Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
I petered out in the end, deciding he must think I sounded quite mad.
“This would take a good deal of organization before implementation.”
I gently pulled from his arms, turned, and standing in the warm sun as I looked to the rift between realms to see the gray beyond, I muttered, “It is foolhardy.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
I again shifted my attention to True.
“I’m simply saying it would be an onerous endeavor to take on, but not an unworthy one.”
“I, well I feel like, something of this magnitude, I should, well…I should…”
I was speaking to True.
But I was also speaking to a king and what I was thinking of saying was outrageous.
And would seem more so to a supreme ruler of a realm.
“You should?” True prompted, his expression open and interested and so very True.
“Put it to a vote,” I blurted. “Of the Sisterhood,” I went on to explain. “To see if they agree and support my plans.” When he said nothing, I murmured, “I sound mad.”
“I’ve already begun forming a parliament,” he announced.
I felt my lips part.
“And so I can say in all earnestness that you do not sound mad, Ellie,” he told me. “You sound like you have been but days the queen of your people and yet you’re demonstrating precisely why your mother decided on you to guide her realm into the next generation.”
“Do you believe she would be supportive of it?” I asked.
“I feel she would have trusted you to do right by her sisters. And if you feel this is right in this time, yes. Definitely. She would have been supportive of it.” He glanced at the rift and back to me, and when he spoke on, his voice had lowered. “And it is right in this time, Ellie. Trust your instincts. Your mother did.”
I drew in a deep breath, released it and settled in the relief his words brought before I looked over his shoulder to see Cassius approaching.
True caught the direction of my gaze and twisted that way.
When Cass arrived at us, he muttered, “True,” True muttered, “Cassius,” and then my intended not only claimed me in a hold about my neck which was strong and fitted my front to his side, he kissed the top of my head.
Once he was finished laying this claim on me, I tipped that head back.
“All right?” he asked me.
“Yes,” I answered, my eyes narrowing on him.
His lips twitched but he said no more and looked at True.
“Any news?” he asked.
“Of what?” True asked in return.
“Of anything,” Cassius replied.
“Naught. You?” True said.
“Naught,” Cassius murmured.
Cassius then sighed.
I tried to pull a hint away, and Cass allowed it.
A hint.
Thus, it was then I who sighed and wrapped my arms around his middle.
“What are you expecting?” I queried.
“Two days, two campaigns,” Cass responded. “For the most part, they are not trained. They are not skilled. They have limited intelligence of our allegiances and our force, and that does not deter them. But they are organized, and they clearly have a plan.”
“Calm before another storm?” True suggested.
“My guess, yes. Thus, we also must plan,” Cass declared, his arm around my neck tightening for a moment before it relaxed again and he went on quietly, “Today is Jazz’s. It is Rose’s. Tomorrow, we will sit down and make decisions.”
True nodded before he said, “Then now, I will leave you. Cass. Ellie.”
“True, thank you,” I replied.
“Any time, my friend,” he murmured, warmth in his gaze on me.
He then jerked up his chin to Cassius, turned and strolled away.
I watched but stopped doing this when Cass asked, “Why did you express gratitude?”
I had my own question thus, I did not answer his and asked mine instead, “Was it necessary you lay claim to me in front of True? I mean, really, Cassius. I am yours, he is Farah’s. This possession you feel it necessary to relay—”
“Cease speaking,” he ordered.
I stood still in his hold, mostly so I wouldn’t do something stupid, like break free and punch him in his arm (or elsewhere), and instead I shared my ire at his command by glaring up at him.
“Accept this, woman, it is the way it will be,” he declared.
“Every time we’re around True?” I demanded.
“Every time you are around a man.”
Every time I…
What?
I could not believe what my ears were hearing.
“Have you gone mad?” I asked.
“No.”
“Every time I’m around a man you will stake your claim,” I stated to be certain I was hearing correctly.
“I will amend,” he returned. “Every time you’re around a man who might wish to be between your legs, be that in the past, the present, or I might have some inkling he would consider this in his mind in the future. Others, such as those who prefer their own gender, those too old to remember what to do with a stiff cock or those too young to know how to use one, no.”