Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
And Holland could have also walked that fine line of interfering again. Either way, it was no coincidence. “You know, Princess Kayleigh was betrothed to my stepbrother,” I said, not having told Nektas how I knew her. “She came to visit Lasania with her parents, King Saegar and Queen Geneva. To meet Tavius. My stepbrother was an…unrepentant ass.”
“I figured as much.” Nektas leaned over, straightening my hood that must’ve slipped. “Considering the enjoyment Ash finds in visiting him in the Abyss.”
“He does that often?”
“More than he has with any other soul in a long time.”
I pressed my lips together to stop my smile because even I could acknowledge that was a twisted thing to find pleasure in. I cleared my throat. “Anyway, he was on his best behavior with her. At first. It didn’t last long. I saw her crying one evening after taking an unsupervised walk with him in the gardens. I don’t know what happened, but I know it was something terrible because when I warned her about him, she wasn’t at all surprised to hear what I had to say.”
“But she didn’t marry him?” he asked, and when I shook my head, he inclined his. “She could walk away from such an engagement? I was under the impression that wasn’t common in the mortal realm among nobles.”
“It’s not.” My lips twitched into a small grin. “So, we concocted a plan to make her…unavailable for such an engagement.”
His brows rose beneath his hood. “And how did you accomplish that?”
“I gained a potion from a Healer I knew, one that could make her appear sick—ill enough that the engagement would have to be postponed.” I laughed at his smile. “It worked. Kayleigh convinced her parents it had to be the warmer, more humid climate of Lasania, and they took her home. I don’t know if they believed it was some climate-related issue, Irelone is much cooler, but they…they love her. That much was clear when they didn’t force her to remain in Lasania, nor made her return.”
“Very clever of both of you,” he said. “Though it’s a shame that anyone would have to resort to such tactics.”
“Agreed,” I murmured. “Tavius, my mother, and King Ernald never knew for sure that I interfered, but I think they suspected something.” I shrugged. “But if I hadn’t? Would that have altered Delfai’s decision? And would we not have been able to locate him in the mortal realm? I mean, it all has to be connected.” I laughed again. “I guess every aspect of one’s life is somehow connected—every choice to do or not do something creates a chain reaction. You can’t help but wonder exactly how much is preordained.”
“You’ll drive yourself mad thinking about that,” Nektas replied. “But none of your choices are preordained. Fate is not absolute. Fate is only a series of possibilities.”
“How can you be sure of that?” I asked.
“Because I was there when mortals were created. I lent my fire to breathe life into their flesh,” he reminded me. “Mortals were created in the image of the Primals, but they were also given more.”
“The ability to feel emotion.”
“And free will,” he said. “Fate doesn’t usurp that, no matter how much the Arae probably wish they did in some situations. Fate just sees all the possible outcomes of free will.”
I felt some relief in hearing that, knowing that the decisions made, whether good or bad, were choices actively made and not a result of haplessly following a set of events already decided. I glanced at Nektas as the Shroud protecting the Vale crept steadily closer to the road, and I began to hear the sirens singing once more. “Do Primals have free will?”
“They didn’t in the beginning.”
I remembered what Nyktos had told me. “Their ability to begin to feel emotion changed that?”
He nodded. “Nothing is more powerful, more life and realm-altering than the ability to feel. To experience emotion. Love. Hate. Desire. To care for oneself. To care for another.”
Nyktos wasn’t waiting for us at the crossroads as we left the Vale like I’d expected him to be. The creepy riders were, though, and they bowed once more as we passed. I figured Nyktos had gotten caught up with something, either at the Pillars themselves or in Lethe. Nektas didn’t appear concerned, so I didn’t think anything too serious had occurred.
I didn’t look at the souls waiting to cross through the Pillars, even though the embers throbbed, and my muscles were already tense and achy from fighting the sirens’ call. But the Primal mist finally abated, and I could see crimson in the distance, glittering under the bright starlight. I nibbled on a piece of cheese that Nektas had handed over as my thoughts bounced from one thing to another and I ignored the faint ache building in my temples. I wouldn’t once I returned to the palace. It may not be the Culling, but I wouldn’t risk it if so.