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)
“None of them will harbor any ill thoughts toward you now. They will see you as you are. Brave and daring.” Nyktos had lowered his head, speaking so only I could hear him. His cool breath danced over the shell of my ear, sending a shiver over my skin. “And if they still harbor any ill thoughts, they will be the last ones they ever have. No matter how loyal they are to the Shadowlands, I will destroy them.”
I stiffened.
There wasn’t a single part of me that doubted the sincerity of his threat. It was in the shadows of his voice, and I…well, I was still torn between wanting to strangle Nyktos and maybe kiss him.
He obviously hadn’t forgotten what I’d said about his guards. This speech accomplished two things. It gained favor with those displeased with me and, in the process, checkmated me in a rather impressive way.
Because Nyktos had just ensured that all in the room would be highly unlikely to aid me in any future attempts to go to Kolis. Something Nyktos may have never considered if I hadn’t opened my big mouth and told him how his guards would’ve been happy to see me gone. Not only that, they’d be watching me even closer now that they knew what I was capable of attempting.
I looked over my shoulder at him, my eyes narrowing. “Clever bastard,” I whispered.
One side of his lips curved up. “I know.” The essence brightened in his eyes as he tipped his head down to mine, bringing our mouths so close I thought for a moment he might actually kiss me. “But I meant every word I said. You are brave and strong. You will be a Consort more than worthy of their swords and shields.”
Dampness rushed to my eyes, and I quickly looked away. I had to. Ragged, raw emotion swelled. What he said meant the realm to me, because every word he’d spoken had been about me and my actions. Not what he believed about me. Not what I or the embers could do for him, but what I had chosen to do. And for the first time in my life, I felt like I was more than a destiny I’d never agreed to. More than the embers I carried within me.
I felt like…more.
Chapter 9
Orphine had led me off the dais, through the war room, and into the narrow corridor that led to the east wing and Nyktos’s office, then left me standing in the shadowy alcove, still dazed by Nyktos’s actions. Doubting that I was being left alone, I opened the door and halted mid-step.
What I saw was not at all what I’d expected.
Nektas sat on the settee across from a small table with a covered dish and a pitcher of juice, his long legs stretched out in front of him and crossed at the ankles. His arms were folded across his chest, stretching the material of his black shirt. His eyes were closed and his head tipped back, exposing the coppery flesh of his throat. His long, dark hair streaked with red fell over one shoulder where…
In her draken form, his daughter lay on her back beside him, her hind legs pressed into the cushion of the settee as she batted at the strands of Nektas’s hair with her front talons.
Jadis turned her oval, greenish-brown head toward me. Her crimson-hued eyes widened as she let out what I could only surmise was a squawk of surprise. A happy surprise?
“Morning,” Nektas’s deep voice rumbled.
Jadis made that sound again as she pulled her talons from her father’s hair, jerking his head several times before freeing herself. He gave no reaction, his eyes remaining closed. The tiny draken rolled over onto her belly. Thin, nearly translucent wings unfurled as she jumped down from the settee, landing with a soft thud.
Scurrying across the floor on two legs and then four, Jadis ran straight into me. Clasping my leggings, she hopped as she yipped once and then twice, tugging on the material.
“She wants you to pick her up,” Nektas commented. “If you don’t submit to that, she’s likely to throw a temper tantrum.” One wine-red eye opened. “You do not want that to happen. Trust me.”
Considering she was starting to cough up smoke and flame, I really didn’t want that. I hesitated, though, glancing at my hands. I swallowed thickly. “Are you sure you want me to pick her up?”
“Why would I have a problem with that?”
“You saw what I did to Nyktos.” I cut him a sharp look.
“What you did to Ash was an accident. One I don’t fear you repeating with my daughter.”
I really hoped his confidence wasn’t misplaced as I bent at the waist, extending my arms like Nyktos had shown me. Jadis didn’t hesitate. The touch of her scales was cool against my skin as she latched onto my arms without using her claws. I lifted her, and she immediately plastered herself to my chest, wrapping her arms around my neck.