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 nearly choked on the juice.
The night in the Blood Forest came back to me in vivid, startling detail. Kieran had been keeping guard while Casteel…while he helped me sleep. At that time, I’d believed Kieran had been too far away to hear or see or scent anything.
I almost shouted a curse that would’ve shocked Vikter and then made him laugh.
“I’m curious,” Casteel said, causing me to jump. I hadn’t even heard him approach. “What are you two discussing that has Poppy looking as if she’s five seconds away from crawling under the table?”
“Nothing,” I said.
“I was just telling her about how you have heightened physical senses,” Kieran answered at the same time as I did. “Like your ability to see better than her, and scent her arousal—”
“Oh, my gods!” I spun on the bench, swinging at Kieran, but he easily avoided my fist.
“I’m sorry.” Kieran didn’t look remotely remorseful. “I meant desire. She doesn’t like the word arousal.”
“Careful, Kieran,” Casteel murmured, catching my hand before I could swing at Kieran once more. “She’ll be threatening to stab you next.”
The wolven grinned. “I’m pretty sure that’s already happened.”
“I hate you,” I announced. “I hate you both.”
Casteel chuckled. “That’s a lie.”
My gaze shot to his as I tugged on my hand. “You can’t sense that.”
He didn’t let go of my hand. “Not through any type of heightened senses, but I know you don’t nonetheless.”
“Whatever you think you know is completely wrong. I absolutely loathe your very existence.” I glared up at him. “And you can let go of my hand, please and thank you.”
“Why do you think you loathe my very existence?” His eyes glimmered as a hint of a smile played across his lips. “And even though you asked oh so nicely, I fear that if I let go of your hand, either Kieran or I will be in grave danger.”
Kieran nodded.
“Cowards,” I hissed.
“Also, I like holding your hand,” Casteel said, sucking his lower lip between his teeth—between his fangs.
“I don’t care what you like. And I also can’t believe you’re seriously asking why I would loathe you. Do you have memory problems?”
“I think I have a very impressive memory. Don’t you think so, Kieran?”
“There is very little you forget,” the wolven answered.
Steam had to be billowing out of my ears. “Besides the fact that you’ve lied to me, kidnapped me, and planned to ransom me, you kept me locked in a room all day. How is that any better than what the Ascended did to me my entire life?”
The warmth and amusement vanished under the ice drenching Casteel’s gaze. “Because this time, it is for your safety.”
I laughed harshly. “Isn’t that what they also claimed?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “The difference is that they were lying to you, and I’m not.”
“There are those who would risk death to seek revenge against the Ascended,” Kieran added. “He’s trying to protect you.”
“For what?” I shot each of them a withering stare. “So I stay alive long enough for him to trade me?”
Casteel arched a brow but said nothing.
Anger and embarrassment was a dangerous mix. I was furious over being locked up all day and embarrassed by the knowledge that both of these men knew how I responded to Casteel—how easily my body sang for him. “You’re no better than the Ascended.”
Casteel didn’t move.
Kieran didn’t speak.
Silence stretched out so long between us that unease blossomed, sending my heart pounding. I shouldn’t have said that. I knew that the moment it left my mouth, but I couldn’t take it back.
“I need to show you something,” Casteel bit out, all but lifting me off the bench. He started walking, tugging me along behind him, his grip on my hand firm but not painful.
I struggled to keep up with his long-legged pace as he crossed the banquet hall. “There is nothing you can show me that I want to see.”
“You won’t want to see this. No one does. But you need to see it.”
Confused by that statement, I looked over my shoulder to see Kieran leaning back, arms resting on the table, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He waved at me.
I did something that Ian had once taught me, something that I’d seen the guards do to one another—sometimes in humor and other times in anger. It was considered a foul gesture, and I’d never done it in my life.
I gave Kieran the middle finger.
Throwing his head back, the wolven laughed loudly and deeply.
Casteel glanced back at me, brows raised as his eyes flicked to Kieran. “Do I even want to know what you just did?”
“It’s none of your business,” I grumbled, cheeks feeling hot.
“You’re in a lovely mood today.”
“I’m beginning to doubt your comprehension skills. You’ve kept me—”
“Locked away in a room all day. I know,” he interrupted as we walked through the empty hall. “I would’ve preferred not to. Believe it or not, the idea of keeping you confined is something I find distasteful.”