Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
His tone carries more authority than I’ve ever heard him speak with, and it makes me feel a little scared of him.
Another man comes up behind Brenna and places his hand on her shoulder. Her head whips around, and I almost think she’s going to attack him, but then she immediately calms down at the sight of him.
“Brenna, this is a time to be happy,” he whispers to her.
She frowns and shakes her head. It looks like she wants to go against him.
He slips his arm around her waist and gives me a warm smile. “Peace be, Alchera. Welcome home.” His eyes flick to Raighne, and he nods. “Brother. It’s good to see you again.”
Raighne’s fingers tighten around mine. “Finian,” he mutters. “Control your charge.”
Finian is his brother and Brenna’s guardian?
I’m surprised when Finian nods and Brenna actually allows him to pull her away. I watch as they whisper to each other.
“What the hell just happened?” I mutter, stunned by the altercation.
“Brenna will come around. She just needs time to adjust,” Raighne says as if all that didn’t just go down.
“She’s been here all along.” I let out a bitter chuckle. “Adjust to what?”
My sister obviously has some serious issues with me, and it makes hurt blossom in my chest.
This wasn’t the family reunion I wanted.
“You’ll both get past this. It’s Brenna’s destiny to assist you, and she feels it’s beneath her. She and Finian will join us when we go to retrieve the chosen ten.”
“By the looks of things, that’s going to be fun,” I mutter sarcastically.
Raighne leads me to a tent that’s situated next to an old oak tree.
“Brenna is also responsible for training you in combat,” Raighne says, dropping a bomb between us.
My eyebrows fly up, and I glance at him. “It looks more like she wants to kill instead of train me.”
“She’s just emotional from receiving her destiny, but she’ll calm down, and hopefully, you can become friends.” Even he sounds doubtful. “Concentrate on the present and leave the future for later.”
I shake my head, highly doubting that will happen.
Chapter 9
Alchera
The tent is much bigger inside than it looks from the outside.
There’s a room with wooden chairs situated around a coffee table. Brown and cream-colored pillows and soft-looking quilts add warmth to the otherwise bland decor.
We walk further into the tent, which opens into a smaller space with a bed.
Just seeing the covers and pillows, exhaustion washes through me.
All I want to do is sleep until this nightmare ends.
On one side of the room stands a tub and sink. There’s also a cupboard beside a window, a pattern of flowers and vines carved into the wood.
“This will be your home while we train,” Raighne informs me.
I glance around again and say, “Thanks.”
“My living quarters is next to yours. Your clothes are in the cupboard, and your aide will be here shortly with something to eat.”
Nodding, I turn to face him.
For a moment, my anger and heartache were forgotten with all the information that was dumped on me, but the emotions quickly return when I meet his eyes.
Exhausted to my core, I whisper, “I’d like to be alone.”
Raighne nods, his eyes drifting over my face with worry still etched deep into his features, then he tells me, “Tomorrow will be very busy, so I suggest you get to bed early.”
I stand frozen like an idiot when he leans down, his hand wrapping around the side of my neck. He presses a kiss to my forehead, then says, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
I hate when a fluttering explodes in my stomach, and I clench my jaw as I watch him leave.
Staring at the doorway, I shake my head.
You have to get over the unwanted feelings you have for the man.
Finally alone, I let out a heavy breath and glance around the room that will be my home for the unforeseeable future.
I still can’t process everything that’s happened and feel utterly overwhelmed.
Sighing, I walk to the cupboard, and when I open it, I find a few pairs of leather outfits and boots.
God, I’m going to miss jeans and sneakers.
When I take an outfit from the cupboard, I notice it’s nothing but a short skirt and a leather top similar to the one Brenna wore.
Hell no. You won’t get me dead in this.
On closer inspection I see the bottoms are a cross between a skirt and hot pants.
I throw the clothes back into the cupboard, and walking to the sink, I pick up the decanter and pour some water out into the bowl. Scooping water into my hands, I splash it over my face before grabbing the towel.
As I pat my skin dry, I mutter, “You’re not in Steamboat Springs anymore, that’s for sure.”
My eyes lock on my reflection in the mirror, and I gasp.
The sparkling emerald green eyes staring back at me and black hair with silver streaks look foreign. Never mind the fact that I’m three years older.