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)
Plates of food had been replaced with cups that were kept full, the music more frenetic, heavier, and I didn’t think any of the Primals remained in the Shadowlands by the time Ash leaned in, letting me know that it was time for us to take our leave. Deafening cheers reverberated off the star-strewn sky as we made our way back to the entry house.
The carriage I’d arrived in waited for us outside the coliseum, surrounded by guards and soldiers in gray. Saion stood at the open doors, bowing upon our approach. “Your Highnesses,” he drawled.
Ash sighed. “You’re really going to start with that?”
“It’s not for your benefit,” Saion remarked, winking at me.
“Of course,” Ash murmured, a faint grin appearing as he climbed into the carriage, then turned, extending a hand toward me. “Consort.”
The wild fluttering feeling was back as I took his hand, welcoming the zap of energy coursing from his palm to mine. He helped me into the carriage as several of the draken took flight from the pillars, lifting to the sky above us. I moved to the bench opposite Ash when Rhain appeared in the carriage’s open door, holding two large shadowstone boxes. He placed them on the floor of the interior.
“Crowns,” Ash explained, reaching up to remove his.
A little relieved that I could remove the heavy—albeit beautiful—crown, I carefully worked it free from my hair as Rhain opened the first box. My neck immediately thanked me.
Ash knelt between the benches, placing his crown in the ivory velvet interior. As Rhain closed one box and opened the other, Ash took my crown, his fingers brushing mine and sending a shiver of awareness through me.
“They will remain with you two,” Rhain explained, sending me a quick glance as he slid the heavy boxes against the foot of the bench I sat on. “And then they will be moved to a small chamber off the throne room, where they are stored and can be retrieved whenever you like.”
“Thank you,” I said, and he nodded with one more skittering glance. I hoped he wasn’t thinking of what he’d told me before the coronation.
It was something I couldn’t allow myself to think about as my gaze found its way to where Ash lounged in the seat across from me.
“We will be on our way in a few moments,” Rhain announced before closing the doors and leaving us alone in the soft, dim light of a sconce, either powered by fuel…or Ash.
“Some of my soldiers will ride ahead,” Ash explained, his elbow resting on the ledge of the carriage wall. “To make sure the road is clear for us.”
“Is that necessary?”
“Not really,” he admitted with a shadowed grin. “But they’re taking the safety of their Consort seriously.”
I arched a brow. “But not their Primal?”
“I think they’re more worried about you than me.”
“Sounds a bit…sexist.”
“Possibly.” His grin deepened, revealing a hint of fang in the glow of the sconce. “But not all the guards nor the soldiers are aware of your ability to handle yourself. However, even if they were, they would still want to make sure the path you travel on is a safe one. That is their duty.”
“One they chose?”
His fingers slid across his chin as he eyed me. “All those who serve as guards or soldiers do so out of choice, fully prepared to take on all the responsibilities of such a position. Is it not that way in Lasania?”
“Some say there is a choice for whether one joins the armies. But is it really a choice for those who weren’t able to learn skills while growing up or cannot afford to attend universities to discover new ones?” I said. “For many, joining the armies is the only way to feed themselves or their families, so I don’t see it as a choice.”
“Neither do I,” Ash agreed, and he was silent as the carriage remained still. He offered his hand to me once more. “Sit with me?”
I halted for a moment, mostly out of surprise, and then I rose, taking his hand. He didn’t lead me to the seat beside him; instead, he adjusted himself so he sat with his back against the carriage wall and placed me on the bench between one bent leg and the other that he had propped on the floor. The shimmering gown spilled over the side of the bench and his right leg.
“I can taste your surprise,” he murmured as he brushed the strands of hair from the nape of my neck.
I gave a little jerk at the touch of his cool fingers against my neck. “When you asked that I sit with you, I didn’t think you meant that I was to basically sit in your lap.”
“Do you mind?”
“No.” I drew my thumb against the inside of my palm, following the swirl there.