Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
My heart broke when I realized what he truly wanted. “If we do this, we could save a lot of innocent people, Your Highness.”
Her eyes didn’t shift back to me. “The dead are not my responsibility.”
“But among those dead are Runes,” I said. “And dead or alive, they’re your responsibility.”
She turned to look at me again. A long stare ensued.
“The only reason she cares is because she’s sleeping with him.” Ian shared business that wasn’t his own and stabbed me in the back. It was out of character, so his emotional turmoil must have been responsible for his betrayal.
I didn’t refute the accusation.
Queen Rolfe’s stare hardened slightly more, her disapproval written on her face. “You sleep with the enemy.”
“Well, Huntley is married to the enemy, so anything goes, apparently.” Gods, she was my half sister, even looked like me. It was so fucked up.
It was clear Queen Rolfe rejected that statement, tightness appearing around her lips. “Ivory is the Queen of the Kingdoms now. HeartHolme still stands because she healed the dragons and brought them to the fight. You would do well to remember that.”
I was in disbelief. Sheer, unbearable disbelief. “I’ve done nothing but serve HeartHolme since I could walk. I’ve outfitted our soldiers with the weapons that have kept us alive this past decade. I went behind enemy lines to retrieve the Ice and risked my soul in the process. I’ve built your armor with my own hands. I’ve built armor for two dragons. My life has been in service to your reign, my loyalty unquestioned, and you’ve never once looked at me like I’m anything more than your biggest regret. I’m your fucking daughter, but you still look at me like a damn rat.”
Bastian turned his head to regard me, his blue eyes still with sadness.
All of Ian’s anger disappeared, and his face immediately tightened as if he regretted instigating the entire thing.
Queen Rolfe was the only one who had no reaction. No reaction whatsoever.
Why did I expect that to ever change? “Bastian will retrieve the twelve allies we promised asylum. He’ll also be able to give us an update on Necrosis. But I suspect we should prepare for war. It’s coming—whether it’ll arrive tomorrow or a week from tomorrow.” Without waiting to be dismissed, I turned my back to the queen and walked off. I expected to depart alone, but I heard him behind me.
He walked beside me the whole way back to my home. His eyes turned to me from time to time, but he didn’t say anything.
The second I walked into my house, I headed straight for the booze. I grabbed an unopened bottle of scotch and poured two glasses, assuming he wouldn’t make me drink alone. I slid the glass across the counter where I stood then tilted my head back to down the entire contents in one go. My thumb swiped the drop from the corner of my mouth and caught the liquid my tongue had missed.
Bastian didn’t reach for his glass. He stood in front of me, his concerned eyes reserved for my face.
“A gentleman never makes a lady drink alone.”
“You aren’t a lady.” He lifted his glass to his lips anyway and took a drink. “You’re a woman—and that’s how I like you.” The glass returned to the counter, and he stared me down once again, his eyes flicking back and forth subtly. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. The last thing I want is for you to feel bad for me.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s pussy shit.” I refilled my glass and took another drink.
“Feeling your feelings because I care about you is not pussy shit.” His voice was warm and thick like honey when it poured out of a bottle. “It’s not my place to have an opinion about Queen Rolfe’s behavior, but I have the right to feel your sorrow—and I do.”
“I don’t feel sorrow—”
“You don’t have to put up a front with me. I find this no-nonsense, no-bullshit attitude sexy as hell, but we’re past that. There’s more to you than meets the eye, and I can see all those layers now. It’s okay to be hurt. I would feel the same way.”
My eyes dropped back to my glass on the counter. It was easier to stare at the amber liquid sitting at the bottom than his arresting eyes. “Most of the time, I don’t care, but there are moments when I hope things will change. I’ve seen the affection she shows my brothers. She’s a good mother. There are times when I grow envious…and then resentful.” My fingers rested on the rim of the glass as I felt the ache in my chest. “But now she’s embraced Ivory like a daughter, and she still won’t look at me as anything less than dirt? It’s fucking bullshit.” I threw the glass against the wall and heard it shatter into a million pieces.