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)
“Then what…?” I stiffened. “You’re talking about me? I wouldn’t hurt Kars.”
“You wouldn’t intend to hurt him,” he corrected gently. “But you could.”
I opened my mouth.
“You brought life back to the Shadowlands overnight. That is how powerful you are now, and that kind of power will also affect you physically. You don’t know your own strength, Sera. And that will take you a bit to learn. The same goes for a god once they complete their Ascension.” His gaze met mine. “Even Nyktos didn’t train with gods for a while after completing his Ascension. He had to make sure he fully understood his strength. What feels like a soft blow to him is like a sucker punch through the guts to one of us, and that’s not an exaggeration,” he said. “One hit from you, the true Primal of Life, and you would’ve likely broken Kars’ arm.”
If not worse went unsaid.
“I…” I didn’t know what to say as my stomach sank. “I didn’t know.”
“Probably just hasn’t been a topic that’s come up yet.”
I hadn’t mentioned thinking about training to Ash before he left. He probably would have said something if I had, but… “It didn’t even cross my mind.” A bit of shame scalded my cheeks as I focused on the glossy surface of the Rise. I should’ve been more considerate. “And it should have, but I wasn’t thinking beyond occupying my time.” And my mind, I silently added. But it was more than that. “Nyktos doesn’t rely on the essence when fighting. None of you do. I want to make sure I don’t either.”
“I get you.” His chin lifted. “Fighting is a lot of muscle memory, but it’s not something one retains any real skill for without practice.”
“Yeah.” I shifted my weight. “And I’ve been out of practice for…” I cleared my throat as I watched the clouds momentarily blot out the glimmer of the stars. Everyone knew how long. “It’s been a while.”
“Nyktos will work with you,” he said. “After all, he enjoys getting his ass kicked by you.”
Cracking a grin, I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Thank you for coming to say something. If you hadn’t, I probably would’ve done some damage.” I swallowed a sigh and scanned the sparring guards. “I think I owe Kars an apology.”
“I don’t know if that’s necessary.”
“It is.” I inhaled deeply, squaring my shoulders. “He was trying to tell me why he couldn’t train with me, but I wasn’t listening. I should have.”
Saion didn’t respond. I glanced at him and found him watching me as if I’d sprouted a third hand from the center of my forehead. “What?” I asked.
“Nothing.” He blinked and looked away. A moment passed. “You know what? It’s not nothing. I was thinking that you’ve changed. You’re not so irrational.”
My brows shot up. “Wow.”
A sheepish look crossed his features. “But then I realized you weren’t always irrational. Just prone to moments of irrationality.”
“If this is supposed to be a compliment, you’re failing,” I stated.
“You’ve always been thoughtful, though.” His stare came back to mine. “Considerate of others. I don’t think we always saw that. Except for Ector.”
Feeling my heart squeeze, it was my turn to look away. “If I were truly considerate, you wouldn’t have had to intervene.”
“I don’t agree with that.” A moment passed. “Your Majesty.”
I shot him an arch look.
“I don’t think being considerate means always doing the right thing. If that were the case, none of us would be,” Saion said, scratching his chin. “I think it sometimes means acknowledging when you should’ve been more considerate and then doing it. You—” A shout from across the courtyard drew our attention. “What the…?”
Jadis was hopping on her hind legs, clutching that strip of blue material in one hand as she spat short bursts of silver flames toward Bele. The Primal stood with her arms crossed, her features pinched in a way that said she was utterly done with whatever was happening while Pax grinned from where he sat, safely behind the draken.
“Jade, baby,” Aios called out to the youngling. “Don’t scare Bele.”
Bele scowled, but Jadis stopped, screeching happily as she threw herself onto the several-inch-tall grass. Two thin legs stuck straight up as she waved the slip of blue material like a victory flag.
Pax grinned wider.
Behind Bele, Rhahar looked like he wanted to run face-first into the shadowstone wall.
“Man,” I murmured, shaking my head. “Children—draken or not—are absolutely terrifying.”
Saion chuckled. “That, they are.” He glanced over at me. “By the way, I did have another reason for coming out here. Rhain is looking for you.”
My stomach dipped. “What for?”
“Not sure,” Saion said, “but he said it was important.”
“Seraphena.”
I opened my eyes. “What?”
“Have you been listening to me at all?” Rhain demanded.
“Of course.” Tilting my head from where it rested on the arm of the chair, I slid a quick look at Reaver.