Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I reached out with a trembling hand and grazed my fingertips over an image of the king. In the darkest recesses of my mind, I heard my mother whisper, It’s not enough to know your enemy, darling. You must first learn your birthright.
A memory?
Leona set her sights on the painted king. “Do you think this has something to do with the prophecy?”
Maybe. The king’s sacrifice—and that’s what it looked to be—negatively affected the monstra. Clearly. I pressed a hand over my belly. Perhaps his only child was supposed to repeat his act.
“Excuse me.” Not ready to answer any questions, I stalked off. The girls stayed behind, but Jasher followed, his footsteps offering a soft alert.
I didn’t stop until I reached a cabana hidden in the corner beyond a row of bushes and trees. The structure looked upon a private pool with a waterfall and hot spring. Steam curled from the surface, illuminated by a sun descending on the horizon. Varying shades of pink, purple, blue, and gold spilled over the sky, painting the hideaway as vividly as my mother painted those murals.
A lovely spot for a meltdown.
Screams of frustration, confusion, helplessness, and homesickness lodged in the back of my throat, cutting off my airway. I fought for every breath. For control.
Jasher dropped the pack and wrapped his arms around me from behind, a solid presence at my back. A comfort as his scent and heat formed a force field around us.
We stood in silence for a long while. Part of me expected Iris to rise from the water at any moment. Another part of me hoped she did. As desperate as I felt, I might beat answers out of the maiden who absolutely knew more about the situation than she’d let on.
Jasher rested his chin on the top of my head. “Tell me how to comfort you, and I’ll do it.”
Compassion from the Tinman. I didn’t deserve it, or him.
As soon as I was able, I pushed a response from my tongue. “Stop being nice to me.” I spun, facing him. “You don’t know…I haven’t told you…” Squeezing my eyes shut, I rested my forehead against his sternum. “The storm brought me to Hakeldama inside a chapel, and that chapel landed on an executioner, killing him. I didn’t see his face, only his boots. They were the same as yours. What if I killed your brother, Jasher?”
He cupped my jaw and lifted my face, caressing his thumbs over my cheeks, gentle, so gentle. A frown marred his countenance. “This is what you wished to tell me?”
The only thing I could do at the moment? Nod.
Sunset irises glowing, he explained in the softest of tones, “Even if the victim were my brother, which it isn’t, you wouldn’t be at fault. You didn’t steer the chapel.”
“It wasn’t Anders?” A smidgen of hope peek from my upset. For a man who thought he needed help giving comfort, he certainly did an excellent job on his own. “You’re sure?”
He brushed the tip of his nose against mine. “I’m sure.”
“How?”
“I just am.” He said no more, but worry infiltrated his expression, as if he feared I might start pushing, and he would react, ruining the special moment.
Okay, so, he clearly had a secret of his own. Which wasn’t an indication of betrayal. Everything depended on the secret and the purpose behind it. Maybe, for whatever reason, he dreaded my reaction, as I had dreaded his. Perhaps he’d promised his brother never to share the details of their connection. Or he hoped to avoid Patch and Leona overhearing. There were a thousand innocent motives. Bottom line? I either trusted Jasher or I didn’t. A truth that resurrected another matter.
“When we reach the next village,” he said, “I’ll get word to my commander, and he’ll send someone to discover who died.”
“Thank you.” His kindness lit a fuse deep inside me, torching my defenses. Every part of me wanted him to know how special every part of him was. “Here,” I said, removing the compass and anchoring the leather strap around his neck. “I want you to have this.”
He blinked down at me. “I don’t understand. We haven’t reached Lux City yet.”
“I know. But I believe you are honorable, and you’ll keep your end of the bargain, despite receiving payment beforehand.”
What little remained of his emotionless mask fell from his features, revealing gut-wrenching vulnerability. As if he’d never dared hope someone might see something of worth in him. As if he’d waited his entire life for such an outcome.
Without my defenses, things inside me cracked. Here, now, I didn’t care. Enough heaviness. After enduring days of turmoil and danger, and we deserved a break. What better location than this gorgeous oasis?
“Swim with me.” I kicked off my boots and lifted my arms, inviting him to remove my shirt. “We have a head start on the rebels, if any gave chase. We’ve got time.”