Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
“Appreciated,” Ash remarked coolly.
The less-than-friendly greeting didn’t go unnoticed. A dimple appeared in Attes’s right cheek as he turned luminous eyes on me. “The crown suits you, Consort.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
“As does the imprint,” he added. “That was an…unexpected development.”
I kept my expression the same, even as trepidation skittered through me.
“I feel as if I now truly must make time to visit the lakes in the mortal realm,” he said. “Maybe the Arae will bless me with a beauty such as you and an imprint.”
“Now is a better time than ever to do so.” Ash’s fingers slid over the table, curling inwards against his palm as I fought my grin and lost.
That divot deepened as Attes’s lips tipped up farther.
“I’m assuming there have been no…events in your Court since the last time we spoke,” Ash said.
“Nothing but a few dakkais sniffing around. They left without causing much trouble,” Attes confirmed, sending a bolt of relief through me. But also wariness. Kolis must have felt my use of the embers. Why hadn’t he come at Attes harder? The Primal tipped his head in Ash’s direction. “We need to make some time to speak,” Attes reminded him. “The three of us.”
An emotion I wasn’t quite familiar with surged through me, leaving me a little confused as Ash said, “That can be arranged.”
“I look forward to it.” Attes bowed deeply. “May your union be a blessing upon the Shadowlands and beyond.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, reaching for my wine glass as I watched Attes walk toward Nektas. He stopped to speak to the draken.
“Reminds me of a cool iced drink.” Ash leaned back, glancing at me. “Your surprise.”
I arched a brow. “Was I projecting?”
“You were,” he confirmed. “It wasn’t the only thing you felt just now.”
“Well, I’m hoping you can shine some light on that.” I sipped the wine. “Because I have no idea what I was just feeling.”
“Satisfaction.”
My head cut to him.
“Care to share what that jackass said to make you feel that?” he asked, a teasing glint in his gray eyes. “Because that is something I’ve only felt from you on a few occasions. One of them not quite fit for public conversation.”
I snorted. “I can assure you that is not the only time I’ve been satisfied.”
“I know. You projected an indecent amount of satisfaction when you stabbed me in Stonehill.”
A short laugh burst from me.
“As you do whenever you hold a weapon to me or manage to nick my skin or hair,” he went on. “I could continue.”
“Not necessary,” I said, my amusement fading as I tried to figure out why I had felt satisfaction. The answer was all too easy to discover. Acknowledging it was something else entirely. “I…I guess I’m not used to being included in discussions of importance, even ones that involve me, so I was surprised to be included.”
“And then satisfied with knowing that you were?”
I shrugged, feeling a bit of warmth creep up my throat. “I know it sounds silly.”
“It doesn’t.”
Peeking over at him, I saw that he watched me intently. I refocused on the crowd below, drawing in a deep breath. “I was never included in any type of conversation, whether it be about the weather or something of importance like the growing tensions between Lasania and other kingdoms. I suppose that doesn’t bother many, but for me, it made me feel like anything I may have thought or had to say didn’t matter. I…I didn’t count. You know, like I wasn’t a person, but a…”
“A ghost?”
I nodded, squinting. “Like I was there, but no one actually saw me—interacted with me. It’s the only way I can describe it. And being included makes me feel seen. Accepted.” Wondering how I allowed the conversation to wander to this point, I cleared my throat. “Anyway, do you know what Attes could want to speak to us about? I feel as if the possibilities are endless at this point.”
When Ash didn’t respond, I looked at him. He still watched me, his gaze intense, but his stare had softened. “What?” I whispered.
“I hate that you spent so long being made to feel that way. And I loathe that I likely added to that feeling. For that, I do not think I could apologize enough. You are seen and heard, liessa.”
The embers wiggled and vibrated along with my heart as his comments struck me silent. Liessa.
“And you matter. Always.” Ash bent, pressing his lips to my temple. The chaste, sweet kiss was as shocking as his words. I melted like butter left in the sun. He withdrew, glancing forward. “Keella approaches.”
I blinked, rocked out of what had honestly begun to feel like a swoon. I followed his gaze to where Keella had paused to greet Nektas. The draken nudged her arm in response to whatever the Primal had said, and she placed her hand against his cheek, stroking the scaled flesh.