Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Nylian’s lips did that twitch thing as though he were trying to hold in a smile but was losing the battle. “I’m thinking you damaged your brain when you walked into that tree.”
“Probably so, but that doesn’t change what I said. I’m helping you. Now, where are we going next? I’m assuming you weren’t following a lead to Misty Pass.”
The elf hesitated, continuing to watch me. I didn’t expect him to trust me. Not yet, at least. Someone had already screwed the guy over and ruined his life. There was no way in hell he was going to trust some total stranger now.
“I had no plans to stop in Misty Pass. I’d planned to travel around it or simply go through without stopping, but…”
Shoving one hand into my messy hair, I grinned at my new friend. “I forced you to make a pit stop for my faulty memory.”
“My plan was also to leave you there,” Nylian muttered.
I threw my hands out to my sides. “And yet I’m still here.”
“Yes, you are.” Nylian sighed and shook his head. “My current route is to continue north and catch the ferry across the Esham Narrows to Galinaes.”
“You’re going to Galinaes next?” The disbelieving words were out of my mouth before I could catch them, but I couldn’t worry about that. Something was wrong here. He shouldn’t be heading to Galinaes next. He should be going north to the Edros capital of Gushan for some sneaking about. Were we not where I thought we were in this book?
It had been my impression that I’d run into Nylian shortly after he’d been exiled from Wolfrest. His first stop was supposed to be checking out the elf kingdom’s top enemy—the royal family of Edros in Gushan. Along the way, he would pick up a couple of new companions as well as a warrior-lover or two. They were supposed to be added to his harem. After all that, he would travel back south to Riverhold and catch a boat over to the Galinaes royal capital of Ulmenor.
No. No. No.
This was all wrong.
Why had this all gone wrong?
I understood why he’d missed out on snatching up Mercy in Misty Pass, but how could my presence be screwing up the whole part of him in Edros? I’d already written all twenty-six of those freaking chapters. There was a lot of good stuff in there.
But now, with a snap of his elf fingers, it was all gone. What the fuck?
Did he not understand the important layers I’d worked in? The character development? The foreshadowing? Okay, so I wasn’t sure what I was foreshadowing, but it was fucking in there for later!
Now he was down three members of his harem: Mercy, Elsbeth, and…I don’t remember her name, but I’m sure she was important. Shannon! Shannon, the badass bartender who’d had enough of her father’s drinking and had decided to strike out on her own with Nylian.
Fuck, I liked Shannon. Mercy was too sweet—too much of a “Mary Sue” for me, but I’d really liked Shannon.
Plus, what about Keaton, the wily rogue with the heart of gold, who was supposed to become Nylian’s new bestie? Life on the road with Nylian was supposed to reform Keaton and help heal some of his cynicism while he saved Nylian’s life.
Well, apparently Keaton was on his fucking own now.
So were Mercy, Elsbeth, and Shannon.
I’d screwed this story to hell and back with my sudden appearance. That made it even more necessary for me to stay by Nylian’s side. He was missing almost all of his team, the people who rallied to support and protect him through the hard times. The people who made sure that he never lost hope when things were at their darkest.
That all rested on my shoulders now.
“Is there a problem with my plans?”
“What?” My voice cracked, and I forced a smile. “Nope. Not at all. I guess I assumed you had business in Edros, but if you’re headed to Galinaes, the fastest route would be to catch a ferry in Riverhold.”
“If you don’t want to accompany me to Galinaes, I’m fine with you taking the horse to Misty Pass tomorrow morning. You don’t need to stick—”
“No,” I said, cutting him off. “No more talk of us separating. You need me, and it’s clear that I still need you for some things. We’re sticking together. I want to help you uncover your brother’s killer so you can return home.”
Trust me, I understood what it was like being away from home.
“Lockhart?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re weird,” Nylian murmured with a hint of a smile in his voice.
Stretching my legs out in front of me, I relaxed against the saddle as best I could and folded my hands behind my head. “You know, I might not remember it, but I have this funny feeling that I’ve been hearing that my entire life.”