Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“Forgive him,” Melora stated, stepping in as suave as always. Her hair was slicked back, and the blank pants suit was so low cut it revealed tattooed words in a language I didn’t know, under the corner of her left breast. Her eyes shifted to me. “We’ve all been so concerned over your health, sister. Theseus has been very greedy and would not allow anyone but Father near you while you slept.”
“He’s never been good at sharing.” Ulrik made a face.
“And yet you somehow manage to get what you desire. Did I not tell you all that I would bring her when she awoke and was ready?” Theseus grumbled.
“Knowing you, you’d make sure she was never ready, so you could keep her to herself. If not for her hunger we would not have even known she had awakened,” Melora stated and looked at me. “How long have you been awake?”
“Just now,” I lied and apparently not well because both she and Ulrik grinned.
“You are already covering for him, sister?” Ulrik laughed. “You must work on your lying, sister. We are very good at reading the truth.”
“I was under the impression that when you apologized, Melora that you meant to take him away. I see you are in league with him,” Theseus replied.
She smiled wildly and shrugged innocently.
“You let him do what he wants because it’s what you want to do, too, and then you apologize, pretending as if you just couldn’t stop him,” I said, looking between them carefully.
Ulrik’s blond eyebrow lifted. “Well, you are smart.”
“Thank you, and Theseus is right. I don’t think I’m quite ready for company.” My hands tingled. “So, as you came, is as you shall go with a gentle breeze and a slight flow.”
None of the windows where opened, but nevertheless, the wind came, and like they were on ice, the wind pushed them back out of the room.
“What!”
“Hey!”
“This is amazing!” They both called out as they pushed out of the room. They stumbled and had to hold on to each other just before looking over to me.
But I looked at Theseus. “Would you like to say any parting words?”
“We shall see you later, brother.” He nodded at him. “Sister.”
And with the flick of my wrist, the door slammed in their faces. It was only then that Theseus looked at me, grinning like a schoolboy. “If you can teach me but only one spell in life, let it be that one.”
“Impressive right?” I grinned, lifting my hands. “I didn’t even need the voice in my head for that. I just knew I could.”
“Though I’m glad you did so.” He turned fully to me. “Why did you do so?”
I shrugged. “I’m going to take a shower.”
“Very well, do not tell me,” he stated, pointing to the bathroom in his room. “I will just happily assume it is because you wish to be alone with me longer still.”
I laughed, holding up my head as I walked to the door. Grabbing it, I turned back around and gave him the most obvious shrug and smile I could. “Maybe you’re right, or maybe I just don’t want to be entertainment right now and plan to spend the rest of my day in here…alone.”
He stared at me for a long time before saying, “I’ll cut the hot water.”
“What?” I stuttered, surprised by his pettiness.
“You enjoy the hot showers. If you are using it to avoid my company, I shall cut the hot water.”
“That is childish and manipulative!”
He grinned and shrugged. “What can I say? You bring out the best and worst in me.”
I flicked my wrist again, closing the door in his face. The door slammed, and yet the grin on my face was wide. He was ridiculous, and I liked it.
I did want to spend more time with him.
Chapter 31
When I came out of the bathroom after an hour, a towel over my head, the first thing I saw was his shirtless back. He sat on the balcony in the full sunlight in front of a canvas, sketching carefully, his hands covered in pencil markings. Like a bee to the first flower of spring, I gravitated over before I even realized I’d done it and glanced over his shoulder. I knew the flow and the style of the clothes well. “What myth or scene is this?”
“It is neither.” He wasn’t even a little bit disturbed by my closeness or my prying. He lifted his hand and sat back a bit, tilting his head to the side to look it over.
“It looks like the typical classic Greek painting. It’s a banquet, right?” I asked; so much of this period was weddings, banquets, or wars. I tilted my head to the side, looking at it again. Obviously, he wasn’t done, but something was interesting or odd. I wasn’t sure yet. I pointed to the man in the center. “This man sort of looks like your father.”