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)
A soothing silence wraps around us, floating through the bungalow, and Caz is so quiet I think I’ve said something wrong. Perhaps I went too deep for him—or maybe all that I’ve said is dumb and doesn’t make any sense.
“Anyway, I know it sounds stupid, but—”
“No.” He cups my cheek, eyes glistening. He’s revealing that beautiful smile I love, his teeth bright in the moonlight. So boyish. So handsome and vulnerable. “It’s not stupid. Not at all. It’s the most honest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say. You don’t want to be anyone but yourself, and I love that about you. I love it more than you realize.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “You’re a treasure, Willow. Truly.”
I can’t help my smile as he brings our foreheads together. I want to bask in this moment, let it continue forever. Us beneath the moon and stars, surrounded by a beautiful ocean, on the center of a large, comfortable bed that has already conformed to the shape of our bodies. I want this so much…but of course what I want never lasts.
And in a matter of seconds, a foghorn sounds and Caz’s smile collapses. A sinking feeling drops into our stomachs like a block of lead, and he jerks away, rushing toward the window to peer out of it.
I climb off the bed with him and gasp when I spot women running out of their bungalows with weapons and zooming past in a blur. I look in the direction they’re running and spot a boat floating toward the shore.
My chest tightens when I realize the boat is on fire.
Chapter 52
CAZ
Willow and I dress rapidly before bolting to the shoreline with the other women. Their shouting is boisterous as they watch the flaming boat rock toward us.
Hassha appears, pushing between a thick line of women. The flames reflect off her silver eye, and her lips part as if this is the last thing she expected. The flames ignite from the sails to the massive wooden body, rippling through each crevice and corner.
Hassha swims in the water, climbing up a flameless half of the boat and returning in a matter of seconds with a woman in her arms. She lays her on the sand then springs onto the boat again like a force of nature, going back and forth until she’s rescued three other women. All of them cough and splutter as the others gather around, lowering to their knees to assist them.
“What’s happened?” I ask when Hassha returns. Her white hair clings to her forehead and cheeks. Soot is on her arms and legs.
“It’s Decius,” she says. Her voice is so low I almost can’t hear her. Then, in a flash, she’s on the boat again, this time coming off with a charred barrel. She places the barrel in the sand, then faces the enflamed boat again. One mighty kick from her foot sends the boat flying toward the middle of the ocean to collapse in ruins.
“Open the barrel,” Hassha orders, pointing her gaze to Milandra. Milandra rips it open, revealing thick chunks of black wood with silver linings. The silver of the wood emits a menacing glimmer—one that doesn’t appear to be from this world at all.
Hassha turns to me, shoulders squared. “We’ll make your weapons, and then you must go. I’m afraid the longer you’re here, the more danger my tribe is in.”
“What did Decius do?” Willow asks.
Hassha stifles a sigh, holding it in and swallowing it down. “He must’ve known they were coming here with the wood and tried setting fire to it before they reached Kessel borders.”
“How would he have known?”
“It was always a possibility,” Hassha releases that pent up sigh, focusing on Willow. “He was ruler of The Trench, so he still has a connection to it, whether he’s there or not. Though I covered my warriors with my energy so that he could not harm or feel them, there are eyes all over The Trench. Someone must’ve informed him.” She gestures to the women. “My protection is why they are still alive and not roasting on that boat.”
Everyone stands a moment, allowing her words to digest. My eyes shift from her to the burning, sinking boat, and then down at the silvery chunks of wood. We’re fortunate the wood inside didn’t completely burn.
A rapid splashing noise sounds in the distance, like someone is chopping water. The warrior women turn quickly, raising their shields and pointing their spears toward the ocean.
Willow clings to my arm, and I squint my eyes, trying to find the source of the noise. At first, I don’t see a thing but the boat collapsing in the distance, flames reflecting on the waters. The warriors take a step toward the shore in unison, eyes alert, the moon causing the silver points to gleam.