Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
“You worry too much. He knows I only have eyes for you.”
I wrap my arms around his shoulders as I look into his eyes. I’ve learned to love their darkness, as it’s a part of Hawk now, like the golden tattoos on his face and the sharp teeth. All those features are a testament to the sacrifice he was ready to make for me.
“Are you saying you’ve been talking to the Lord about such things?”
Hawk shrugs. “Nah, it just came up when we talked about the wedding anniversary.”
He is impossible. And I love it.
“Speaking of which, get dressed. We need to be at the port by moondown. Have you fed Bloodgore?” I point out the red frog in its grand terrarium. We may have lost the redpole from Tassarion’s disposal, but I gifted Hawk a new one not long after we settled in here. It’s been growing since, and is now the size of his fist. I dread to think how big it will still get, but my man loves it, so I’ll just deal with what comes accordingly.
Hawk nods, but his pitch-black eyes widen as he puts me down in our front room, which is filled with books and the games Hawk had me import from the human realm. One of those caused a week of strife between Lord Kyran and myself. A board game called A Game of Thrones. The night when we both played it with our respective husbands got unreasonably heated as we argued over the rules, the betrayals, and then over who won. Hawk hated it, since he lost his army within the first hour of the match. He ended up dozing off but my violent argument with Lord Kyran woke him up. I’m not proud of my moment of madness. In the end, we had to agree to a peace brokered by Luke, which involved a Nocturne Court-wide ban on the game.
I turn on the lamp Hawk helped me construct out of numerous glass vials. It’s a more elaborate version of the lava lamp I owned in the human realm, as that one couldn’t be recovered and is no doubt being passed on the black market. I don’t even mind, as while a nice memento of our troubled journey, it doesn’t work without electricity anyway.
“Where are we going?” Hawk asks.
“It’s a surprise, but one I’m pretty sure you will appreciate.”
I grab my cane as he dresses. I wish my leg could have healed better, but despite the efforts of the best medics, I’ve been left with a bit of a limp. But it’s a price I was willing to pay for Hawk’s safety and happiness.
He's not yet had to take anyone's shadow. One day, the Lord of the Nocturne Court will call upon him, and he will need to be the executioner to someone's shadowcraft. All I can hope for is that the punishment will be just when it's required, so Hawk’s conscience can remain clear.
I’ve had his luggage packed for him, which he seems delighted by as he grabs our coffers and leads the way outside. By the time we’re boarding the ship, the moon’s gone from the sky, and the swamp lights are burning all around us as the crew adjusts the sails. The darkness beyond is absolute, but my husband doesn’t seem bothered and unpacks the snacks I purchased for him in the town closest to the castle. A woven screen is stretched across the deck to afford us privacy while we settle on a low sofa at the prow and glance at the sails bulging above. A member of the crew calls upon the wind.
“This whole magic thing is so useful. People used to get stuck in the middle of the ocean when there was no breeze,” Hawk tells me, pushing a stuffed bird into his mouth. The delicate bones fracture the moment he bites down.
“At least they aren’t at risk of being swallowed whole by a leviathan,” I jest, but Hawk’s eyes open wider, so I pat his arm. “We will be fine. This is a royal vessel, the captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and will not endanger us, even if it means turning back.”
Hawk shrugs and eats another bird, crunching with every bite.
“The vendor knew your name. You should have told me to order more snacks for you.” I smirk when he opens the cherin. The smell alone reminds me of our wedding day, and I choose to only remember how happy I felt before the Nightcloaks crashed our party.
He frowns and takes a swig straight from the bottle. “I have a fast metabolism.”
“You’ll need all that energy where we’re going, as there’s no laboratory there. I will require a lot of your attention.” I smile and sit closer, patting his belly.
Hawk’s mouth stretches into the goofiest of smiles, and he leans in to kiss me as the wind tousles our hair. “Come on, surely you can tell me where we’re going now that we’ve boarded the ship!”