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)
“Not really.” I pushed off the wall and crossed to the hammock. After giving his hammock a shove, I carefully climbed into the hammock under him. “I’ve been kind of caught up in all the insanity here. There has been little time to think about my world.”
Nylian fell silent, and I closed my eyes, thinking that was the end of his questions. It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to catch some sleep, as there was nothing we could do while stuck in the room.
“Are you married?”
That snapped my eyes open real damn quick. “No.”
“Oh.” Silence stretched for another minute. “Do you have any children?”
“No. It was just me.” I almost stated that it had been a while since I’d last attempted to date, focusing instead on my work. However, I wasn’t sure how well the concept of dating would translate in this world. In Nylian’s world, marriages were arranged, or you met someone and your families decided if you were a good match. If yes, then you married.
“You already know that I’m not married, don’t you?” Nylian’s question jerked me from my wandering thoughts, and my heart skipped a beat.
Swallowing hard, I forced my mounting anxiety aside and replied, “Yes, I do.”
“Will you explain to me why you know so many things about this world, and yet you don’t know others when you’ve never been here? How is it you know so much about me even though we’ve never met before?”
Seconds ticked by, and I didn’t know what to say. Explaining that I’d created this world, created him, seemed like a bad idea. “Nylian, can I tell you after we are out of Galinaes?”
“Why wait?”
“Because it’s not a simple answer, and where we’re headed is extremely dangerous for both of us. I think we need to focus on what’s ahead of us and not on the bit of nonsense about my life. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not important. Surviving Galinaes and getting the answers you seek are all that matters.”
“I don’t believe anything associated with you is nonsense,” Nylian countered, making my heart skip for an entirely different reason. “However, I’ll abide by your wishes. Just don’t think I’m letting you off the hook.”
Never. I would never think that this stubborn, annoying man was going to do something as kind as to forget to poke into my background.
I simply had to figure out what to tell him. The truth felt like a mistake.
Chapter 16
I’m Your What?
Ulmenor was astounding.
The cross of the bay was serene and uneventful. Of course, I slept through most of it, so that was a definite plus. It was only when we reached the busy docks for the capital city of Galinaes that the waters got rough, and I was nearly tossed out of my hammock.
As Nylian had warned, it was several more hours before someone released us from our rooms and marched us up to the top deck, where I caught my first glimpse of the elf city by the fading evening light.
It dwarfed Riverhold in both size and graceful elegance. Each of the buildings looked to be made of stone, but they weren’t boxy and square like the brick buildings at home. They were all smooth, twisting and twirling as they rose into the air. It was as if each one had been chiseled into absolute perfection under the loving hands of thousands of artists.
“It’s so beautiful,” I exhaled, barely able to tear my eyes away from the cityscape.
“Just wait until you see Wolfrest’s capital. It’s even more stunning,” Nylian said behind me.
My heart tripped over itself at the thought of going to Wolfrest and seeing Nylian’s home with my own eyes. But it made sense. If I were to see this through to the end, Nylian would need to return home with proof of who’d arranged for Orian’s murder. Only then could he clear his name and reclaim his old life.
“I can’t wait,” I replied, smiling under my veil. “I’m sure I’m going to love it.”
“You’ll be lucky if I ever let you leave it,” Nylian muttered under his breath.
“What?” I jerked about to look at him, just to make sure I’d heard him correctly. But Nylian’s hand shot out to catch my shoulder and force me to face forward again.
“I said pay attention to where you’re going and follow the crowd. We’re going with Plan A. Stick close to me.”
That was not what he’d said. However, this wasn’t a great time to discuss Nylian’s possible kidnapping proclivities. I’d thought Plan A was to escape during the night from the warehouse, which was the better option, since it meant not relying on Jasper’s magic.
So, naturally, all things went to hell because Jasper hadn’t gotten the memo that we didn’t need his magic. Or maybe Adeline had changed the script without telling us. Either way, it wasn’t good.