Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
“Come on, Jas. You’re smarter than that. If we wanted you dead, would you have woken up?”
A sudden burst of feminine laughter from outside draws our attention to the door. I wonder if it’s the same person I heard when I was taken. Is she involved with Kendrick somehow?
“We both know death is hardly the worst thing our enemies can do to us,” I say, pulling my gaze back to his.
“You could trust me then, and you can trust me now,” he says softly.
“How do I even know it’s you?” I ask. “You could be someone imitating him. This could be a trick.”
“Because you know me,” he says. He extends a hand toward my face, and I retreat on instinct.
The backs of my thighs hit the bed, and I scramble into the corner, pulling my knees into my chest.
He sighs and resignation pulls down the corners of his mouth as he lowers himself to the edge of the bed.
He’s so close.
How many nights in that dungeon did I struggle to sleep and wish he could be this close? How many nights since have I thought of him and wished for just one chance to say thank you? I never thought this was how I’d get it.
He extends the steaming mug toward me again. “Please. Your mouth is dry from the magic Remme used to restrain you. Drink this and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
I take the mug because the spices smell so delicious, and he’s right. My mouth is so dry I can barely swallow. I sniff the contents, trying to detect any of the odiferous poisons I learned about. I smell nothing concerning, but there are any number of odorless poisons—
Kendrick takes the mug back and drinks from it, watching me as he swallows. “It’s safe.” He hands it back.
I will not think about my lips touching where his lips just touched. I will not wonder what those lips would feel like on mine.
Too late.
I take a tentative sip, as desperate to change my line of thinking as to get rid of this desert in my mouth. It’s mulled cider and tastes even better than it smells. I force myself to wait before taking another drink, just in case, but feel no ill effects, only soothing warmth.
“Why aren’t you home?” I ask. Because I’m ridiculous. He kidnapped me. I shouldn’t care whether he was reunited with the family he missed so much.
He turns sideways on the edge of the bed, his gaze scraping over my face and analyzing every feature. “I went home for a while. But what I need to protect my family and the people in my charge can only be found here. So I’m back to get what Mordeus stole.”
“The Sword of Fire?” I ask. When we were in the dungeons together, he admitted that he’d been captured while searching for it.
“Yes. I need it if I’m going to make any sort of lasting change in Elora.”
Three years ago, he believed himself a failure for having been unable to retrieve it.
“I’m sorry you haven’t found it yet.”
“Me too. I’ve been searching this realm for a year, and I have nothing to show for it.”
My stomach constricts like one of Mordeus’s guards kicked it. He’s been here for a year, and he never came looking for me. Never came to so much as say hello. It shouldn’t matter.
“That’s why I need your help,” Kendrick says, oblivious to the ridiculous ache in my spurned heart.
“They say Mordeus is back,” I say.
He nods. “I’ve heard the rumors.”
“It’s not safe for you here. You’re mortal, and his magic is great—”
“There are mortals who have magic too, Princess.” He shifts on the bed and leans his weight on one palm in the center of the mattress. “You never met a single mage in your fourteen years in Elora?”
“Of course I did, but—”
He arches a brow, as if to say, There you go.
“You’re not that foolish. You’ve been captured by Mordeus before. Why would you think you wouldn’t be vulnerable now?”
“I never said I’m not vulnerable. I said I need what Mordeus stole if I am to protect my family and deal with the mess happening back home.”
“And I’m supposed to help you with that somehow?”
“Exactly.” He toys with a loose thread on the sheet. “Our enemies are growing stronger by the day—and they’re using their power to increase the gap between the wealthy and the poor. Between the magically trained and the magically ignorant.”
“What does that have to do with me?” I shake my head. “I don’t belong there anymore.”
“Because when you turn eighteen, you become fae?”
I frown. “Why do you know so much about my life?”
His lips twitch into a smile. “You think I missed that you’re not just the princess of the shadow court but a descendant of Mab? Do you think I’ve been hiding under a rock the last three years?” He nods toward the door. “Why do you think my friends are so convinced you have magical abilities and may harm me at any moment just for the thrill of it?”