Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 105164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Drayce sighed heavily and dropped his head on a clump of dead leaves. “I won,” he groaned as he shoved the dead soldier off him.
“How do you figure that?” Caelan demanded as he crossed the field to his side.
“I killed more than you and faster.”
“You fired a weapon.”
Drayce sat up and shrugged. “Yeah, but they didn’t. That was the bet.”
Caelan extended a hand to him to help him to his feet. “You are horrible at being sneaky.”
Wrinkling his nose, Drayce accepted the help and climbed to his feet. “Yeah, I forgot about that. This sounded like good idea until it was time to execute the plan. I’m much better at shooting from a distance. When we get home, I’m going to ask Adrian to give me sneaking lessons.”
“That’s a horrible idea.”
“It’s brilliant. I can be the King’s Sneaky Consort. Your enemies will never see me coming.”
Caelan leaned in and brushed a kiss across his lips. “I think you won’t have to worry about being sneaky when everyone learns the King’s Consort is a dragon.”
Joy bubbled up inside of Drayce and he found himself pulling his lover in closer despite the fact that they were standing over the dead body of a New Rosanthe soldier. Caelan was talking about him being open about his heritage, about who he truly was, and he couldn’t be prouder of his mate. He’d always understood the logic and reasons for hiding all these centuries, but he’d never been incredibly fond of it.
But the idea that the world was going to know a dragon was married to the King of Erya was putting him over the moon.
“Have I told you recently how incredibly in love with you I am?” Drayce asked, pressing his forehead to Caelan’s.
His fiancé hummed softly for a second. “I think it has been a while.”
“I love you, Caelan Talos, King of Erya, Guardian of the Godstones, and scion of Clan Omari.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Drayce lifted his head and tilted it to the side. “What? How about God of My Heart?”
“Oh, I like that, but it wasn’t what I was thinking of.”
“What title did you have in mind?”
Caelan’s smile grew and his gaze softened. “Yours. Just call me yours. That’s all the title I need.”
“You’ll always be that.”
They kissed again, but Caelan ended it far too quickly and pulled away to scrutinize the mess they’d made. That was the more pressing issue. It wasn’t as though these Empire soldiers were out for a stroll through the Ordas on their own. They had to be part of a larger company, and it was only a matter of time before someone noticed they hadn’t returned to the camp.
“Do you think Rayne and Eno heard the gunfire?”
Caelan frowned. “I think it’s a pretty safe bet that they did.”
“Rayne’s gonna be pissed?”
“And Eno.”
Drayce grunted. That was pretty much what he’d expect from them. Not that he blamed them. He’d be angry at being left out of the action regardless of the reason. He turned and looked at the six soldiers. “Guess we should raid them for weapons and supplies. And think how we’re going to get past all these soldiers to get into Green Spring.”
Caelan walked over to one of the men Drayce had shot and kneeled. He picked through pockets, pulling aside ammunition. “I actually have an idea for that.”
Drayce stopped in the middle of kneeling and glared at his lover. “You’re not going to use your new god power, and just teleport straight to Green Spring, are you? Leave us behind?”
“You think I’d do that?” Caelan teased, flashing him a grin over his shoulder.
“Yeah, I do.”
At least Caelan had the good sense to look a little embarrassed. “No, I was thinking we’d walk right in.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Zyros will allow it to happen, and so will Emperor Naram Suen. He wants the power of the goddess, so he has to go along with what she wants. And she wants a final showdown with the other gods. They’re still tied to me, so I’m their only ticket in.”
Drayce swore his stomach dropped into his shoes. That sounded fucking insane. Gods and the Empire were waiting for them in Green Spring, and Caelan was expecting to waltz in. Of course, New Rosanthe wasn’t much of a threat to him. Not anymore.
No, it was the God of Wisdom and the Goddess of the Hunt that stood to tear the new god apart, and Drayce had absolutely no idea how to keep Caelan alive.
He had a sick feeling that if Caelan died this time, there would be no coming back.
TWENTY
Caelan Talos
Rayne and Eno weren’t happy about being left behind, but they understood. Caelan was grateful for it. They were too close to the end of things now to get lost in silly squabbles. And just maybe, his friends understood that he was going to do whatever he could to keep them safe for as long as possible. When they reached Green Spring, his hands were going to be almost certainly tied. Figuratively, and probably literally.