Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Mmmm… you taste good, Maddox.” Her hands press into my chest as she pouts. “How come you don’t visit me in Faere?”
I hate myself for doing it, but I let my regard move past Deandra to the dais where, sure enough, Zora is watching. Her face flames red that I caught her, but I don’t miss the daggers she shoots at me before turning away.
Just great.
I take Deandra by the upper arms and gently push her back. “I’ve been busy.”
“Well, make time,” she insists, waving her hand in Carrick’s and Amell’s direction. “These two succumbed to matrimony and are off the market, so…” Something seems to strike her, and she cuts a hard look to them. “You are both off the market, right? I mean, I don’t care if you’re married, but you might care.”
“Totally off the market,” Carrick says.
“Off the market,” Amell agrees quickly.
Deandra’s glittering eyes come back to me. “After this is over, come play with me in Faere. We can stay naked in my bed for a week.”
“As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to have to pass,” I reply, forcing myself not to look at Zora.
I know I shouldn’t give a fuck what she would think of Deandra coming on to me, but I do. After talking to Amell and having him put together the timeline of Zora’s crazy existence, I’ve got a clearer picture of why she holds herself so far in reserve and what I might need to do to breach it.
“Interesting you didn’t say you’d take a rain check,” Deandra muses, tapping a finger against her chin, then sliding her finger down her throat and chest in a vain attempt to draw not only my attention but Amell’s and Carrick’s as well.
When no one bites, she shrugs and glances back at the gods. “So, what’s with the summoning? I’ve never been invited here.”
“Me either,” Amell says in a gruff voice.
Amell, the most elite Dark Fae and king of the Underworld, and Deandra, the most elite Light Fae and queen of Faere, should rightfully hate each other. But the apocalypse changed all that. Kymaris, who ruled the Underworld, and Nimeyah, who ruled Faere, were both killed, and with those deaths went most of the eons-long grudges.
It doesn’t mean that Light and Dark Fae are ready to play nice, but at least the two rulers aren’t wanting to wage war against the opposite.
“Let’s begin,” a voice booms out. Cato, god of Nature, rolls a little thunder into it.
The gods move to the edge of the dais, and the demigods, along with Amell and Deandra, move in close to listen.
Cato makes a lowering motion with his hands and everyone falls silent. “Welcome all. The gods eagerly await to hear your matters of import. We’d like to welcome officially, for the first time, King Amell, steward of the Underworld, and Queen Deandra, ruler of Faere. We’ve summoned them today to discuss the current state of affairs between their two realms. After which, we’ll…”
“Cato has got to be hung like a racehorse as big as he is,” Deandra murmurs from my right.
I glance at her and can see she’s mentally undressing the god. Her words were no more than a low whisper to me, but Cato turns his golden regard to her as he continues to talk. She doesn’t look away, but what do I know? Maybe there’s a love match there.
I doubt it. Deandra only loves herself.
“Amell,” Cato says, looking his way, then back to Deandra. “Your realms are separated by a veil that has been breached before, allowing entry of Dark Fae into Faere. Those tears have been repaired, but one uprising in the Underworld has already been quelled. It’s entirely possible some type of assault is being planned on Faere. The purpose of calling you both here is to let you know that the gods will take no part in this potential war.”
Interest rumbles through the small crowd. Amell and Deandra exchange a glance.
It’s not that the gods don’t interfere.
They fucking meddle all the time. Hell, they create prophecies when they get bored only to jazz up their infinite lives.
But it’s definitely unusual for them to declare a hands-off policy before even knowing if there’s something to worry about.
“It’s our suggestion,” Circe says, and all attention moves to her, “that the two of you work closely together to share information and monitor the veil that separates your domains.”
“It’s a strong suggestion,” Onyx adds. “We will be displeased if the First Dimension is threatened again so soon after it’s regained its peaceful foothold in this universe. War between your lands puts the mortal realm in jeopardy.”
“It’s time for unity,” Veda says. “All the old grudges died with Kymaris and Nimeyah. It’s time to become allies.”
My regard turns to Zora. Each of the gods has spoken, but she remains silent. I’ve often thought the gods speak because they like the sound of their own voices. Zora isn’t like that which is why she could be holding her tongue. More than likely, she’s unsure whether she has the right to say anything, even though she’s as powerful as her siblings. To her credit, she keeps her beautiful eyes on the crowd, although she doesn’t look at me once.