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)
Shadow’s Peak is notorious for its sharp, jagged rocks, bumpy trails, and ominous caves. For the most part, only teenagers venture this way, sparking bonfires and getting drunk off wine and whatever else they can get their hands on. Even Killian, Rowan, and I used to come near Shadow’s Peak, proving how brave we were to get near it. We never ventured into it though. Hardly anyone does. Shadow’s Peak is no place to party. There are things that lurk in the night here, and I’m not talking bears or wolves. No, there have been stories about literal monsters who drift in and out of this place, just like Rukane Forest. It’s the most annoying thing having all our forests practically haunted in Blackwater. Fortunately, many people are smart enough to stay away, minus the rebellious few. Shadow’s Peak isn’t barricaded like Rukane, but it still holds a mystery I can’t explain.
Many of the tales mentioned how the monsters were made by vengeful Mythics. These monsters were human at one point, who fed on animals and eventually began to feed on humans, devouring them limb from limb like wicked carnivores. When I took over Blackwater, I made it my mission to send fleets into Shadow’s Peak to make sure there were no lurking monsters and that my people could enter this area safely if need be. They never found any monsters, but I get the sense some are still out there…somewhere.
“Why would they have us meet here?” Killian snaps, waving his torch in the air. “Why not at the castle or the fucking tavern?” He narrows his eyes, craning his neck to see ahead.
“Because they don’t want to be seen,” I answer.
“It’s creeping me out,” Rowan mumbles, holding out his torch and peering around. His eyes dart around the darkness. “Where the hell are they anyway? The sooner we get out of here, the better. The last thing any of us needs to be going up against is one of those blood-sucking monsters.”
“Those stories are fake,” Killian grumbles, but that doesn’t stop his eyes surfing the area.
A crackle sounds in the distance, followed by a loud snap, and Rowan whirls around with the gun he loaded with Luxor Ash bullets. He points it in the direction the noise came from, his breaths quickening. My gun is already in hand, chin tipping, eyes narrowed. It’s hard to see past the light of the torches. There’s nothing but darkness, and with the roar of the distant ocean, we can only hear so much.
“There.” Killian points, and three figures appear. They float over the jagged tops of the mountains, their lengthy silver cloaks billowing with the wind. They follow the light of our torches, mouths turned down. It’s The Council, also known as Callista, Arie, and that shithead Vassilis.
They land several feet away from us, their silver eyes shifting among the three of us.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to see your face until after your journey to Selah,” Callista announces, taking a minor step forward.
“Oh, don’t be that way, Callista. I’m certain my face is much better to look at than that asshole brother of yours.” My eyes snap to Vassilis, and an immediate growl erupts from his body. Rowan can’t help stifling a laugh. “Let’s get this over with. Why did you have us meet here?”
“We had to be sure you weren’t followed and that you’re not being watched. This is a gray area and is hardly ever surveilled by the Regals.” Callista’s silver eyes drag from the top of my head down to my feet. They flash a heated silver, then cool again. She’s reading me.
“Watched by whom?” I ask.
The silver of her eyes seems to darken, muting in color. “The Regals.”
“And why would the Regals be watching me?” I ask, clinging to obliviousness.
“Oh, kill it with your bloody arrogance!” Vassilis snaps, taking a giant leap forward. “We heard through the winds that you were with Hassha in Kessel and that Korah is the reason Decius has been defeated. You think we’re imbeciles? That we wouldn’t find out? You forget we are aware of many things!”
“I assumed you would figure it out, but I don’t see how any of that matters or what it has to do with me,” I respond calmly, and I can tell the calmness in my voice is really getting under Vassilis’ skin by the way he grimaces.
“It matters much more than you think, Monarch Harlow,” Ares responds.
“What my brothers are trying to say is this changes everything we had planned for your trip to Selah,” Callista says. “With the Regals once again making their presence known, we can’t be sure about their intentions, nor can we ask them, seeing as they are above us...in a sense.” Her face tightens, nostrils flaring, as if she hates the idea of anyone being above her. How terrible that is for her ego.