Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
It’s just Nick, though, so Tonya goes back to the casket spray and I watch, absorbing her techniques that I hope to be able to replicate one day.
The saloon-style door between the design room and the main shop swings open, and Nick bursts through. His mop of curly red hair is sweaty, and he slings his backpack down on the floor before moving around the table to give Tonya a hug. “Hi, Mom.”
Nick grins at me. “Hi, Nyssa.”
“What’s up, kid?” I reply.
“Why are you so sweaty?” Tonya eyeballs her son as he plops down on a stool next to her.
“Roger and I raced from school to the hardware store,” he says, grinning with a full set of braces.
“Well, get your homework done,” Tonya says, returning her attention to her work. Nick hops off the stool and grabs his pack, pulling out a math text and a spiral notebook.
I push off from the table. “I’m going to head home.”
Tonya glances up and smiles. “See you in the morning.”
“See ya,” I say, sparing another glance at Nick who’s searching for a pencil.
He’s fifteen and forever disorganized, which amuses me because I’m the same way.
He’s my brother, after all, although Tonya and her husband, Billy, renamed him with the adoption.
No one knows who I am—my real identity.
When Zora set me up with a new life here in Iowa, she went so far as to help me secure a job at Tonya’s flower shop so I could look in on Sammy—now named Nick—in an unobtrusive way.
I’ve been here three months now, and I often think back on that day when Zora showed me everything I could have, and then delivered on it.
Her demigods escorted me through that beam of light that led from Amell’s castle right into a Swiss chalet with the most stunning scenery of snowcapped mountains outside the large floor-to-ceiling windows. The change in environment befuddled me, particularly when two huge dogs bounded my way, nails scrabbling over polished wood floors. They weren’t barking and their tongues lolled out of their mouths, which told me they were friendly. I knelt to pet them and when I straightened, the demigods were gone.
A woman stood out on the balcony. She wore jeans and a sweater—totally ordinary looking except for the bright white hair that poured down her back.
I knew without a doubt that it was Zora.
She leaned against the wooden railing, staring at the green valley below. I could tell she knew I was there, in what I assumed to be her home, just as I knew she was waiting for me to join her outside.
I went to her, standing to her right, and stared at her profile. She was lovely, and when she turned to look at me, I was astounded by her beautiful eyes. Distinct bands of blue, green, and gold that made her eyes look like jewels.
She smiled, her words sounding like a chastisement. “You left the king of the Underworld in quite a mess.”
I blinked in surprise. He was a mess?
He destroyed me.
“Do you know who I am?” she asked.
“Zora, the god of Death.”
“Well, it’s actually the god of Life, but death is also my jam.”
So weird… she’s this supernatural being capable of great power, dressed like a normal woman, and using words like jam. It left me even more confounded than when I arrived, and still in great pain over how callously Amell tossed me from his life.
I almost wished he’d tossed me over the bridge, I thought.
“Don’t ever think that,” Zora chided. “You have so much to live for.”
It didn’t feel like it, and my gaze lowered from her penetrating one. It didn’t even surprise me she could read my mind.
“This is what I can offer you,” she said, and I was curious enough to look up. She waved her hand, the mountain range before us faded, and I was staring into downtown Edenton. “A new life in this town. A great job. A home. Friends. And you’ll be able to see your brother. And you’ll never be asked to pay for your crimes against Vince.”
The scene changed and zoomed in on a redheaded boy walking down the street with friends. It was Sammy.
I gasped and leaned forward, peering harder.
“He has a great life,” Zora murmured. “You’d be able to watch him unobtrusively and see it for yourself.”
I reached out a hand, trying to touch him.
“Or,” Zora said cautiously, “you can go back to Amell.”
My hand dropped and my head whipped toward her, just as a fresh, lancing pain sliced through me upon hearing his name. My eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“Amell loves you. If you want, I’ll send you back to him. I’ll make Amell keep you there.”
I stumbled, the idea sounding for a split instant almost too good to be true. But realization crashed upon me that it was the worst thing she could offer. “He doesn’t love me,” I said, the words bitter on my tongue. “If he did, he never would’ve said what he said to me. He wouldn’t have sent me away.”