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)
“So, Penellaphe. For once, I have a question for you,” Kieran drawled as we entered the stairwell.
I glanced over at him. “Okay?”
“How’s it feel to be on the verge of becoming a real Princess?”
“He told you already?” I didn’t know why that should surprise me. Casteel had probably seen Kieran last night.
“Of course, he did. I probably knew his plans had changed before he did.”
My eyes narrowed. “I’m willing to bet his plans changed when he realized I was part Atlantian.”
He smiled, and the expression hid a wealth of mysteries. “His plans changed well before that. But like I said, he hadn’t quite realized that.”
“But you did? You know him that well?”
“I do.”
“Well, good for you,” I muttered.
He chuckled. “I can’t wait to see how you two are going to pull this off.”
My pulse skittered like a wild horse. “What does that mean?”
Kieran slid me a knowing look as we entered the bustling common area. “Not a minute has gone by since we left the Blood Forest that you aren’t threatening Casteel’s life.”
“That’s an exaggeration. There’s definitely been… Several minutes have gone by.” I cringed, but Kieran had a point.
“I guess we’ll find out soon.”
I was too nervous to wonder if anyone was shooting me hateful looks as we went into the otherwise empty banquet hall and took our seats at the table. Chairs had now replaced benches.
Food was brought out—sausage and eggs, along with those amazing biscuits. Somehow, I got past the twisting of my stomach to snatch one of those. I was far quieter this morning as I ate my food. The reason why appeared just as I finished what I could eat. Kieran looked over his shoulder, and I knew who had arrived.
Slowly, I peeked behind me. Casteel walked into the room with Alastir and several of the men at his side. Alastir spoke to him as Casteel looked straight to where Kieran and I sat. Our gazes seemed to lock for a moment, and then I quickly looked away, heart back to thundering in my chest.
“Casteel will announce you as his fiancée.” Kieran lowered his cup. “It will be wise to behave appropriately.”
My eyes narrowed on Kieran’s profile. “Do you think I’m going to scream in Casteel’s face and run off instead?”
A hint of a smile appeared. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Rolling my eyes, I peeked at the doors. The group had stopped just inside the room, speaking with Naill, who, like the rest of them, had a habit of seemingly appearing out of nowhere. “Do you think he’ll believe us?”
“Yet another question?” Kieran leaned back, crossing his arms. “Seriously? Do you ever get tired of asking so many?”
“Apparently, you don’t, since you just asked three of them.”
He chuckled then. “I think it will be tough to convince Alastir.”
I stared at him. “That’s really motivational. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
One quick glance, and I saw that they were still by the doors. “How do you know he will announce that I agreed to the marriage? Did he tell you?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
“I just know things.”
I pinned him with a bland look. “I know you two are close, but…” Something occurred to me. The bond. “I read that some Atlantians of a certain class and wolven have bonds.”
“Did you?” he murmured.
“Yes. It is believed the wolven are duty-bound to protect the Atlantian they’re bonded to.”
“Are you going to eat that biscuit?” he asked.
Brows knitting, I shook my head. “You can have it.”
Kieran picked up the roll and immediately began tearing it into tiny pieces, reminding me of how the small rodents the Healers kept in cages ripped apart their paper bedding.
I shoved that image out of my head. “I’m thinking the history texts had the part about the bond being with a certain Atlantian class wrong. It’s a certain bloodline. Elemental.”
“You’d be right.” He popped a piece of the bread into his mouth. “I could live off this bread.”
“The bread is…tasty.” I kind of wished I hadn’t let him have it. “The bond between you two is more than just you protecting him, isn’t it?”
“We were bonded at birth, and the connection is a lot of things, Penellaphe.”
I was about to demand details, like if he could somehow sense what Casteel was about to do or not, but the sound of approaching footsteps quelled the desire. My heart, which had only slowed down slightly, started pounding again. Casteel and the men were coming over, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Smile prettily and behave as if Casteel hung the very moon and stars each and every night? My shoulders tightened as I tried to picture myself doing that. And for some reason, the scars on my face became bigger and more visible in my mind.
“Are you hyperventilating?” Kieran asked.
“What?” I stared at my plate. “No.”