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)
“You’re nearly dry. And I think my ability to walk and save us from any dangers we come across benefits you greatly.”
“I do not need you to save me.”
“Could have fooled me back there.” His voice is smug and taunting.
My annoyance flares. “How do those boots fit you? Because that soldier had very small feet.”
Tyree’s head tips with his boisterous laughter. “His toes had crumbled off! And come now, Annika, I thought you were cleverer than that.” Tyree spares a smirk over his shoulder. “Don’t tell me I’ve given you too much credit.”
I pause long enough to collect a stone, closing my fist around it, the urge to whip it at his head overwhelming.
Tyree stops at the ridge crest, his hands on his hips. “There. What did I tell you? I knew there would be more than rock if we ventured far enough.”
I’m out of breath when I match his stance, to look out over the expanse of greenery. Trees with dangling fronds tower over a lush forest of broad leaves. Far beyond is the darkened outline of a mountain range.
For the first time since coming to this cursed land, my heart beats with excitement as I feel my affinity thrumming to life. “Have you seen anything like this before?”
Tyree shakes his head. “Though it reminds me of illustrations I’ve seen in books based on Seacadore.”
“You read?”
“Occasionally.”
“While also plotting regicide. Impressive.”
He ignores my quip. “Come, there must be something edible growing in there. Maybe we can find an innocent mortal for you to drain so your sour mood improves.”
I feel his sideways glance, but I don’t meet his eyes. “Yes, let’s.”
I slap my palm against my neck, squashing another of these wicked flying, biting bugs. The air has grown warm and sticky within this jungle, coating my skin in a sheen that they seem to like because they’re congregating where I’m sweatiest.
“So willing to take but never to give.” Tyree tsks. “I knew someone like that once. The relationship did not last long.”
“Was it the Islorian immortal you fell in love with during your secret journey?”
It was a hunch, but the way Tyree stops dead for several seconds before continuing without a word tells me I’ve struck a chord.
I grin, victorious. “What was her name?”
Still, he doesn’t respond.
“Gosh, if I’d known this is how to get you to shut up, I would have brought her up hours ago.” After another lengthy moment of silence, an impish part of me can’t resist. I reach out with my affinity to grasp hold of a vine and tangle it around his ankles.
Tyree trips and falls to the forest floor.
The cackle of laughter that erupts from me is louder than I anticipated.
He dusts himself off as he stands, turning to face me. “The Islorian princess wishes to play games, does she?”
The wicked gleam in his eyes is the only warning before the forest around me comes alive, vines and branches twisting around my limbs. With a squeal, I’m dragged backward until I’m pinned against a tree, my arms stretched out on either side of me. I reach for my affinity to free myself, but the bindings don’t relent. I’m not strong enough.
“You are connected to Aminadav?” I whisper, shocked. And he’s powerful. I should have suspected as much, given Romeria’s affinity to Aoife is strong enough to explode stone water fountains. “But I thought you had an affinity to …” My words fade. I don’t have an answer.
“Anything you may have heard about my affinity was surely a lie.” Tyree strolls toward me until he stands an inch away, his breath skating over my cheek. “Not so amusing now, it seems.”
“Release me immediately,” I demand.
“Oh, I don’t know.” He mock frowns. “I kind of like seeing my future bride trussed up.”
I wrestle against my constraints, and they tighten in response, almost to the point of pain. “This is not funny, Tyree.”
His expression turns serious. “Since you asked, her name was Jada. She was beautiful beyond compare, and desirable, and convincing, and she whispered all kinds of sweet promises. In the end, all she cared about was getting a taste of my Ybarisan blood.” His voice is hard, but in his gaze, I catch the tiniest flicker of something else. Something that resembles hurt.
But that can’t be because it would mean Tyree has a heart.
I harden mine. “And you bought her lies like a fool.”
His jaw clenches. Another chord struck. “Any male would have found himself equally foolish.”
“Whatever you need to tell your ego to soften the blow.”
“And you’re saying you would be different?” His focus drifts downward over the deep V of my dress, before climbing back up to my lips. “That, if my blood weren’t laced with poison, you wouldn’t be spewing all sorts of sweet lies for a taste of it?”
“I wouldn’t.” Because I don’t need it anymore. Even if I can still smell it—like a delightful fragrance I can’t help but chase with a second, long draw. But I bite back the urge to confess that. I like holding on to the inexplicable secret. “I don’t feed off those who disgust me.”