Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I want to sit down and open it, then read it from front to back.
But I also desperately want to see my sisters.
I’ve missed them, and I can’t imagine the turmoil I’ve caused Tatiana. She would have tried everything to get to me. That’s just who she is, and I love her for it.
She will be an amazing mother, of that, I am sure.
And John? The way he loves her, their child is sure to have the same type of love.
“Miss.” I turn around to find Alan behind me. I step to the side, and Max keeps on walking, with everyone following him.
“Alan, is everything okay?” I lift my hand toward him, but he pulls away and shakes his head.
“It’s changed. Everything has changed,” he says, looking around. “I had a son. I hid him before I was thrown through the portal.”
“A son?” I ask, surprised.
He nods his head. “I can see him now that I am here. I hate to do this to you, but I have to leave.”
“Why aren’t you telling Max?”
He glances over to Max and then back to me. His white eyes hold mine. “It is not him who is destined to rule this world,” he says, and I offer him a smile. “Thank you for bringing me back. I would never have imagined I’d be here again. I must go. I know my way to him. I can see him.”
“Thank you, Alan,” I reply, smiling.
He bows.
“No, thank you, my queen.”
I don’t bother correcting him.
When I can no longer see him, I turn to catch up with the group, but before I make it a few steps, I’m pushed to the ground. The diary falls out of my hand, and I turn to try to get it, crawling toward it, but a foot steps heavily on my hand. I hear the bones crunch and pull it straight back to me.
When I glance up, I see Levy standing there with an evil grin on her face before she strides away.
Hopefully, I won’t kill her today.
But the possibility is there.
Chapter Nine
The wolves’ land is ahead. When I reach the front of the line, there are two wolves snarling at Max from either side, but he doesn’t seem fazed. I guess he wouldn’t be, considering how strong he is.
I wonder how many people he could take down on his own.
I also wonder the same about myself.
As I push through to the front, one of the wolves stops snarling and shifts back to human form.
“You were gone,” she states. “I was worried.”
I remember this wolf, but I don’t know her name. She’s one of the few who isn’t rude to me.
“I’m back. Are my sisters here?”
She nods and looks at the other wolf before it runs off.
“Bastian will get them. I don’t think it’s a good idea for everyone to enter… wolves are territorial.” I nod in understanding. “Your sisters are going to be so happy to see you.” I give her a soft smile as I check around. Everything seems to be pretty much the same except for some additional housing.
“Talia.” I hear my name before I see her. When she comes into view, I rub my eyes. Am I seeing right? No, that can’t be right. I’ve been gone less than two weeks. How is her stomach so large already? When she reaches me, she puts her arms around me, but I’m careful not to hug her too tightly because she has a large belly in the way. “I was so worried I would never see you again.”
I pull back to find tears streaming down her face. With one hand resting on her shoulder, the other lowers to touch her belly. “How did you get so big?” I ask, rubbing her rounded stomach. Her gaze falls to the diary in my hand, and she reaches for it. I let her take it, and when she opens the cover, she starts reading the first page.
“How did you get this?”
“Francis held it for Mother. She said it was time to give it to me.”
John comes over and gives me a one-armed cuddle. He gives the crowd of villagers a curious glance as he lets me go. “It’s good to have you back.”
I smile and look back at my sister.
“How did you get so big? I’ve only been gone a short time?” I ask again, and she frowns.
She reaches out and grasps my hand. “You’ve been gone for two years, Talia.”
What? I’m glad I’m not holding anything because I would have dropped it instantly if I were.
“That can’t be right.”
“Time must work differently on the other side of the portal,” Max conveys as he comes up next to me. He stands close, and Tatiana doesn’t miss his nearness. Her eyes zoom in on us, and she raises a brow in question but doesn’t say anything.