Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
“Depends on how those matters are handled,” Xaden threatens, his hand motions sharpening as he signs and his tone slipping into that dangerous calm that makes the lieutenants across from us shift in their seats and my gaze flicker his way.
The hair rises on the back of my neck. There’s a flash of something…cold in his eyes, but it’s gone with a single blink. Huh.
“You and I are going to have problems,” Captain Grady warns.
“Probably.” Xaden nods.
Grady breathes deeply as the flush creeps to his jawline. “As we were saying. We’ve been given six months to find the seventh breed. The Senarium has ordered that we report back between searching potential sites to keep them informed—”
“What a fucking waste of time,” Xaden says.
“—which means selecting our first search areas within easy flight,” Grady continues.
“Just wait, it gets better.” I pick up my pen and roll it between my forefingers and thumb to keep myself busy. “I miss your hands.”
“Same.” He keeps his eyes on the map, but a band of shadow curls up my leg beneath the table and wraps around my upper thigh. “And your mouth, especially if that’s all I’m allowing myself.”
It’s on the tip of my mental tongue to tell him he doesn’t have to limit himself, but I’m sure drawing more power from the earth on his last mission isn’t exactly evoking confidence in his self-control.
“And I’ve chosen to begin along the northward coastline,” Captain Grady finishes.
Xaden’s brows hit the ceiling.
“Told you it got better.”
Captain Henson drums her fingers on the table. “Why?”
Grady clears his throat. “Basing our operation at the coastline gives us access to magic. Plus, the Emerald Sea is largely unexplored—”
“Because sailors don’t return from the deepest waters,” Henson retorts, then looks my way. “Where would your dragon like to search?”
“Cadet Sorrengail isn’t in charge,” Aura interrupts.
“You’re only here because I chose not to kill you for going after my wingleader,” I reply. “This is a mistake. The only people I trust in this room are you and Jesinia, and she’s reporting the missions after we return, not going on them.”
“Agreed.” Shadows swirl along the base of the wall. “Mira should add some balance, but not enough.”
“The last known communication we have with any isle kingdom is Deverelli,” I say into the awkward silence. “From what I’ve read, the merchant isle trades in more than goods. If there’s information to be had there, we can buy it for the right price. We should search all possible avenues, not just the north.”
Jesinia subtly nods as she records what I’ve suggested.
Everyone across from us starts speaking at once.
“They’ll kill us if we go there.”
“Splitting our forces weakens the squad.”
“Dragon-haters, all of them.”
“If the dragons were on the isles, one of them would have bragged.”
“Or used them in an assault,” I mutter mentally.
“What do you know?” Xaden asks, and the band of shadow strokes my inner thigh.
Fuck, it’s hard to think when he does that. “Records of the second Krovlan uprising have been ripped out of General Cadao’s journal, and Jesinia thinks an officer hinted that an isle kingdom was involved hundreds of years after we severed contact. General Aetos asked me about my father’s research on the subject last year—”
“Feathertails.” Xaden’s jaw ticks. “I vaguely remember him mentioning something about it on our way to the flight field.”
“Exactly. Dragons mentioned with isles tells me we should look south.” I watch the others descend into shouting, their hands flying as they sign, and Aura is the shrillest of them all. Pretty bold coming from a cadet. “I don’t know the contents of Dad’s research, but I do remember him suddenly going secretive with it about six months before he died. If he’d wanted Aetos or Markham to have it, he would have left the information in his Archives office.”
“As opposed to?” He glances my way as the shouting only grows.
“It’s in their quarters.” I wince. “General Aetos’s quarters. Don’t worry, Dain’s agreed to help me find it.”
Xaden cracks his neck. “‘Don’t worry’ and ‘Dain’ do not belong in the same sentence.”
“Silence!” Grady shouts, his complexion fully ruddy. “Aside from already provided logic, Deverelli requires too high a price for an audience. South is not an option,” he says to me, then turns toward Captain Henson. “And as for the Emerald Sea, perhaps dragons are the reason sailors don’t return. Until further notice, assume we will fly northward in the next month. Prepare your supplies. This meeting is adjourned.”
Fuck. Every bone in my body says to fly south.
“Stay,” Xaden says. “I’d kill for thirty seconds with you.”
“Absolutely.” A freaking hug sounds great.
Xaden and I hang behind as everyone files out, even Jesinia, but Aura Beinhaven waits at the door like a nursemaid, her brow arched as I gather my things.
“Yes, Aura?” I ask as I close my pack.