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 stare into his eyes, thinking of all the ways I can kill him until Killian clears his throat.
“I’ve got her, brother,” Killian says. “Don’t you worry.”
Fuck. I haven’t felt at a loss like this since my mother died.
“Let’s go,” Callista orders, taking a step back.
Arie guides Killian to the center of the room as he remains in those invisible restraints. His feet are a few inches above the floor as he grunts, still trying to break himself loose.
Vassilis holds on to Willow’s arm with a vise grip. I want to chop off his hand, gouge out his eyes, cut off his fucking head. I want to murder that son of a bitch in every way imaginable, and I will. I mean that.
“Everything will be okay,” Willow calls as Vassilis wrangles her backward.
“I’m so sorry, Willow. I’ll get you out of there as soon as possible. I promise.”
She gives me a weak smile, a tear sliding down her cheek. “I love you so much,” she breathes.
I want to reach for her, beg them to at least let me hold her again.
Let me hug her.
Kiss her.
Be with her for just a second.
But it’s too late.
The Council vanishes from the room, taking my mate and my cousin with them.
TWENTY
THE REGALS
The turquoise water sparkles beneath golden streaks of sunlight as the laughter of children bounces in the air.
Sitting at the shore, Hassha watches her daughters play knee deep in the sea, their hair damp and their spirits high.
All she wants for them is a safe place. A refuge. Yet she can’t help feeling like the peace she’s built will be obliterated sooner rather than later.
“Mum, I found another one!” Minka shrieks as she sloshes through the water. Her white braids cling to her back as she rushes across the sand to reach Hassha, handing her a green sea star. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she asks, eyeing her.
“It is very beautiful,” Hassha says, watching the sea star wriggle in her hand. “Why don’t you take it back to the water? Let it live?”
“Yes, mum!” Minka collects the sea star and dashes away.
When she’s back to playing, Hassha says, “There is nothing wrong with me. I’m only thinking.” Turning her head, she puts her attention on Milandra who stands beneath a palm tree with a fruit in hand.
“You know I hate it when you read my mind,” Milandra says, walking toward her queen. She sits cross-legged beside her, a rare sight for even Hassha to see. Milandra never sits. She’s always on guard, even when there is no danger. “I just worry about you, your majesty. I’ve never seen you so…still.”
Hassha can’t help the laugh that tumbles out of her. All these years, she thought she was being still.
This sort of stillness is different though, Hassha thinks. She’s still inside is what Milandra means.
Quiet.
But only because she wishes not to reveal her true demeanor.
Worry.
Frustration.
Fear for the lives of her people.
“The last person you should be worried about is me.” Hassha pats Milandra’s hand with a warm smile.
“Is there something else I should be worried about?”
The Regal looks into Milandra’s eyes, wishing she could answer that. At this point, Hassha can smell the danger. She can sense it, even from thousands of miles away.
As the thought occurs, the sky darkens.
She peers up as a cloud appears before the sun, then she swallows and closes her eyes, attempting to push the cloud away. The cloud is stubborn, just like her feelings.
It won’t budge, and it soon becomes bloated with a gray underbelly. The rain starts as a drizzle, and she hears the girls whine from the ocean with their friends.
“Mum, please!” Maia calls.
“Just a few more minutes!” Minka pleads.
Hassha opens her eyes and tips her chin to glare at the cloud. “Go,” she commands. Still, it doesn’t budge. Sighing, she caves and looks to the twins’ caretaker. “Take them to be washed, Carra.”
Minka and Maia whine, of course, and Hassha smiles, apologizing with her eyes. When the shore is clear and the only person left is Milandra, Hassha feels a change in the air.
Her thick braid flips over her shoulder as she looks back and spots someone trailing the shoreline. A smile graces her lips when she sees its Korah.
“Should I follow, your majesty?” Milandra asks, looking from her queen to the queen’s sister.
“No. Give me just a moment.” Standing, Hassha makes her way to her sister with a broad smile. “Every time you leave this island, I think you won’t come back,” she says as Korah approaches.
“A part of me wishes I hadn’t.” Korah huffs a laugh. “I only went for a fly. Needed some air and to restore my energy after leaving Blackwater.”
“Willow. Is she okay?”
“Yes. But she’ll want Warren’s ashes.”
Hassha looks away, focusing on the ocean that’s now dark blue. “That can be arranged.”
“This will tear her up inside when she feels it again,” Korah says. “If I could just tell her—”