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)
The arm beneath my hand trembled as I healed wounds not as deep as some of the others. This guard had awakened upon my approach. His name was Liam. He was only a little older than Iridessa, and his past was nearly the same as hers, except he’d escaped Kyn to join the Shadowlands. I didn’t speak as the pallor of death eased, revealing his olive-toned complexion. Neither did he. Not until I made to leave.
Liam clasped my hand. “Thank you,” he rasped.
I nodded, not wanting his gratitude, as I moved to the last of the unconscious guards. My skin chilled as I reached the godling’s side. Blood stained his hair to the point where I couldn’t tell if the strands were normally coppery. There had been a reason I’d been avoiding him.
He was no longer with us.
His soul had left him before I entered the chamber—possibly only seconds beforehand—because Kye and Aios still seemed unaware of his passing.
I lowered myself to my knees and swept my gaze over him. His injuries were significant. If he had been mortal, his body would’ve been in even worse condition. Still, even as a godling, it was bad. If I had to guess, I’d say he’d been one of the guards dropped from the Rise.
Eather swelled as I stared at him. My body tensed, and then I reached for him.
A cool hand caught mine, startling my heart into skipping. My gaze flew to a pair of beautiful silver eyes. Holding my stare, Ash drew his thumb over the imprint on my palm. In the silence that followed, I realized something.
“It must be hard for you,” I whispered hoarsely, thinking of his abilities. “To be around so much pain and be able to feel it.”
“It’s manageable,” he assured me, but I couldn’t see how. He had to be drowning in it.
Drawing in a shallow breath, I looked back at the man. I knew his name. The Court he originally served. How old he had been. I didn’t want to know those things. I wanted him to remain a faceless, nameless stranger. It was easier that way.
Ash’s other hand wrapped around mine, causing me to look down. A ripple of surprise went through me as he threaded his fingers through mine. I hadn’t even realized I’d lifted my left hand.
“He’s gone, liessa,” Ash stated quietly. “His soul is no longer with him.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” he asked quietly.
A knot lodged in my throat. I nodded.
Ash pressed a kiss to my left hand, then my right. “You’ve done more than enough.” He straightened, holding on to one of my hands as he helped me to my feet.
As I rose, I caught Aios’s gaze fastening on the fallen guard as she gathered some soiled linens. Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears. The knot in my throat increased as Ash and I turned to the doors.
The Healer stood before us. “Your Majesty.” Placing a palm over his chest, Kye bowed. “Thank you for your aid.”
I thought I said something appropriate and didn’t just stand there, staring at him with a slack jaw. At least, I hoped I did. Kye glanced at Ash and then nodded, stepping aside.
Ash led me toward the hall, and as I looked over my shoulder when we reached the doors, I saw Kye draping a sheet over the guard.
Once in the narrow hall, Ash folded an arm around my shoulders. Wisps of shadowy eather spun out, coiling around our legs. He said nothing as we shadowstepped back to our bedchamber.
I looked up at him and remembered the anger I’d seen in his features in the courtyard. I didn’t think all of it was directed at Kolis. A good ten percent was likely due to me getting involved in the sekya attack while relatively weaponless.
And, honestly, I deserved to be taken to task for that. It had been foolish of me to rush out without a weapon.
“I know what you’re about to say,” I began.
“I doubt you do,” he said, his voice rumbling as tendrils of night coiled around his legs.
My spine stiffened. “I’m pretty sure I—” I squeaked.
Ash moved faster than I could track. His cool hand clasped my cheek, and he tilted my head back. The scent of leather mingled with citrus and iron.
Within a heartbeat, his mouth was on mine, our lips melding.
The kiss was so untamed and relentless in its passion it left my senses spinning. It wasn’t just hungry. It was starved. And every part of my being immediately responded. The realm around us and all its problems vanished in an instant. His kiss had that kind of power.
Our teeth gnashed. His fangs grazed my lip, drawing an illicit shiver from somewhere deep inside me. Lifting me onto the tips of my toes and pulling me against his chest, his lips parted mine. I grasped the nape of his neck, kissing him back just as fiercely.