Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
For the now, at least, this was over.
For Horatia. For Cornelia. For Domitia. For Aelia.
And for himself.
He turned and reached his hand to Elena.
She took it.
“Enjoy this frippery!” Gallienus shouted. “I will have it all torn down and it will burn while your Nadirii watches your head leave your body as you kneel on the gallows and the blade falls. This before she is enjoyed by every lord of this realm.”
His body tightened, but her hand squeezed his and his gaze caught hers.
When it did, his grip relaxed.
“Felix has called first go!” Gallienus bellowed, sounding like he was hollering at the same time struggling.
“Ignore it,” Elena whispered.
Ignore that?
Not on her life.
He turned to a Citadel guard. “Arrest Lord Felix Edgar of the Gairn Plain on suspicion of treason and making a threat against the person of the Princess Regent.”
“Do not!” Edgar shouted. “For you cannot! You have no evidence of this!”
“You were accused in my own throne room,” Cassius told him then looked to the back toward where his father was being led out. “Would you like to carry on? It would be most helpful.”
“To hell with you, Cassius Laird!” his father called from where he was nearly out the door. “I disown you!”
“Thank the gods, I am finally fatherless,” Cassius said loudly, and heard a few manly chuckles and nervous feminine twitters.
“Cass,” Elena said, standing steadfast and not allowing him to guide her to the end of the dais.
“Let us go,” he murmured.
“Cass!” she said his name more urgently.
He looked to her.
Then he aimed his attention where hers was and saw a Nadirii fighting to get through the crowd.
Elena had a number of Nadirii warriors with her.
This one he did not recognize.
In the end, it was his princess who led him from the dais in order to meet her Nadirii sister.
Jasmine and Hera stayed at her back, his men at their posts, which meant Mac was at his.
“What is it, Peg?” she asked when they made the Nadirii who Cassius noted looked travel worn.
“I…” the woman began, glanced at Cassius, then at Elena, “Well, my sister, I am here for your return message to our queen should your bird not make it.”
“My return message about what?” Elena asked, her voice reedy, her regard fixed on the female warrior. “I have not had a bird from mother in some time.”
The Nadirii appeared surprised.
Then concerned.
“We made Kilcree Break. We…” she trailed off to look about her before she said, “We should have privacy.”
Gods damn it.
Cassius communicated with his gaze to a variety of people before he started to lead his princess from the room.
“I demand to be released, Prince Cassius,” a male voice called angrily.
Cassius halted abruptly and looked to Lord Felix. “When your militia surrenders themselves to my army, and you, and they kneel allegiance to me and my regency, that will happen. Before then, you will enjoy the views from the Bailey.”
And with that, he pulled Ellie out of the room.
They were in the sitting room with the red cushions.
And Cassius had long since decided Elena was right.
Those cushions were a nice shock of color.
“Am I the only one who thinks they should have at it and leave a trail of blood and piles of bodies in their wake?” Mac asked the room at large.
“No,” Jazz replied.
“Yes,” Ian clipped.
Cassius sat in an armchair, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Elena sat on the arm of his chair, and it was unfortunate her arse in that gown was that close and he could not enjoy it by pulling it into his lap.
“This was not a good bird to go astray,” Hera murmured.
“Otho was found?”
At Nero’s quiet question, Cassius dropped his hand and looked to the Nadirii warrior, Peg.
“The bodies were preserved as best we could, boxed, and entered into the earth,” Peg answered. “We did this because we did not have the warriors to spare to transport them here. And I am sorry, Your Grace,” she aimed this at Cassius, “we do not know much of your gods, but we asked our goddess to bless them until this sacrament could be made by your own.”
“We’ll get them and return them to their families,” Cassius muttered. “And thank you for your care of them.”
She dipped her chin to him before she continued, her gaze moving to Elena, “Our trackers picked up a trail, it was hard to miss. Apparently, Zees enjoy leaving breadcrumbs. It was heading north. I know no more, my princess. I just know that Queen Ophelia led them that way.”
“Do you find it odd we have received no raven since?” Cassius asked Elena’s profile, for she was regarding Peg wearing a pensive expression.
She shook her head and looked down at him. “I find it hopeful.”
Cassius nearly smiled.
Of course she did.
“She would send word if there was word to be sent,” Elena finished.