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)
When they’re out of sight, Hassha sits next to me, facing the fire. The flames crackle, even more so when one of the women tosses more logs into it.
“My colony believes you’ve seen too much,” she states, eyes still forward. “We normally end the lives of men who see what Kessel provides.”
“Why?” I ask.
Hassha glances at me before focusing on the fire again. The flames dance in her multi-colored eyes. “Do you know that ever since Selah created the Tethered, men have tried dominating everything?”
I drop my gaze to the dirt. “Have they?”
“Yes. There are the gilded, who were an army of men at first before they slept with or raped women and had offspring with the same abilities. There is The Council, who were all men at first, as well as the appointed monarchs.” She presses her lips, as if agitated by the facts she’s presenting. “It’s fortunate a woman has finally taken over Vanora and still runs it now. But the man who ran it before that, he was just as bad as you and your father.”
“What makes you think I’m bad?”
“I read energies and thoughts. I normally avoid it, but I’ve had to tap into your mind to make sure you aren’t a threat.”
“And am I? A threat?” I ask.
She cuts her eyes at me. “I know you’ve done bad things. I know you’ve tortured many people, just to have your way, but no…I do not see you as a threat. But let me inform you that if you lay a finger on my daughters, or any of the women on my island, I will take your head myself. Decius be damned.”
I huff a laugh, nodding. Fair enough. “I don’t hurt women or children.”
“Yet?”
“Ever.”
She draws in a breath. “But you have hurt many people previously.” It’s a statement, not a question.
“Only when necessary.”
“Oh, please,” she scoffs. “Some of it was not necessary.”
I drop my gaze again. I’m not sure what she’s seeing or how deep she’s gone into my memories, but whatever she’s seen, I’m sure it’s what Korah saw too. Their fault for prodding around in my brain and digging between the cracks. My mind is no place to linger.
“When can I see Willow?” I ask, shifting the subject.
She stares at the fire again. “When she’s awake.”
“And when will that be?”
“Whenever she wakes.”
I release a slow breath. “We’re in a bit of a hurry.”
“Are you always so impatient?”
“She’s my mate, and Decius is trying to kill us. Right now, my patience is very slim.”
“If you think Decius will ever come here to Kessel, he won’t. His energy is useless here, and if he ever manages to set foot on my island, he’s aware that I will kill him on sight.”
“Why don’t you just kill him now? Why wait for him to possibly attack one day?”
“There is no need. He is not a threat to me or my people. He cannot penetrate my energy.”
“So you’ve been okay with him robbing Tethered mates of their souls?” I demand.
“I suggest you remove the bass from your voice,” she warns, and I straighten my back, softening my shoulders. She is right. I’m in her territory. Hell, I’m in her world.
“I apologize. I just can’t wrap my mind around this Decius thing, or the fact that the Regals are letting him do as he pleases. What if one of your daughters grows to have a Tether? Then what? Because you know he’s not just after Cold Tethers anymore, right? He’s after any Tether he can find, even the commoners, so long as it gives him some sort of energy.”
“It’s impossible,” she counters while shaking her head. “I gave birth to them and rid them of all Regal origins. They live a normal life with none of the chains of my past. They will never have to worry about being Tethered or an attack from Decius because they are protected with my energy. And even if I die, the land of Kessel will shield them.”
“I see.” After a few seconds of silence, I say, “They’re beautiful girls.”
“I know.”
“Were you the first to grow life without man?” I ask.
She cuts her eyes at me, nostrils flaring. “If you’re asking about their father, that is none of your concern,” she snaps.
I lift an innocent hand in the air. “I was only curious. I heard stories about how women in Kessel can conceive on their own. Wasn’t sure if that included you.”
Hassha swings her eyes to the trail her daughters took, where the tips of the bungalows are faint in the night. Standing, she says, “Walk with me, Caspian.”
I push to a stand, following her around the fire. Milandra appears before we can reach another footpath.
“Your majesty?” she calls.
“We will be fine, Milandra,” Hassha murmurs. “Stand down.”
I look back as we continue along the path, and Milandra scowls at me, then huffs before turning away.