Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“What happened with your parents?” Willow asks.
“My aunt hated the idea of being forced to marry, so she ran off and married the Turi Tribe leader many suns ago. They had a child, and my belief is the tribe leader filled her head with things beyond her capability. She considered herself more powerful than my father and wanted to take over the kingdom, so she sent a few of their tribesman after my father. Long story short, my father had them killed and the tribe leader—Valden’s father—became angry. Vengeful. There was a short battle then, but we won. She and her entire tribe were banished thereafter.”
I shift on my feet. “I see.”
“Valden is their son and is now the tribe’s leader. Now that our parents are gone, he’s implemented changes within his tribe. They’re much stronger, smarter, and resourceful.”
“So why are they still banished?”
“Because he blames my father, and I blame his parents,” she answers, eyeing me. “Not only that, but his people and mine would not get along. Too much blame. It’s an ongoing argument between us. I visit him once a year outside Bao Forest to check in with him and his family. We are allies and I do know he’s a man of his word, but I don’t trust the rest of his tribe enough for us all to co-exist.” She faces me full on. “He has likely come to you because he wants a war plan. He doesn’t want to go into the fight blind. He knows our tactics. All we can do is hope to the good Regals they work.”
“We hardly have a plan, Alora,” I tell her. “We don’t know what to expect from Selah other than those creatures and dragons. All we can do is train and strengthen ourselves.”
She looks between me and Willow. “This war is terrifying, Caspian. I care for my people and do not want them to die.”
“I don’t want my people dead either.”
“You realize, though, that we are all fighting for you?”
My head hangs a bit. “I do, yes.”
“And that you are the only person who can truly save us?”
I nod reluctantly. “Yes,” I answer again.
“Have you allowed Yuri to take over? Have you harnessed what he has given you?”
I look away with a sigh. She couldn’t seem to get a read on me the last time I was here, but that doesn’t mean she couldn’t read Rowan, Killian, or even Juniper when they last visited. She knows everything.
“I’m trying,” I finally say. Sort of. I haven’t heard Yuri’s voice in several hours, probably because I was upset with Willow and Hassha.
“You have to embrace this, Caspian,” Alora says. “I know it is a lot to ask of you and you hate the pressure, but this is your gift. Your ability. Just like I have mine and own them, you must own yours.”
I look at Willow, whose eyes are kind, hopeful, a smile gracing her lips. Then I look past the balcony to the setting sun.
“Are you afraid of it?” Alora asks.
I shift my gaze to hers. “Honestly? Yes.”
“Why?” Willow asks, taking my hand in hers. Her palm is soft and just the thing I need to stay rooted with all that’s going on.
“I worry that if I let him take over, I won’t be able to control what I do anymore.” I swallow thickly. “I worry that I could cause much more damage than Selah ever could. They say he’s the strongest of them all. If I give in to that, what does that make me? Who do I become? Because if we win this war, I won’t be Caz Harlow anymore. I’ll be…him.”
I drop my eyes to Willow’s, and her brown irises glisten. “You’ll still be you, Caz. Nothing can change who you are.”
“We don’t know that.”
“So long as you stick to your truths—to the cause—nothing will change. If anything, you’ll only become stronger.” Alora looks into my eyes, and I can tell she’s trying to remain confident, but there’s no missing the panic living there. I feel it radiating off her.
She blinks it all away though and gives both me and Willow hugs.
“At the end of it all, we must do whatever it takes to protect ourselves and our territories,” she murmurs. “Even if that means losing ourselves a little.”
“Be safe, Alora.” Willow squeezes her before letting go.
I take my mate’s hand and we exit the balcony, preparing to leave.
Before I go, Alora calls after us. “I must remind you, Caspian,” she yells. “Let Yuri reign. If not for you, then for her.”
Right. For Willow.
SIXTY-EIGHT
WILLOW
“We have three more days until Selah appears.” I bite into my sandwich as I sit at the kitchen counter.
Caz and I arrived in Blackwater last night after our trip to Vanora and I was grateful to sleep uninterrupted for five hours.
Juniper is next to me, stuffing the last corner of her sandwich into her mouth.