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)
“He was orphaned and living on the streets, pickpocketing to survive.” Lifting one of the lids, I used the small spoon to scoop up some sugar. “Which was how he met Nyktos.”
Penellaphe’s brows rose as she went for the creamer. “He attempted to pick Nyktos’s pocket, an actual Primal of Death?”
“Yes.” I grinned.
“That is not something you hear often,” Ward remarked, shaking his head as he lifted the cup. It was…charming to see such dainty teaware held in large hands.
“I imagine not.” Taking a sip of the hot tea, I knocked my fangs against the cup in the process. I peeked over at Penellaphe and Ward to see if they’d noticed. Neither appeared to have seen, but Reaver eyed me far too closely for him not to have witnessed it. I sighed. “He’s very shy.”
“I could tell.” Penellaphe sat back. “But you’re very good with him.”
I shrugged. “Did Holland know why I tried to summon him?”
She shook her head. “He had an idea that it might have to do with the prophecy. It is why he asked me to come.”
“Of course, he did,” I replied dryly.
There was a slight tightening to the corners of her mouth. “May I be frank?”
“Sure.” I offered my cup to Reaver, and he turned his entire head away. Apparently, he didn’t like tea.
“You seem angry that Holland didn’t answer,” she stated.
Catching her sharp tone, I arched a brow. “I was under the impression that the true Primal of Life could summon the Fates and they would answer.”
“They do when there is reason to,” Ward said.
“You mean having a question is not a good enough reason?” I clarified.
“What Ward means is that there has to be a purpose, one with meaning beyond a personal need,” Penellaphe explained. “You summoned Holland when you could have summoned any Fate. If Holland had answered, it could’ve been seen as him showing you favor.”
My eyes narrowed. So, if I had summoned any old Arae, could he have answered? “That is…”
“Ridiculous?” Penellaphe finished for me, taking a sip of tea. “Yes. I agree. But he wanted to. Truly.”
She tipped her body toward me, holding the teacup level to her chest. “He would be here if he’d been sure that answering your summons would not have caused any issues.”
“Then why didn’t he broker the meeting between Kolis and me?” I asked. “It was Kolis who summoned the Arae.”
“You know he’s walked a fine line with you. The others know this, too.” A look of sympathy crossed her features. “He’s very fond of you, Sera, and he was overjoyed when he learned of your Ascension. It brought him to tears.”
My gaze fell to the muddy tea as I rubbed my thumb along the smooth porcelain. I pressed my lips together. The sharp sting of my fangs against the insides of my lips was nothing compared to the burn in my throat. I already knew why Aydun had been the one to handle Kolis and me. I was being a brat, but anger was a much easier emotion to deal with than disappointment and sadness. Still, Holland…well, despite the secrets he’d kept, deserved better from me.
“I know that he cares for me. It’s just that…” The drink of tea I took did little to soothe the burn. “He feels like he’s part of the family I had from my life before. And I…I miss them. I miss him.” Shaking my head, I glanced up. The sympathy in both their stares made me want to throw myself behind the settee. “Okay. Enough of that.” I blew out a long breath. “I learned something about the prophecy while I was in Dalos.”
Penellaphe blinked a few times. “From Kolis? I’m not sure what he could’ve said. He had no knowledge of my vision before—”
“He lied,” I stated bluntly, causing Penellaphe to jerk. “Kolis knew about the prophecy before you saw it. He just didn’t want you to know that.”
“I…I don’t understand.” Penellaphe lowered her cup to the saucer she held. “How is that possible?”
“It would only be possible if another had seen it before you,” Ward surmised, squinting. “Someone who, conveniently, was unable to speak of it.”
“But why would he act as if he had no understanding of my vision?” she asked, twisting toward Ward. “Why would he question me incessantly about what I saw—?” The cup she held rattled against the plate. “Every little detail?”
“He wanted to make sure you didn’t know the complete vision,” I told her. “And it was good that you didn’t. Ward is right. I got the impression that others knew of it and might be no more, including the last oracle born. And Eythos.”
Eather pulsed behind her pupils. “Wait. Are you saying there was more to what the Ancients dreamt?”
“According to Kolis, there is.” I took a drink of the tea and then leaned forward, placing the cup on the table. “He claimed there were three parts—a beginning, a middle, and an end. The first part was what you know. The desperation of golden crowns and all that. I don’t remember it word for word.”