Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 144676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
“But he can’t kill you until the curse is lifted.”
“Correct. He can’t. Others can. His beasts could, if they were able. But he personally cannot.”
“And you realize the shifters’ animals won’t automatically be unsuppressed once the curse is lifted?”
“Give a smart woman a library and then stand back,” he said softly, and pride glowed through the bond. “I do know that, yes. And I knew you’d figure it out when I saw that book in your room. I can’t say more. I’m toeing the line as it is. With your help, I’ve been able to access more power, but it won’t be enough to save me from the full brunt of the magical gag.”
That was why the demon king would try to kill him immediately. If he managed it before Nyfain helped the other shifters, their animals would stay suppressed, and our people wouldn’t be able to fight back when he swooped in to steal our riches.
I let out a breath and refused to let my confidence wobble. I refused to let the prickle of tears in my eyes manifest. The future did look bleak, but it always had, hadn’t it? The sickness had been bleak, but I’d set out to cure my father, and ended up curing the kingdom. My will was strong. It was stronger than anything the demon king could throw at me. I would see this kingdom saved—I just had to figure out how.
“Well, fuck.” I stood back and looked at my handiwork. The last of the roses had been restored to loveliness. It was a mistake to call them docile, though. Or tamed. As pretty as they were, those barbs could still draw blood.
“So if we can’t work the everlass, or cure people, or fight…what do we do?” I asked.
“Take a day off, I guess. None of his creatures will be in the wood while he is here.”
“In that case, which would you rather do? Dance or read?”
“You shouldn’t be seen with me, Finley.”
“Nyfain, give me a break. He’s going to smell you on me. He’s going to hear about me from the demons in the castle. I’m sure the demons in the villages have heard about me, too. How long do you suspect I’ll remain a mystery? I’m wearing your clothes, for fuck’s sake.”
He was silent for a moment. “Well, in that case, dance and then read?”
In the late afternoon, Nyfain and I lay on the lounger in the library. I was between his legs and curled up on his chest with a book, and he had his arms wrapped around me, reading with his cheek pressed to my head. It had actually been an incredibly lovely, restful day. For the first time since I’d come to the castle, we didn’t need to worry about doing nothing at all. We’d danced, I’d listened to him play the piano and sing, and for the last couple hours we’d cuddled and read.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t totally relax. His dragon was apparently going absolutely crazy. The threat to his territory, and to me, had riled him up something awful. The only thing that seemed to soothe him was my presence and touch. I was happy to provide it.
“What do you think, should we go find something to eat?” Nyfain asked, dropping his book to his chest while he wrapped his other hand around me.
I held up a finger. I was almost done with the chapter.
He waited patiently and softly kissed my head.
When I finished, I looked up at him and smiled. “Go and get it, or have Leala or Urien bring it to us?”
Urien was his valet. He was mostly a ghost until he was needed. I literally never saw him until the second Nyfain had a need. It was eerie. He was hiding from the demons, of course, trying to stay alive. It must’ve been a long sixteen years for him, more so than anyone else.
“I’ll need to show my face around the castle, but I can do that tomorrow. We can have it brought to the tower.”
“Who do you need to show your face to, your people or the demons?”
“The demons. They get haughty and destructive if I don’t put them in their place. It helps my people.” He murmured, “What’s left of them.”
I tilted my face up so he could kiss my lips.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” we heard. The voice was flat and bland, even in its attempt to be musical.
Nyfain tensed, and power created a vicious cloud of intent around us. His fingers dug into me for a second, but then he rose beneath me, getting me to sit up.
“You stay here,” he whispered, standing and pulling his leg from the other side of the lounger. “Don’t speak.”
He kept his book in hand and exited from around the tapestry. I scooted up so I could see, looking between the tapestry and the plant, all but a bit of me hidden.