Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“It has its challenges,” she said vaguely.
Dario nodded his agreement. “Indeed it does. Many times I’ve wondered if the power is worth those challenges. Are you satisfied that I’m far from rogue, Knox?”
“Yes,” replied Knox. There was no way Dario could manage to look so very calm otherwise. Act calm, sure. But he looked it. There were no twitchy movements, no turmoil in his gaze, and no dark vibes coming from him. “But it doesn’t look good to others that you’ve become a recluse. It gives weight to the rumors.”
“I know.” Dario’s brow furrowed and pain etched his features. “My concubine of fifty years died recently.”
Harper bit her lip. Fuck. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Dario shot her a sad smile. “I was not in control, and I did not trust myself not to act irrationally while I was so deep in grief. I locked myself away for the safety of myself and others. My control has improved enough for me to leave the castle, but I want solitude while I do my best to find some peace. Without it, my control could splinter again.”
“Understandable,” said Knox. And sensible. Near-rogues didn’t make sensible decisions.
“But you do not fully trust it is true.” Dario put down the scissors. “There is another reason I invited you here. Come to my garden. There is someone you should see.”
Knox slowly lifted one brow. “Someone?”
“Yes. They are hoping to speak with you and your mate, but it is of course your choice whether or not you come along.”
Harper stayed at Knox’s side as he followed Dario out of the rear exit of the greenhouse and down a long stepping stone path. At the end was a pretty floral arch with vines twined around it. They walked through the arch into a maze-like garden of carefully plucked bushes. They made a serious of short, sharp turns until eventually they came to a small opening.
Harper arched her brows, impressed. It was like a little oasis with patches of herbs, colorful fragrant flowers, and the soothing trickle of the fountain. The chirping of the birds splashing in the bird bath added to the relaxing feel. The breeze rustled the leaves and flowering trees, and bees and butterflies swooped from bloom to bloom. What held Harper’s attention was the small old woman on the wooden bench, knitting what looked like a scarf, which was a little odd, considering the heat.
Dario gestured to the woman. “Meet my grandmother, Nora.”
Pausing in her knitting, Nora studied all of them. She spoke to Harper. “You’re smaller than I thought you would be. People often underestimate those who are short. I do enjoy shocking people by showing them what a mistake that would be.”
Harper couldn’t help but smile, since she could fully relate to that.
Nora’s eyes danced from Harper to Knox. “Your emotional bond is very strong. That is good. You will need each other if you are to face what is coming.”
“Nora has premonitions,” Dario told them. “She sees the future, but she does not have visions. She knows and feels things about the future.”
“I knew Dario wouldn’t win the election, but he didn’t listen to me.” Nora shook her head. “It’s rare that he ever does,” she muttered.
Dario looked close to rolling his eyes. “Can you not just get to the point?”
“I could.” The woman cackled at his exasperated expression.
She makes me think of Jolene, Harper told Knox. Harper kind of liked her already.
Nora resumed knitting as she spoke. “I’m sure all of you have heard the rumors about Dario, just as we have heard the rumors about you and the other Primes. So many rumors,” she mused. “Rather odd, don’t you think? Obviously someone started them, but it seems such a petty thing to do… unless their aim is to cause discord among the Primes, of course.”
It wasn’t a theory that Knox hadn’t already considered. It held merit, but… “Who would want such a thing?”
“I did not see their faces, nor do I know their names. But they call themselves ‘the Four Horsemen.’”
Harper frowned. “Like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?”
Nora placed her knitting beside her and smoothed the creases out of her long gypsy-like dress. “Yes, only they do not want to see the end of the world. They want to see the fall of the US Primes. They want domination of the entire country. But they’re having to use underhanded methods to achieve that because they cannot destroy all of the Primes by themselves.”
“They need the Primes to destroy each other,” said Levi.
Nora nodded. “They believe that causing a political war will lead to a physical one. As such, they are trying to cause arguments amongst Primes and make them distrust each other in the hope that they will turn on each other.”
Harper recalled the tension and distrust at the annual meeting; the rumors were certainly having some effect, even for those who didn’t fully believe them. “I don’t think Crow is one of the Horsemen.”