Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
My head whipped in his direction. “What? Why?”
“I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
Confused, I glanced back to where Emil was walking toward the stairwell. “How does he look at me?”
His hand was a scalding brand on my hip, even through the layers of clothing. “He looks at you like I do.”
My brows lifted. “That’s not true. You look at me like...”
Those heated amber eyes met mine. “How do I look at you, Princess?”
“You look at me like...” I cleared my throat. “Like you want to eat me.”
Casteel’s eyes narrowed into thin slits as his gaze return to Emil. “Exactly,” he snarled.
I stared at him and then laughed. His gaze flew to mine, his eyes bright and wide like they always were when I laughed. “You’re actually jealous.”
“Of course, I am. At least I can acknowledge that.”
And he was jealous. I could feel it, an ashy coating in the back of my throat. “You are…”
“Devilishly handsome? Wickedly clever?” He turned back to the western sky, where it still carried the haze of fire. “Stunningly charismatic?”
“That wasn’t what I was going for,” I told him. “More like ridiculous.”
“Endearingly ridiculous,” he corrected.
I rolled my eyes. “You know, not once have I even considered seeking the affections of another. Not since I met you.”
“I know.” He bent his head, brushing his lips over my brow. “My jealousy is not rooted in anything you’ve done.”
“Or in logic.”
“That we will have to disagree on. I know how he looks at you.”
“I think you’re seeing things.”
“I know what I see.” He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine. “Every time I look at you, I see a gift I’m not worthy of.”
My breath caught as my heart swelled. It wasn’t new—him saying things like that. What was new was me believing them. “You are worthy,” I told him. “Most of the time.”
He cracked a grin. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
I wondered if that was true as we stepped into a parapet. Bows and stocked quivers were placed against the wall. I looked down at the dark road and fields ahead, seeing nothing.
“Are they down there?” I asked, recalling what I’d learned when they discussed strategies. “The wolven?”
“They are in the fields, well hidden, even from vampry eyes.” He placed his hands on the stone ledge, and the ring on his finger snagged my gaze. “The Guardians are in place, waiting for my lead. Those who can wield a sword are in the courtyard, and the others, the ones skilled with a bow, will be up here.”
Pulling my gaze from his ring, I looked over my shoulder. They were already arriving. Mortals who were too old to lift more than a bow. The Guardians escorted them to different parapets. The trickle of fear returned as I turned back to Casteel. “How many do we have? The final count?”
His jaw hardened. “One hundred and twenty-six.”
I pressed my lips together and closed my eyes as I forced myself to take a deep, even breath.
“I wish you’d gone with Alastir and Kieran,” he said quietly. “You would be far away from here. Safe.”
I opened my eyes.
Casteel stared into the darkness. “But I’m glad you’re here. Spessa’s End needs you. I need you.” He looked at me then. “But I still wish you weren’t here.”
I could accept that. “I wish you weren’t here,” I whispered. “I wish they weren’t coming.” I let a little of the fear through. “We still plan to free your brother and see mine, right? We still plan to prevent a war?”
He nodded.
“But after tonight?” I swallowed as I looked out to the western sky. “It may be too late. War has come to us.”
“It’s never too late. Not even after blood has been drawn and lives have been lost,” he said. “Things can always be stopped.”
I hoped so. I really did.
He turned to me, touching my cheek. “We may be absurdly outnumbered, but everyone who picks up a bow or sword to fight for Spessa’s End, for Atlantia, does so because they want to. Not for money. Not because joining the army was their only option. Not out of fear. We fight to live. We fight to protect what we’ve built here. We fight to protect one another. None of them—the Ascended, the knights, Solis soldiers—will fight with heart, and that makes the difference.”
I blew out a steadier breath. “It does.”
He was quiet for a moment, and then I felt his lips against my cheek, against the scars. “I will ask one other thing of you, Poppy. Stay up here. No matter what. Stay up here and use the bow. And if something were to happen to me, run. Go to the cavern. Kieran will know to find you there—”
“That’s asking two things of me.” Pressure clamped down on my chest.