Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“I want you to at least take a nap before The Regals come hunting for us.” I study him in his rumpled clothes. His hair is all over the place, like he’s been running his fingers through it all night. “You look like shit.”
“Such sweet words from my darling mate,” he replies, stripping out of his shirt with a smirk. “I’ll start a fire.”
When the fire is roaring, the wolves are resting, and Caz and I are lying on the bed, I stroke his hair while he rests on my chest.
“I love listening to your heartbeat.” His voice is thick, on the verge of sleepiness.
I can’t help smiling. “Yeah?”
“Makes me feel safe.” He carries a hand over my bloated belly. “Can’t wait to hear this heartbeat too.”
“What about names?” I ask. “Do you have any in mind?”
“Hmm. Well, if it’s a girl, I’d love to name her after my mother. Her middle name was Iris.”
“Iris. That’s beautiful.” I gently scratch his scalp, and he moans. “What?” I laugh.
“You know I love it when you do that,” he drawls.
“If it’s a boy,” I say, still scratching. “Warren.”
“Oi,” he sighs. “Iris or Warren Harlow.”
I smile at that. Hearing the names out loud makes this feel all the more real.
“Sleep, Caspy.” I caress his earlobe with the pad of my thumb as he closes his eyes.
Minutes later, the tension leaves his body and he falls asleep.
SEVENTY-FOUR
CAZ
Something’s pounding.
The growls of wolves swell in the cabin, and I stir awake. Sitting up, I glance at Willow who is asleep right next to me.
The pounding sounds again.
The door.
“Willow, get up,” I whisper, shaking her awake.
She wakes up, disgruntled and confused. “What? What is it?”
“Someone’s here.” I march across the room, snatching my gun from the table. I check the chamber for bullets before slinking to the door.
Cerberus and Silvera bark at the door, and I sidle against the wall before stealing a look out of one of the windows.
“Who is it?” Willow whisper-hisses, her back pressed to the headboard.
When I spot tendrils of silvery hair billowing in the wind outside, I sigh and lower my gun to grip the doorknob.
“Why are you knocking?” I snap at Hassha when I swing the door open. “You could’ve just teleported your way inside.”
She stands on the other side, her head in a slight tilt. A short distance away are Milandra and another Kessel warrior.
“I didn’t want to interrupt the monarch and his mate. I know how wild and sexual you Tethered become when you are alone.”
Heat creeps up my neck, and I so badly want to fight the stupid embarrassment taking over me.
Willow climbs out of bed, laughing on her way to the door. “Hi, Hassha.”
The Regal smiles warmly. “Hello, Willow.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Need I remind you that there is a war happening in two days and you have yet to harness Yuri’s power?” Hassha takes a grand step back. “The distractions have come to an end. Everyone is practicing and preparing. There is a meadow not too far away, so let us go there. I will have you tapped in with Yuri and trained before Selah’s arrival.”
My eyes slide to Willow’s, and she hands me my shirt with a cheery smile. “Can I watch?” she asks, looking between us.
Hassha flashes a smile. “I insist.”
The sun is setting when we reach the meadow.
Trees with black tops surround us, and water trickles a short distance away. If I follow the sound of the water, it’ll take me to a bubbling creek.
I played there often as a child, balancing on wet stones and catching frogs while my mother washed clothes.
Hassha and I now stand in the middle of a meadow centered in the forest while her warriors stand under a shady tree a short distance away. Willow is with them, sitting on the grass with her legs crossed.
“Do you remember what I told you about your powers when we went to Vanora?” Hassha asks, circling me as she speaks. I don’t like the way she does it, walking around me like I’m prey. It doesn’t help that her eyes are burning bright blue and her hands are wrapped in flames.
“You told me a lot of things,” I mutter, watching her through the corner of my eye.
“Stop blocking Yuri and welcome him in.” Her voice is louder. “That fear you have of losing yourself in the process is useless and changes nothing about our fates.”
“Right. Look, Hassha, the way I see it—”
Blue light hurtles my way, and I duck just before it can hit me. It slams into a tree and sends it up in flames.
“What the fuck?” I turn my attention to Hassha again, but she’s no longer standing on the ground. She’s levitating.
“Do you think Selah will give you the chance to explain the way you see things?” She sends another fireball my way.