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)
And again.
And again.
“You’re a fool!” Korah yells. “You were stupid to believe she’d ever help you!”
Callista falls to her stomach with a loud smack on the frigid waters. She’s close to the shoreline, water splashing onto one side of her bruised face.
“She said she’d give us everything—that she’d make us as powerful as Regals,” Callista calls out with a shaky voice.
“And you believed that?” Korah retorts. “She doesn’t have the capability to give anyone the power of a Regal unless one of The Regals makes a sacrifice!”
“I took her word! She guided us,” Callista cries. “For years, she spoke to us.”
“Yes, guided you straight to your demise. She doesn’t care about any of her creations.” Korah marches away from her and locks eyes on me. “Stay here,” she demands, then she flies toward the castle.
In a matter of seconds, she returns, and she’s not empty handed. Covered in soot and coughing is the man my heart knows all too well.
“Caz! Oh my God!” I scramble to my feet as relief floods me. When I crash into him, we topple sideways, bumping into a boulder.
“Oi, Willow,” he breathes, clutching my face. He kisses me repeatedly, dropping love on my cheeks, the tip of my nose, my forehead, my lips. “I looked all over that bloody castle for you.”
“You shouldn’t have done that. You’d have burned with it, Caz,” I whisper, eyes full of tears.
“I don’t care,” he asserts. “I knew you were in there somewhere, and I wasn’t leaving until I found you.”
“Well, you have her now,” Korah snaps at him. “Get on your ship and return to Blackwater. Now.” She tips her chin, peering up at the castle. “Selah is still around. I can sense her. Your ship will be protected during your journey.”
I let go of Caz to walk closer to Korah. “Don’t think that just because you saved our lives right now doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten that you helped kill my brother.”
Korah’s mouth clamps shut, and oddly, her eyes sadden. She looks over my shoulder, throat bobbing. “We spared him.”
“You murdered him,” I shoot back through gritted teeth.
She snaps her colored gaze to mine and steels her jaw. “Do you think that is what I wanted for him? All the sacrifices that have been made for the Cold Tethered and you—” Once again, her mouth snaps shut and she backs away, angrily shaking her head. “None of that matters anymore. I’m sorry about Warren, and you can be angry with me and Hassha all you want, but right now we need you alive.” She shifts her attention to Caz. “I need you both alive, so from now on, you’ll do exactly as I say. Even if it doesn’t make sense, even if you hate me to the depths of your souls, you’ll do it because Hassha and I are the only beings here who can help you. Is that understood?”
Out of stubbornness, I say nothing in return.
Caz meets at my side. “Yes. But no more beating around the bush. I expect you and Hassha to be completely transparent with us from now on.”
Korah’s mouth forms into a thin line before she provides him a curt nod. Done with us, she turns away and says, “Make your way back to Blackwater right now.”
“What about her?” Killian asks, pointing an agitated thumb at Callista.
A faint smirk appears on Korah’s lips as she cuts her eyes to the silver-eyed woman crawling on all fours. “Don’t worry about her. I’ll make sure she gets what she deserves.”
“Good. Oh, and by the way, Callista,” Caz calls, stepping closer to the shore. Callista picks her head up, her silver hair drenched with sea water as she glares at Caz. “I killed your snake of a brother.”
Callista blanches, the remaining color draining from her face. “Meanwhile, I spared your mate,” she grumbles.
“Yes, right after you were stabbed in the back by the one you loved most. You sought redemption, but it was a futile effort. None of us forgive you.” Caz’s nostrils flare as he steps even closer. He has that murderous look in his eyes, and I know the closer he gets to her, the more likely he’ll kill her.
Before he can reach her though, Korah presses a firm hand to his chest.
“I said return to Blackwater.” The Regal’s eyes spark as they stare into his. “I will handle her.”
He holds Callista’s gaze a few seconds longer before focusing on Korah. Taking a step back, he clenches his jaw and inhales deeply before exhaling.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Korah snatches Callista up by her cape, and they fly toward the burning castle.
I have no idea what she plans to do, and frankly, I don’t care. All I want right now is to get out of this frozen territory and return to some kind of normalcy.