Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
I gave him a confused look, wondering why he seemed so indifferent to me. He was so sweet and tender last night.
“Yes. Are you okay?” I replied as I bunched up the sheets to cover myself. For some reason, I felt out of place.
“I’m fine,” Sol said before looking away. He checked the time on his watch, lightly sighing to himself.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek, trying to figure out why he was acting so strange. Something was wrong.
“Do you… regret last night?” I asked him as a sinking sensation weighed me down. I enjoyed our time together so much. I got lost in him, letting my worries dissolve away. Now, I wondered if he even felt the same way or not. He had claimed that he cared about me. What changed?
Sol was quiet for a few seconds before shaking his head.
“We need to focus on other things,” he told me, dismissing my question like it didn’t matter. I knew that he just didn’t want to answer it.
“Okay,” I said slowly, sounding as confused as I felt. I just didn’t understand what happened between midnight and this morning. Did I miss something?
Sol checked his watch once more before rising to his feet.
“Put your clothes on,” he told me, handing me my clothes.
I felt stung by his behaviour, but I carefully pulled on my pants. My knee was sore, but it was easier to walk on it today. After slipping on my shirt, I turned to Sol.
“Is something going on?” I asked him.
Sol lingered close to the door of the room, making me nervous and on edge. He was waiting on something or someone.
“If we’re going to take on Arvo and possibly Zephyr, we’re going to need help,” he told me.
A few moments later, a knock sounded on the door. I looked over at the door, taking a step back. When he reached for the doorknob, my shoulders tensed, preparing myself for whoever was on the other side.
When Sol opened the door, Theo stepped inside of the room, his eyes immediately locking with mine.
“Biba,” he greeted me with a relieved smile.
I could only stare at Theo, hardly able to believe that he was right in front of me. When he’d disappeared for so long, I thought that I would never see him again. I figured he ran far away, and I couldn’t blame him for doing so. Stormcloud wasn’t safe for him. It wasn’t safe for anyone, even the Kings.
“Theo,” I breathed out before lunging forward, embracing him tightly. I was afraid if I let him go that he would disappear again.
Theo laughed lightly as he squeezed me back, swaying with me as we reconnected after so long. He rubbed my back before we parted.
“You don’t know how good it is to see you,” he told me warmly.
It was even nice hearing his voice again. Having him here gave me hope. He was on our side, which surprised me since Theo and the Kings didn’t get along. That included Sol. I never would’ve expected them to work together, but Stormcloud’s issues were bigger than petty rivalries.
“Where have you been? You just disappeared without a word,” I asked him, giving him a pointed look. He had worried me, making me wonder if he was dead or not.
“My mother gave me a map that led me to a cabin. I think she knew something could happen to her,” Theo told me.
I was happy to hear that Simone managed to do one last thing for her son before she died. I wished Theo had more time with her, but parents had been dropping like flies in the past few years, especially if they were connected to the Kings or were Kings themselves.
“I’m glad she helped you stay safe,” I said sincerely. I was glad we’d found each other again, and I had a feeling that Sol had something to do with that. He was fairly quiet by the door as he watched us talk. I wondered why that was.
“That wasn’t the only thing she gave me. She wrote some letters to me,” Theo told me.
“What did they say?” I asked him, feeling my heart race. Any piece of information could give us a step up on our enemies. Information could be a weapon for us to wield, and we needed all of the firepower that we could get.
“She talked about a girl named Estrella. She was her roommate when they attended Stormcloud. Estrella was in love with Rafael. Well, both of them were,” Theo told me.
My eyes shot wide. Estrella. I knew that name. Now, I could find out what happened to her. She was a huge missing piece that created so many confusing questions.
“What happened to Estrella?” I demanded.
“Rafael got her pregnant. Simone found out and reported Estrella to Edward Hurley, and she was removed from school. Not too long after, she died,” Theo replied.