteel joined me. “And I think he’s been spoiled by all the attention you’ve showered upon him.”
I didn’t think it was possible to spoil any animal too much. I scratched him behind his ear.
Casteel was closer, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw him stroke a hand down Setti’s mane. Looking to the back of the barn, he lowered his hand. “I’ll be right back.”
Nibbling on my lower lip, I peeked over my shoulder. Casteel strode across the barn to where an older woman had appeared. She held something dark in her hands. Setti nudged my fingers again, demanding my attention.
“All right. All right.” I resumed petting him. “Sorry.”
Stroking the long, graceful neck, I saw that Delano and Naill were already mounted. Kieran walked toward his horse, but it didn’t appear as if Elijah was coming with us.
A moment later, Casteel returned. “Here,” he said. “You’re going to need this until we reach Spessa’s End.”
This turned out to be a cloak, a black one lined with soft fur. I turned to take it, but Casteel moved behind me, draping it over my shoulders.