Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
The harpy gave a stiff nod. “You are.”
Eye-feasting? She admitted to liking the look of him? His chest puffed up. A conundrum he’d experienced often in her presence. “Will Lore’s spirit be able to materialize while her bones are encased?”
“Yes. Or no.” Neeka hiked her shoulders. “We’ll find out together.”
“But she won’t be harmed?”
“Not unless we shatter the orb.” Did she sound hopeful?
“My orbs are indestructible,” Daisy bragged, and Neeka pursed her lips.
“Very well.” He nodded. “We may proceed.”
“Why would I even consider doing this?” Another demand from the harpy.
“Rathbone has an excellent payment plan,” Neeka said, smiling so sweetly.
The corners of his lips twitched.
“You can pick between treasure, a kingdom to rule, or the death of an enemy. If you insist hard enough, he’ll give you all three.” Winking at him, she asked, “Isn’t that right, Red Thunder?”
“No,” he replied easily. “She’ll do it, or I’ll make her suffer in ways she cannot fathom.”
Neeka rolled her eyes. “Dude. Have you learned nothing from me? Threats don’t work with harpies.”
“She’s right,” Daisy said, giving him a look of disgust.
Were the two adversaries ganging up on him?
Daisy arched a brow. “I don’t want a treasure, don’t need a kingdom, and I’ve already killed my enemies.”
“Oh.” The oracle turned pensive before brightening. “How about I give you what you desire most, then?”
“And what is that?”
“A glimpse at your future. My ability is back online, and I’m already picking up signals.”
The harpy paled.
“That is what you’ve sought most of your life, isn’t it?” Neeka insisted.
How he enjoyed watching her. Nothing intimidated her. Always she pushed ahead, toppling mountains and raising valleys as required.
Daisy gave a stiff nod. “I accept your payment. But I’m staying in this realm with you until I find new digs. The big guy compromised my cottage.”
“Deal!” Neeka clapped and bounced, seeming genuinely thrilled. “Sister time! Our rooms will be side by side, and we’ll do all night gab sessions.”
Guess they were staying here longer than anticipated.
Cringing, the harpy stated, “I’ll expect to be ignored at all hours of the day and night.”
“No problem. You’ll hardly know I’m there when I paint your nails and style your hair. And now that that’s settled, we might as well get started.” Neeka closed her lids, ending the conversation as only she could.
Daisy shifted. If she made a move to attack while the oracle was distracted...
Growling, Rathbone flashed over, taking up a post behind Neeka to stare the harpy down. He didn’t care if he wasn’t supposed to peer into the female’s eyes. If she attempted to rearrange his molecular structure, well, let her try.
The harpy stared right back. But she didn’t strike at him.
Neeka scrunched her brows, muttering, “Come on, come on. Show me what I want to see.”
Having trouble? Rathbone cupped her shoulders. The contact startled her, but she relaxed as soon as he began massaging her tense muscles.
A moan escaped her, and she leaned into his touch. “Oh, yes. This is helping. If you stop, I just might ask Daisy to put a certain part of your anatomy in a small orb as well, if you know what I’m talking about.” She paused, then loudly added, “I’m talking about your penis.”
He fought a smile, even as heat poured through him, turning his veins into rivers of fire. In his lungs, air became steam. Sweat beaded his brow, and his zipper pulled taut.
He should walk away. Yes, he should.
But he didn’t. This time, he didn’t have the strength to let her go. Touching her felt right. It shifted things inside him. New things. Not purely sexual but wholly comforting. The massage continued.
His gaze slid to the throne, so close but so far. Did Lore’s skull glare at him?
“Mmm,” Neeka said, moaning again. “Don’t stop. I’m almost there.”
A groan rolled from the tip of his tongue. Those words...as seductive as the feel of her.
“Should I leave?” Daisy asked with a dry tone.
He glared at her.
“Oh, oh!” Neeka exclaimed. “I see you walking the shore of a peaceful stream. Water flows smoothly over golden rocks. Fish breech the surface, eager to glimpse you. Flowers bloom as you pass. Branches stretch in your direction.”
The harpy jolted as if she’d been punched in the solar plexus.
“But...” Neeka’s head tilted. Her expression pinched. “A glow is seeping from your pores. It’s slight at first but is steadily intensifying. Oh. Oh, wow. It’s bright. Too bright. Painfully bright.” She sucked in a breath. “The light extinguishes as quickly as it sparked, and a shimmer of stars falls to the ground. I’m searching, but I can’t find you anymore. You’re gone, and there’s no trace that you ever existed.”
“So nothing I’ve done stops it from happening.” The harpy’s shoulders slumped. Her gaze darted to Rathbone. “Don’t ask me any questions. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Neeka, who had no idea what the other female said, opened her eyes and straightened, gearing up to rapid-fire queries; he knew it, because he’d learned her. He trailed a knuckle along her nape, distracting her. Goose bumps rose over her flesh.