Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 152616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 610(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 610(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
“Holy shit,” I whispered, horrified . . . and a little awed by the display of power, but mostly horrified as I lifted my gaze. Behind where Nathaniel had stood, the pale blossoms were splattered with blood, just as I’d seen.
I lifted my stare to the Lord, who . . . who could barely walk on his own last night, whom I had just fantasized about while pleasuring myself, and he’d . . .
And he’d incinerated another with his hand.
If he could do that to one of his own, what in the whole wide realm of nope could he do to a lowborn?
I took a shaky step back, reminded once more of exactly what this lord was. Somehow, I’d forgotten that.
“Na’laa,” the Lord called softly.
My entire body jolted.
A strand of hair slipped forward and fell against his jaw as he bent, wiping his hand on one of the pieces of burnt clothing. “You should come closer.”
I inched back another step. “I don’t know about that.”
“Are you finally afraid of me?” the Lord asked, picking up the fallen lunea blade.
I wasn’t sure, but I knew I should be. I should be terrified.
His head cut in my direction. “Don’t move any further— ”
I moved several more feet. Somehow the fire he’d created was more unnerving than seeing him tear out Weber’s windpipe. I wasn’t even sure why, but—
Something snagged my braid, jerking me back. I cried out as pain radiated down my neck and spine. My feet slipped out from underneath me as I was spun. A hand clamped down on my throat. Dragged back against a wall of a chest, I gripped the hand upon my throat, and I heard absolutely nothing as I saw the tall Hyhborn lord through the swaying wisteria vines.
“Muriel,” the Lord drawled, and shock rolled through me. I knew that name. Finn and Mickie had spoken it. “I’ve spent all day looking for you.”
“Don’t come any closer,” the one holding me warned as I clawed at his hand, breaking my nails on the hard flesh of another Hyhborn.
The Hyhborn lord prowled forward slowly, the trailing vines lifting and swinging out of his way before his body even came into contact with them. “Correct me if I’m wrong,” the Lord said, ignoring Muriel. “But didn’t I tell you not to move?”
“I— ”
“Stop,” Muriel growled, cutting me off. His grip on my throat tightened. Panic threatened to seize me. “Or I will snap her fucking neck.”
“That neck is a pretty one,” the Hyhborn lord responded. “But why, Muriel, would you think I’d care if you did snap it?”
“Bastard,” I hissed before I could stop myself, disbelief having loosened my tongue.
The Lord cocked his head. “That wasn’t very nice of you.”
I gaped at him. I’d helped him last night. Got him to safety. Risked my own life, and he didn’t care if my neck was snapped. “You just said— ”
Muriel dug his fingers into my throat, ending my words in a strangled gasp. “What did you do to Nathaniel?” he demanded.
“Put him in a time-out.” Another stream of blossoms fluttered out of his path. “Permanently.”
Muriel inched us back, forcing me onto the tips of my toes. “Why in the hell would you do that?”
“You know better than to ask that question, but since I’m feeling generous tonight, I’ll explain it to you. Besides the fact he was boring me,” the Lord answered, “he set me up. So did you.”
Muriel halted as I strained against his hold. “Yeah, I do know better.” He cursed again. “I should’ve known better than to trust lowborn to get the job done.”
“You should have.” The Lord paused. “And you should stop struggling while Muriel and I have our little chat. If not, you’re only going to harm yourself.”
Stop struggling? While Muriel crushed my windpipe?
“And you should be more worried about your own neck,” Muriel spat.
“Your concern for me warms my heart.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” Muriel yanked me harshly to the side as I struggled to break free. Nothing worked. His hold remained firm. “You know, you brought this onto yourself.”
“And how did I do that?”
“Play coy all you want. It won’t work for much longer,” Muriel snarled. “There’s only one reason why you were willing to risk your ass to get that information from us.”
“Speaking of that information,” the Lord replied. “Was any of it true?”
“Fuck you,” spat Muriel.
The Lord sighed.
“How do you think the King’s going to respond when he learns of what you were looking for?” Muriel shot back. I truly had no idea what they were speaking of. “The King’s going to have your head.”
“Doubtful.” The Lord chuckled again, and the sound raised the hairs on the nape of my neck. “I’m one of the King’s favorites, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Not after tonight,” Muriel promised. “Not when he learns the truth.”