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)
“Are there any seers left?” I ask.
“A few. The yorks have killed most.” He scratches his chin again. “None have warned us of your appearance, though. And they usually know when someone arrives.” I say nothing to his words. “Is John still alive?”
“He is, and found his mate as well.”
Ron smiles widely, his white teeth shining. “Who?”
“My sister.” His smile drops.
“A wolf and a witch.” His head shakes. “That’s not common… or even heard of.”
“Does it matter who you are here? Does power matter within couples?” I ask, genuinely interested in how things work in this world.
Adam and his wife have walked off with their children, and Ron escorts me to the center of the circle, where a large bench sits. The area is quite peaceful, with the sun starting to set as we sit.
“Here, it’s different. To those of us in the village, it doesn’t matter, but for the king, it does. Levy is strong… her power is incredible. But she holds no other greater power. Some say he is settling. But settling for someone who loves you, is that really what he wants?”
I sit back in my seat and look at the sky.
“Is the king a good ruler? At least better than Queen Veronica?” The pink flowers hanging off the trees sway in the gentle breeze as I look up to the sky.
“Yes, he cares for his people, and he is just with punishments. I would choose to live here a thousand lives over than back there with her.”
“But your world here is dying,” I say, turning back to him.
He nods past the house. “If you step farther out past the houses, you will hear them. But bear in mind, whatever they say is fake. Once you reach a pole that is flashing bright yellow, don’t go any farther. Anything on this side is real, but anything on that side is fake and only wants one thing.”
“What’s that?”
He sucks in a breath before he says the words, “To kill and consume you.”
I stand and stride in that direction. No one stops me or tells me not to go. Once I pass the last house, it becomes dark. I continue until I get to the yellow light, then I stop in my step, not daring to go any farther, as instructed.
“Witch. Witch. Witch. Why don’t you come say hello? We have something sweet for you.” Peering into the darkness, there’s a face I hate, one I would cross this path to destroy.
Veronica.
Oh, how I despise her with every fiber of my being.
“Do you not wish to know my secrets, witch? Of how to open a portal?” it asks. “Come on, witch… you know you want to know.”
“If you tell me the spell, I’ll consider it.” I smile.
Fake Veronica sneers through her teeth at me. “Now, where would be the fun in that? You would leave straight away, and our end of the deal we would not receive.”
“Talia.” I turn to find King Maxilliam standing next to me.
“Where did you come from?” I ask, stepping back. “You aren’t one of them, are you?” I question while pointing to the black shadows. The whole thing is weird. It’s like a black bubble until it’s a person, and when you look at that person, you would think it’s real. They’re exactly who they look like to a T, including how they sound and every subtle mannerism. The resemblance to the person they impersonate is perfectly done.
“I am not. But why are you so close to the border?”
“Our king, our king. Oh, what a wonderful king you are,” one sings.
When I turn to its voice, I see it’s a small woman. Her hair is white, and she has bright red lips and a sweet smile. Maxilliam’s jaw tightens before he turns to me.
“Who is that to you?” I ask him.
“Before they consumed this world, I thought I was in love. Her name was Penelope.” When I glance back, the white-haired girl is blowing kisses to Maxilliam.
“You thought?” I ask, frowning when I see the look on his face.
“Talia.” My head swings around to the sound of that voice. Grim stands in the dark shadows, dressed in all black, his silver eyes shining back at me. I go to step forward, but a hand grips my arm and pulls me back.
“Who is that to you?” he asks with concern.
“That is Death,” I whisper.
Chapter Seven
“Death?” he questions, his concern morphing into confusion.
I look away from those silver eyes and into sky-blue ones. The king’s eyes seem to have changed to a deeper color in this light. How different are Death and Maxilliam?
“Why am I staying in your castle?”
“Because he wants to see what’s under that dress,” the white-haired girl replies.
“You are there because it’s the safest place to be,” Maxilliam corrects.
“But most of your travelers are sent out here, are they not?”