Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I glance at his arm, and then do a double-take. She's right. The wound is healing. Already, the angry red has faded to pink, as if the wound is weeks old instead of mere moments.
He tosses the paper towel into the trash can, washes his hands, and then returns to making sandwiches as if nothing happened. I watch him for several long moments as the wound heals completely, vanishing as if it were never there at all.
A thousand questions battle for dominance, but I don't know which is the most pressing. All of them seem urgent. All of them seem important.
"You were upset," he murmurs after a moment.
"What?"
"You were upset when you thought I was injured." His green eyes flicker to mine, emotion swirling through them. "You worried for me."
"I…" I trail off before the denial forms, unable to voice it. Instead, I shrug like it's not a big deal. "I'm still partially convinced you're a crazy person and this is all some story you've convinced yourself is real."
He sighs quietly. "It would be easier if it were."
"Yeah, I guess it would." My lips pull down into a frown as I face the dawning realization that I don't want this to be some dream or nightmare or made-up fairytale. I don't want to wake up to find out he was just a figment of my imagination.
Already, he's growing on me. He feels…important…to me. Because of the bond? I'm still not sure I believe that part—or that I want to believe it. But I can't deny that there's something growing between the two of us. It's like I'm staring at the sun with my eyes closed, its brightness beating against my eyelids. I can't see it, but I feel it all the same.
"Dax," Abigail says suddenly. "Something is wrong."
I glance at her to see her swaying on the stool, her face stark white. She's staring right at Dax, but I don't think she's seeing him. It's as if she's looking right through him, seeing something happening worlds away.
Every hair on my body stands on end, a cold chill ripping through me.
"Skíta!" Dax growls, dropping the loaf of bread as he launches himself over the island. He grabs her by the shoulders, gently lifting her from the stool. "Damrion! Kom inn hit!"
He lowers her to the floor, kneeling beside her.
"What can I do?" I ask as her eyes roll back in her head and she begins to thrash, fighting his hold. "How can I help?"
"Talk to her, elskan-ljós," Dax says. "Comfort her."
I kneel on her other side, reaching for her hand. "Abigail," I whisper. "It's Rissa. I'm right here." I run my other hand down her long braid as Damrion and Adriel rush into the room, their steps thunderous.
"Skíta," Damrion growls, assessing the situation in one look. He falls to his knees beside Dax. "What happened?"
"Same as always. She was fine one minute and having a vision the next."
"I was really glad to see you here today," I tell Abigail, tuning Dax and his brothers out. "Um, I was pretty sure that Dax kidnapped me. But I guess he probably didn't if he brought me here. Unless he kidnapped you, too. But you don't strike me as the type who lets herself get kidnapped. You're kind of a bad ass." I glance up to see Adriel watching me, that one black eye focused on me.
He doesn't seem so hostile now. In fact, when our gazes meet, he inclines his head slightly, something curiously like…gratitude in his expression.
I quickly avert my gaze back to Abigail as a keening cry escapes her lips. She's so pale. Her muscles contort as she thrashes, held down by Dax and Damrion. Whatever she's going through can't be easy. It has to hurt.
Is it always like this?
She's been so happy and full of life since I came downstairs. She speaks of the visions as if they're simply a part of who she is, as if they're a gift. She didn't complain about them. Not even about this part.
Her courage helps me find a little of my own. If she can face this and still find reasons to laugh and smile, then I can face what's coming my way too. If it means protecting people like her and Dax, I have to face it. I may be a coward at heart, but I'm not heartless. I understand sacrifice. And this secret Fae town hidden deep within the mountains stands in testament to the sacrifices Dax and the Fae have made for a long, long time. Perhaps longer than I'll ever understand.
I'm not convinced I am who they think I am. But so long as I'm here, I'll help. What other choice is there?
Abigail's entire body goes rigid, a scream ripped from deep within her throat.
Tears leak from the corners of my eyes.