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)
“You really left some pretty big details out when you told me about her,” Vonetta said, and I almost laughed at how annoyed she sounded.
“I…I don’t know how that happened—how I healed him or started glowing.” I craned my neck to look back at Vonetta. “I can relieve people’s pain with my touch, but only temporarily.”
“And you can read emotions,” she said, obviously knowing enough about my bloodline. “You’re an empath.”
I nodded and looked to where Casteel knelt beside me. He was looking over his shoulder to where the others had gone back to the house. “But I’ve never done that before,” I said, and Casteel faced me. “I honestly don’t think he was as badly hurt
as we feared.”
“His legs were completely broken,” Vonetta said. “They were smashed and twisted.”
“I…” I shook my head. “That’s impossible.”
“It’s really not. The empaths could heal.”
“Did they glow?”
“Not that I know of,” Vonetta said. “But they were all gone before I was born.”
“It could be the Culling.” Casteel’s brows knitted as he placed a hand on the grass. “And you’re on land that has been reclaimed as Atlantia. You’re on Atlantian soil. That could impact your abilities.” His eyes met mine. “And it could be my blood. What I’ve given you stays in you.”
I leaned forward, keeping my voice low. “Your blood is making me glow?”
His lips twitched. “I don’t think my blood is the sole reason why you glowed like moonlight.”
“It’s not funny,” I snapped.
“I’m not laughing.”
“You’re trying not to laugh,” I accused. “Don’t even deny it.”
Casteel laughed then, holding up his hands. “It’s just you look…adorably confused, and now you look adorably violent.”
I shook my head at him. “There is something so wrong with you.”
He arched a brow and then looked to where Kieran and Vonetta stood. “Can one of you check on Beckett? See how he’s doing?”
“Of course,” Kieran answered as I pushed to my feet.
“I’ll go with you,” his sister said, giving me a little wave. “I’m going to have so many questions for you later.”
I had many for myself.
I watched them start down the road and then turned to Casteel. Beyond him, I saw that the others had return to repairing the section of the roof that had fallen. “They were scared of me. Not all of them but some. I could feel it.”
Casteel’s lashes were lowered, shielding his eyes as he looked down at me.
“Remember Alastir being concerned about what some of the older Atlantians would think if they realized what bloodline I descended from?”
“I do.” He took my hand, leading me to where his horse remained.
“Do they think I’m—what did he say some called the empaths?”
“Soul Eaters.”
I shuddered at the name, pulling my hand free from his. “Is that what they think I am? That I’m feeding off pain?” Or their fear could’ve stemmed from the fact that I’d literally glowed. I would also be concerned if I saw that. “Did you ever think that when you learned that I could ease the pain of others? That I was this—this Soul Eater thing?”
“Not once.” He turned to me again. “Soul Eaters are practically on par with a lamaea at this point. I didn’t even think you were half-Atlantian then, remember?”
I searched his face, but there was nothing hidden in his expression or his unflinching gaze. “I don’t know how any of that happened,” I admitted as I turned to Teddy, stroking the horse’s side. “Normally, I have to think about something happy to channel that feeling into others. But this time, all it took was for me to place my hands on Beckett. My skin tingled more than normal, and my hands heated, but that was all that was different.”
“When was the last time you used your gift in that way?” He caught a piece of my hair, tucking it back.
“It was…when I healed the people in New Haven. That was the last time.”
“And now you’re technically on Atlantian soil.” He stood beside me, resting his arms on the saddle. He’d rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and the dusting of dark hair along his tan forearms seemed scandalous. “I don’t know if it’s that or the Culling, but there could be more changes.”
I really hoped those changes didn’t involve glowing any other colors. “Maybe his legs weren’t even broken—”
“His legs were most definitely broken. You saw them.”
I stepped back from the horse, folding my arms over my waist as I stared at the light blue curtains rippling out from the terrace across the street. “Your people already dislike me because I was the Maiden. And now they’re going to think I’m a Soul Eater. I really don’t think marrying me is going to change that.”
“The people just haven’t seen anything like that before. They need time to grow used to it, and they will accept you,” he said. “I do think you should hold off on using your abilities, though—”