Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Her lips purse.
“What am I going to do? We go into battle tomorrow, Romeria.”
After another long pause, she sighs. “She’s in Ulysede. Malachi can’t touch her there.” Kneeling behind me on my cot, she asks, “The conjurer. What do you know about her?”
“Not much. She can manipulate birds. And other creatures too. Not your dragons, though,” I add quickly. “Unless she was lying to me when I asked.”
“Let’s hope not. Hold still.”
Warmth blooms in my shoulder, spreading along my muscles and tendons, deep into my bones as her power knits whatever is still broken inside.
“I guess I wasn’t as mended as I thought.” I roll my shoulder when she finishes, testing it. It feels as good as new. “Thank you. Truly.” I let her see my eyes, hoping she can read my genuine gratitude. “For everything.” Saving not just my life but Gracen’s and all those children I foolishly corralled in the castle before riding off to my near-death.
“Do not give me yet another reason to kill you, Brother.” Zander strolls in. “You’ve already given me so many.”
“He’s fixed. Well, his arm is, anyway.” Romeria flicks my ear before climbing off my bed. “I’m sure there’s still plenty wrong with him.”
I chuckle and redress. “Anything important I should know?”
“Malachi and his key caster are with the army. We tried killing them today, but Sofie is too quick.” Zander inspects my armor. “They’ll be moving in at dawn.”
“And how long before they attack?”
“We shall see.”
“How many will we bring for a parley—”
“No parley,” Romeria snaps, her glare brokering no disagreement.
My eyebrows pop. I’m not used to seeing that side of her. “No parley. Got it.”
“He and his creatures cannot be trusted to follow the rules of engagement. The rules of anything, really,” Zander adds, more cordially.
“I took your advice,” Romeria says after a moment.
“You will have to be more specific.” I tuck my tunic into my breeches. “I give such great advice and a lot of it.”
She rolls her eyes. “We summoned the fates.”
My mouth drops, my hands stalled. “And?”
“Aminadav has granted our request to block the passage from the Nulling. I don’t know how, and if there will be consequences. I guess we’ll find out tonight.” Her shaky sigh exposes her worry.
“This is a big deal.”
“It is one problem solved,” Zander counters, forever the pragmatist. “The other one is marching to our doorstep as we speak. Come on.” He jerks his head toward the tent’s exit. “Let us see how much ground they have made.”
His meaning dawns on me instantly. “With the dragons?” I didn’t mean to show so much enthusiasm.
Romeria snorts. “You sound like a kid on Christmas.”
I frown. “Christmas? What is—”
“Never mind. Yes, with the dragons.”
“I should probably tell King Cheral.”
Zander cocks his head at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You are a royal prince and the commander of the king’s army. Must you ask permission?”
“No, but … no.” And yet I worry that Kier’s king will consider it disrespectful.
Zander waits a beat. “Besides, I told him where we were going.”
I shove him playfully, earning his laugh.
Behind us, Romeria wears a pensive smile.
“It is even larger than I thought!” I yell as we soar high above the approaching army, their torches like a sea of stars on the ground. The horrifying reality below mutes the exhilaration of this experience. “Can we get closer?”
“No, it is too dangerous. They will be ready for us this time and Malachi’s reach is considerable!” Zander yells back.
I cling to the dragon’s claws. They look sharp enough to slice me in half and yet they haven’t. The green beast that carries me is surprisingly gentle.
Bexley’s child.
Who could have ever imagined?
Romeria shouts something at her dragon and it banks hard, the two others following a split second later.
We coast in formation along the rift, low enough to spot any movement within the crevice.
There is none.
Nothing emerges from the deep, dark well.
My legs wobble as they touch ground after soaring through the air for so long. “So this is your secret kingdom in the mountains.” I stare up at the golden gate as it climbs open, anticipation feeding my body, the detour unexpected.
Gracen is in there.
I have no idea how she feels about me now. She may hate me for the mistakes I made with the mortals. I will have to live with that, for however long I survive. What I can’t bear is not seeing her one last time.
Inside, the tunnel is lined with bulky winged beasts in armor the likes of which I’ve never seen.
“They’re nymphs,” Zander answers my unspoken question.
“Of course they are.” This is all too surreal. “When I received your letter, Boaz was convinced it was all a sham to lure me away,” I muse. “Where is he, anyway? Still in Cirilea?” I haven’t thought of him since I left.