Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“Don’t you dare question my loyalty!” Hassha roars, and though I don’t flinch, Willow gasps and backs away.
Hassha glares at me, her eyes lit in silvery flames. Her nostrils flare as she breathes raggedly through them. Of course, it doesn’t take those eyes long to cool and for her calm demeanor to be restored.
Silence thickens the cave as she draws in a deep breath, then exhales through her mouth.
I sigh. “I’m just saying that it feels like there’s much more to this than any of you are letting on and I don’t want to be stuck in the middle of it,” I murmur.
“Oh, Caspian. There is so much more. It is far beyond anything you will ever understand. Selah is my sister, yes, but she is not who you or The Council think she is. The less you know, the better. Trust me.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Hassha’s lips part. She studies me for a very long time, not blinking, breathing softly. It seems she’s about to say something until she clamps her mouth shut, places a hand on my shoulder, and says, “Don’t let your curiosity of Selah ruin everything you’ve built.”
“I can’t help feeling like a bloody puppet,” I grumble as she backs away. That causes her to freeze.
“You are far from a puppet. Do you not realize just how powerful you are?” She scoffs. “Honestly, your energy could tear down this entire cave and all of Blackwater if you wanted it to! You felt it last night, didn’t you? That power in your hands? It’s within you. If you truly learn how to use your gifts, just as your mother did, there is nothing you can’t do. But if you wake Selah, that energy will be gone, do you understand? It will be stripped away from you until you’re left to be nothing but ash.”
I feel a clench in my chest and glance at Willow, who is staring at Hassha, confused and slightly afraid.
“I must go, Caspian. Enjoy your life. Live it. Take pride in your Cold Tether and in all you do.” Her eyes shift to Willow, a complacent smile taking place. “We’ll take care of Warren and Danica and alert you when they’re ready to come back.”
“Hassha, I seriously think we should consider—”
Hassha turns her back to me and vanishes into thin air.
“Fuck!” I hiss, planting a hand on my hip. Willow moves closer to me. “There’s something going on here, Willow. I feel it in my bones. They’re all hiding something, and if we don’t figure it out, The Council is going to use us until they get what they want, while Hassha and Korah idly stand by, twiddling their fucking thumbs and living their untouchable lives.”
Willow releases a breath. “Maybe they won’t,” she offers. “There’s a reason The Council put a hold on that trip for now. They’re afraid of what the Regals will do now that they’re revealing themselves to commoners again.”
“We’re not just commoners though, don’t you see? We’re descendants of the Tethered, and whatever goes on with us also affects them. There is something much deeper at play here and not knowing is frustrating the hell out of me.” I swallow hard. “I need to do more studying. Talk to more people. Perhaps Alora will have a clearer idea of the history between all the Regals. I just…I can’t stand by with bated breath, waiting for The bloody Council to pop up again and whisk me off to my death. If push comes to shove, they will do it.”
“Then we’ll talk to Alora. But listen to me, Caz.” She collects my face in her hands, forcing my eyes on hers. “Right now, we don’t need to worry about it, okay? Let The Council’s fear of the Regals be our peace for now. If anything changes, we’ll know, and I have a feeling they’ll warn us. Hassha will sense it. I’m sure she’d tell us first.”
I shake my head. “You have too much faith in these Regals. You forget they stood by while all those Tethered couples from the past were murdered by Decius. They did nothing, Willow. Nothing. The only reason they helped us this time is because we found them and they were forced to face us. What makes you think they won’t let the same happen to us?”
Willow purses her lips, hesitating. “I—I don’t know. I just…I don’t think Hassha would do that. I know it sounds crazy, but I trust her. And Korah saved us, remember? She saved us from Decius and his tricks and returned to Vakeeli after so many years when she didn’t have to. I really think they want a change for the better, and whatever their reasons are for not waking Selah is probably because it won’t benefit us…or them. They know much more than we do. For all we know, Selah is no Regal at all. The history could be wrong. Trust me, I grew up in a world where the history is completely wrong. Turns out the people we thought were heroes, were never really heroes. Maybe the same applies here.” She holds my hand, kissing my knuckles. “Let it be, Caz. Sure, you can study and seek answers, but don’t allow this to stop us from living. Our lives will always be in danger because of things we can’t control. Let’s at least enjoy the parts of it we can. We have each other. We’re happy. I want more happiness with you.”