Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
His queen seemed discomfited for a moment at this gesture before she hid it, and hid her fondness for his touch, as minimal as it was, by reaching toward her wineglass.
“There is more, my wife,” he murmured distractedly.
He was speaking but he was much caught up in the twirling of her hair.
After taking a sip, her voice was husky when she asked, “There is?”
“My friend, he is a man lost.”
Ha-Lah set her glass aside and turned her head his way, which took her tendril from her husband’s fingers.
And they both looked like something was lost with that.
Aramus recovered first. “Tonight, when he walked in with his future bride, his eyes were full of fire. I have not seen that from my friend, not once, not in six years.” He leaned toward his wife. “It brings gladness to my heart, Ha-Lah. For this means he might get found.”
“Then it brings gladness to mine, Aramus,” she whispered.
His eyes dropped to her mouth and he grinned.
With some clear nervousness, she faced forward.
Even if their words were amicable, they were not yet in full accord.
But they would be.
She had the beasts of the sea at her command.
He had a secret weapon.
No, it would not be wise to target either of them.
The observer shifted his attention to the left end of the table.
“My daughter is not here,” Cassius was saying. “She meets us in Wodell. I didn’t want her away from her studies for this long.”
Elena did not reply.
Instead, she stared angrily at the plate in front her.
“But I will meet your daughter,” Cassius declared.
“In a few days,” Elena murmured, picking up her fork and knife.
“Tomorrow,” he retorted.
Her head turned his way and her cheeks were flushed, not with her rouge, with ire. “Tomorrow is too soon.”
“It’s not too soon. What is soon is that we will be a family,” he replied.
“Yes, and your man killed her mother. Perhaps you’ll give me, oh…I don’t know, an hour to come to terms with that myself,” she rejoined.
One of his men killed her ward’s mother?
Interesting.
Cassius dipped his head to Elena, and she braced, clearly wishing to pull away at the same time fighting to hold her stance for she didn’t want to show the weakness of retreat.
“It was war, Elena, and I do not know the circumstances. What I do know is that it is likely it was him or it was her. And it is unspeakably unfortunate it was her. As it would be unspeakably unfortunate if it was him.”
A wise response.
The priest knew that when Elena turned her attention back to her plate, set down her utensils and reached for her thin flute of sparkles.
She had no retort.
Not to that.
“It matters not. We cannot arrange a meeting for the morrow,” she said before putting the glass to her lips. “The piercing ceremony is tomorrow.”
With that, she took a sip.
“It’s my understanding that lasts less than an hour,” Cassius returned.
With but a glance at him, she fired back, “It’s my understanding much bonding happens after it.”
She then drained the last of her wine.
Cassius instantly put his bottom lip to his teeth and emitted a low whistle.
A servant boy came forward.
“Bring my intended another glass of sparkles,” he ordered.
The boy nodded and dashed away.
And as he did, Cassius most definitely had the full attention of his betrothed again.
“Did you just whistle at a servant?” Elena snapped.
Cassius looked to her. “Tell me, is there anything I can do in this moment that will please you? Outside leaving your presence, of course.”
“What you could do is not whistle at servants like they’re dogs or order my wine refreshed. I can order my own wine.”
“It is the gallant who sees to his partner’s needs before she realizes she even needs them,” he educated.
“I don’t need a gallant,” she returned. “I need a dinner partner who doesn’t whistle at servants.”
Cassius sighed, sat back and reached for his own wine, bringing it to his lips and murmuring to the rim of the glass, “Would that this was whiskey.”
“Would you like for me to whistle at a servant and get that for you?” Elena asked archly.
At that, Cassius set his glass aside untasted and twisted his torso fully to her, leaning in.
He was very much larger than her, and looming that way, an immediate threat.
She again didn’t retreat.
This time, it would be a mistake.
“You don’t wish to know what I truly would like to do,” he said low.
“Yes, I do. You’re my betrothed. Obviously, it is my most fervent desire to know everything about you,” she responded sarcastically.
“Trust me, this you don’t wish to know,” he warned.
“I’m no wilting violet, my prince,” she stated unwisely. “If I haven’t made this clear before now, you don’t need to protect me from the anything. I have traveled. I have studied at the Go’Da. I protect The Enchantments. I highly suspect I’m more worldly-wise than any female you’ve ever met.”