Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
I rested my hands against his chest. “That’s what I figured.”
“Did you eat breakfast?” he asked.
“Yes, and I drank juice, too.” I paused. “A full cup.”
Ash grinned, running the tips of his fingers down my cheek. “How were you feeling this morning? Any nausea?”
“None today.”
“That’s three days in a row,” he said. “Hopefully, you won’t have any more spells.”
“I hope so.” I breathed in his fresh, citrusy scent and nuzzled his chest, rubbing my cheek against him like a cat seeking…wait. I blinked, wondering if I was somehow developing the tendencies of my nota.
Man, would I start clawing up the furniture?
“Have you had a chance to check in with Aios or Lailah?” he asked, drawing me from my bizarre thoughts.
“They’re both still asleep,” I said, keeping Attes’s current whereabouts to myself as I stepped back, smoothing my hands over the hem of my blouse. “I should probably go ahead and try to summon a Fate so we can get the others here.” Attempting to set up a meeting with Kolis was the only way we’d be able to lure him out of whatever hole he’d crawled into.
Ash nodded as he turned to his desk, reaching for a pitcher on a tray. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
Ash poured two glasses of berry-infused water, and I took a deep breath and cleared my mind. Unlike last time, I didn’t think of Holland as I summoned the eather. “Fates,” I said as the essence pulsed through me, reverberating through my voice. “I request a meeting with one of you.” I paused and then tacked on a surly, “Please.”
Ash snorted. “The please was a nice touch.”
I grinned as I took the water from him. “I guess we just wait now.”
He nodded, leaning against his desk as he eyed me. “You started to turn golden when you summoned the Fate. It was hot.”
I rolled my eyes, sitting down on a settee.
“I haven’t seen you go full Primal yet,” he noted, taking a sip. “You were close to doing so when we were in the Callasta Isles.”
I thought about that. “I think I may have done it when I was in Lasania.” My gaze fell to the violet-hued berries floating in my water. I cleared my throat. “But I really don’t know what I looked like besides my skin kind of turning gold.”
“I’m sure you were beautiful.”
I smiled at that. Shortly after, Rhain, the cousins, and finally Attes joined us. There was no Fate among them, but the latter entered with wet hair and his features drawn into tight, somber lines. He dropped onto the settee across from me with a nod. I started to ask how he was but stopped myself as Rhain busied himself pouring drinks for everyone. I knew that I didn’t like to be asked about my feelings, especially these kinds, particularly not in front of others.
I glanced around the office, growing impatient. Where was the Fate I’d summoned? Were they just taking their sweet time or ignoring me? I knew I hadn’t done it wrong. Anxiety buzzed through me as I moved to the very edge of the settee.
“I think Aios will wake soon,” Rhain stated as Ash moved to stand closer to me, picking up two of three glasses and handing them off to Saion and Rhahar before grabbing the third. “She was starting to move a little before I left.”
“That’s good,” I said.
Ash nodded, his gaze straying to Attes. “Do you have any updates on the remainder of Kyn’s army?”
He nodded, staring at the glass Rhain had given him. “When I went back early this morning, I was informed that about ten thousand surrendered,” he shared stoically. “But their newfound loyalty to me isn’t something I’m willing to trust in battle yet.”
I hadn’t known Attes had returned to Vathi. I must’ve been asleep when he left and returned.
“Understandable,” Ash remarked.
“I assume we had defectors?” I said.
Attes nodded. “From what my generals could estimate, about ten thousand fell in battle.”
“Good gods,” I said.
His silvery gaze lifted to mine. “Yeah.” His throat worked on a swallow. “That means roughly twenty thousand are likely fleeing to wherever Kolis is.”
“That’s disappointing to…” I stiffened, eather throbbing acutely in my chest. Awareness pressed down on me, alerting me to someone powerful.
Someone Ancient.
“What is it?” Ash asked.
“I think the Fate is here.” I set the glass on the end table as everyone in the room went still. I rose, expecting a portal to rip open. When it didn’t, my frown increased. “But I don’t know where they are.”
A second later, a knock sounded on the office doors. Six heads turned in that direction.
“Well, we know it’s not Aydun since they actually knocked,” I murmured.
Ash snickered at that, putting his glass on the table behind him. “Come in.”
The door opened, and my mouth dropped open at who walked in. I almost couldn’t believe that he had answered.