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)
“But I can’t use it as a weapon or anything like that.”
“The abilities change once mortal blood is introduced.” His gaze flickered over my face.”
“How did they die?” I asked, and then immediately realized the answer. “They couldn’t use their abilities against the Ascended, could they?”
“Either because they couldn’t sense emotion or didn’t know how to. They were still exceptional fighters. It would explain your almost natural talent with weapons.” His voice softened. “Bolder and braver than any of the other lines.”
My gaze fell to the faded ink. Empath warriors. Could it be that I was descended from a bloodline so powerful they could take out an army before a battle even began? One favored by the children of the gods? Could it be that I was a part of this bloodline? It sounded right. It felt like a final puzzle piece being found. It felt right. The corners of my lips tipped up, and I smiled.
“Beautiful,” Casteel whispered.
Startled, my eyes flew to his. The moment our gazes connected, I couldn’t look away. His head was so close to mine, his mouth even closer—close enough that if I tilted my head and leaned in an inch or two, our lips would touch. My heart started pounding. Did I want that? Did I not want that? I didn’t move to put space between us. My eyes began to drift closed—
Casteel moved back, his head turning to the door. He slid off the desk just as a fist sounded. “Come in.”
Naill entered, hand on his sword. “One of the watchers signaled that we have company, coming from the western roads.”
“Who?” Casteel demanded.
“The Ascended.”
Chapter 14
I was already standing when Casteel turned to me. “We must go,” he clipped out.
I went to move around the desk but stopped. “Wait.” Spinning around, I snatched the book and shoved it back where I’d found it, behind the other records.
Casteel noted my actions in silence, and when I came around the desk, he took my hand.
How could they have known that I was missing? It had to be too soon, especially given the storm. It had only clipped the western sides, but they would’ve expected it to slow us down.
“They’ve already entered the yard,” Naill advised as we left the library, sending my stomach plummeting.
“Be smart,” Casteel advised. And with one curt nod, Naill took off. “Come,” he said to me.
Casteel led me in silence through the dimly lit, winding halls that felt like a maze designed to trap us. We reached an old wooden door that he pushed open with an arm, and entered the kitchens. The faces of those we passed were a blur as they stepped to the side, bowing at Casteel on sight.
“The Ascended are here,” he said, and several gasps echoed. “Hide the youngest below and warn the others. Do not antagonize the Ascended.”
An older man stepped forward, thumping his fist off his chest. “From blood and ash.”
Casteel placed his fist over his heart. “We will rise.”
The people scattered before we reached the doors that led outside. We were near the stables, the air cold but still as I glanced up at the sky that had given way to night. We headed for the heavily wooded area, neither of us speaking until we were among the snow-heavy limbs. Only then did it strike me how much my life had changed.
I was running away from the Ascended.
Not toward them.
Casteel kept hold of my hand as he navigated the darkened woods.
“Where are we going?” I asked, my breath forming misty clouds.
“Just outside until I know for sure what is happening.” He caught a bare, low-hanging branch, lifting it out of the way.
I kept close as we moved along the fringes of the forest. I realized we’d moved deeper into the woods as we circled the keep and then started to move closer. Perhaps a half-hour passed before the cold began to get to me. I shivered as I curled my free hand so that it was hidden under my sleeve.
“Sorry,” he said gruffly. “I wish there’d been time to grab a cloak or at least your gloves.”
“It’s okay.”
He glanced back at me, but I couldn’t make out his expression. We continued on, drawing even closer to the keep.
Casteel stopped me. “Wait.”
The tone of his voice sent a wave of warning through me. “What?”
He jerked his chin forward. “Something is happening.”
“What?” I repeated and followed his gaze, struggling to see through the trees. “I don’t have super-special Atlantian eyes.”
“And I’m sure that fills you with wrathful envy.”
It did.
“We need to be quiet.”
I listened, which I was sure came as a shock to Casteel. We crept toward the edge of the woods, and as the trees thinned out, I could see that the yard was brightly lit, far more than I’d ever seen it.
And it wasn’t empty. Not in the slightest.