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’ve got fifteen grandchildren and they—” Boro’s sentence is abruptly cut off as something bumps into the ship and rocks it sideways.
I stumble, gripping the ledge as one of the crew members in the crow’s nest yells, “We’ve got incoming, Captain!”
Captain Boro grins at me as he allows one of the other crew members to take over the wheel. “Must be my lucky day.”
The ship rocks again, and with it, I feel a prickling in my mind. It’s familiar and, frankly, annoying.
I know exactly who is attacking the ship.
A blur of purple sweeps past the ship, and the whole thing comes to a screeching halt. I stagger forward, slamming into one of the posts and sliding as the ship careens frontward.
“Caspian!” Korah shouts.
“What the bloody trench is that?” Boro hollers as he hangs on to a thick rope.
The ship continues tipping. If I don’t jump now, I won’t make it. I push to a stand and rush toward one of the built-in benches with my bag to jump ship.
I plunge into the icy waters, gasping when I resurface. When I look back, the ship is still tilting forward. The crew is shouting, trying to get a handle on it. She’ll flip the ship right over and let them sink.
A buzzing noise sounds nearby, and I peer back as a speedboat makes its way toward me.
“Hurry! Get in!” Rowan shouts, bringing the boat to a stop next to me. I climb into the much smaller boat and drop to the floor, catching my breath.
Rowan wastes no time speeding off. As he goes, I sit up, and we pass the steel ship where Korah is using her hands and wielding her magic to dump everyone and everything off of it.
But she senses us, just like I knew she would. Just like I knew she would even before now, when the tracking spell from the Mythic I hired wore off. She told me the farther I got from the mainlands, the less she could keep me covered.
That’s why I had Rowan drop this boat a few miles back just in case there was an interference.
I stare into Korah’s blazing eyes as Rowan guides us toward Inferno Isle. As we zip by, only a few seconds from the island, she shouts my name again before letting the ship drop.
As quickly as she does, a beam of lavender light hurtles toward the speedboat and sends me and Rowan flying out of it.
TWENTY-SIX
WILLOW
For a second, I think I’m losing it.
I know I’m swelling with emotion and my heart aches, but there’s a panic rising in me as well.
This feeling doesn’t belong to me.
There’s a lurch in my chest.
My heart is racing.
I’m fearing for my own life.
Oh no. Something’s wrong with Caz.
I smash my lips together as I follow Sylvie through the corridors. Killian stands only a step or two behind me, keeping watch of our surroundings.
The corridors are massive, the dark areas between the columns providing ample opportunity for anyone or anything to hide.
I have no idea who all resides in this castle other than The Council and their servants, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there were things lurking in these hallways, slithering across the roof, or hiding in empty rooms.
“I can still feel Caz,” I whisper to Killian before Sylvie can reach a set of doors.
“Feel him?” Killian steps to my side. “How? I thought your connection to him was blocked.”
“I think our thoughts are, but I can feel him. Something isn’t right. He feels worried, panicked.” I glance into Killian’s brown eyes. “I think he’s made it to Inferno.”
Killian responds with a thick swallow, facing ahead again. “I should be there with him. He’ll never survive it.”
“We can’t think that way,” I murmur as we pass through another corridor. At the end of it, a warm, gold glow pours out from one of the openings. “Caz is smart. I’m sure he wouldn’t have gone without a plan.”
“Bet Rowan’s with him.” Killian scratches his eyebrow. “Hopefully Juniper isn’t. Nah. Caz wouldn’t let her join, no matter how much she begged.”
We’re bathed in the gold light as we pass through the opening. Ahead is a dining hall with a lengthy table and enough chairs for at least thirty people. Crystal chandeliers dangle from the ceiling, surrounded by floating candles.
The walls are bordered with silver and gold, and shockingly, there is no roof, only sky and low hanging clouds. The clouds are puffy and so close I feel like I can reach up and touch them. I probably could if I climbed on top of the table…and maybe stood on Killian’s shoulders.
Already seated at the table are two of The Council members, Callista and Arie. Both are dressed in silver cloaks and expensive clothing beneath.
They sit right next to each other at the center of the table, eyeing me and Killian when Sylvie steps out of our way.