Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
His head tilted. “Is there a question in there for me?”
“I’m not sure.” I cracked a grin. “I can tell when it’s you, and I think I’m starting to know the other draken before even seeing them, too. Ash said it’s like I’m picking up on an echo.”
“What he and the other Primals feel is an echo, but what you’re sensing is our imprint,” he said. “There’s a difference. Only the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death can pick up on our imprints and use them to communicate with us.”
My brows shot up. “You mean like I can talk in your head.”
“Part of me wants to tell you no.”
“That’s rude.”
“But yes, if we open ourselves to it,” he said. When I started to speak, he cut me off. “Let’s talk about this more when we’re not standing in the mortal realm.”
Blinking, I jolted. Good gods, for a moment there, I’d actually forgotten what I was doing and where I was. Nektas’s grin showed he knew.
“Come on.” I sighed, tabling my new discovery for later. I edged around the bench and followed the darkening path. “I’m thinking we’ll be able to find Ezra in the dining hall.” At least, I hoped so.
Passing another statue of Maia, we walked out onto the main pathway. The golden light of the veranda peeked through the sweeping branches heavy with pink blossoms.
“There appear to be guards ahead,” Nektas commented.
I could see their shadowy forms standing at the open doors. “I’m not sure if any of them would recognize me.”
“I find that hard to believe,” he said. “With your hair and freckles, you have quite recognizable features.”
I lightly dragged my fangs over my lower lip as my steps slowed. “I…I wasn’t seen a lot. I usually used the servant’s stairs and halls, and honestly, half the guards here probably thought I was a servant, so it’s quite possible none of them would recognize me. And I doubt they would just let me enter the dining hall.” I thought about the last time Ash and I had visited. “Most of the guards don’t even know my name.”
“That’s…” Nektas trailed off. When I looked over my shoulder, I saw that his jaw was set in a hard line.
“Just the way it was,” I said, facing forward.
“More like unacceptable.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “That, too. But because of the deal, I guess it was easier to keep my identity hidden so no one had to explain why I wasn’t available to marry or wonder what happened when I eventually disappeared.”
“As if that was the only option,” Nektas noted, his gravelly voice flat.
It wasn’t.
But it had been the easiest for my mother. My shoulders tightened as I focused ahead. We had far more important things to think about at the moment. “When we were here last, Ash basically scared the guards into leaving us alone.”
Nektas laughed. “Sounds about right.”
I smiled as I stopped near the last of the autumn-blooming cherry trees. “I don’t think I’ll have the same effect,” I said, speaking low. “So, I guess I could use compulsion.” My lip curled at the thought of that.
“I think you underestimate your presence if you think you won’t have the same impact.”
I looked back at Nektas and arched a brow.
His head lowered. “You’re the true Primal of Life, Sera. What would the guards do if you showed them that?”
“Freak out?” I glanced back at the veranda.
“That and allow you to go wherever you want.”
I thought that over. “Ash didn’t really reveal who he was when he was here.”
“You do not seem to like the idea of compelling someone.” Nektas picked up on that. “If you like, I can scare them as Ash did.”
I snorted. “I don’t know if we should do that.” I squinted. “I guess I could just compel them not to see us. I mean, that’s not like making them do anything, right?”
Nektas hesitated. “I suppose.”
“You don’t sound entirely convinced of my thought process,” I pointed out.
“You have a unique thought process.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it.”
“But I think it would be wise for our presence to go largely unnoticed so we do not cause a scene,” he added, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. “So, yes. Do not compel these guards by compelling them.”
I rolled my eyes.
“There is a third option,” he said. “Allow them to see you. As Ash said, they will know you are at least a god and would likely allow you to dance on their backs if that is what you wished.”
“Good point,” I muttered. “I keep forgetting that.”
“Understandable.”
I got myself moving. The gardens were quiet as I glanced back at Nektas, realizing only then that he was dressed as he normally was—meaning he only wore loose black pants. No boots. And no shirt.
I hoped no parties were being held.