Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 661(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 661(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Not know them? How can I even think the words? I can be as mad as I like, but I know how they kiss and how they love it when I wrap my arms around them. I know that Lach tends to take the lead, and Shim is the soft touch. Lach is always more closed off, but once he opens up, he throws himself into everything with an almost wild abandon. The games we played through our shared dreams when we were children proved that. Lach would start by watching and standing to the side while Shim held my hand, but by morning Lach would run and play and scream with us. Shim likes stories. Even as we aged. As our dreams turned more physical, Shim still wanted to hear stories from my life and made-up tales.
But that was in my dreams. Dreams, not reality. Reality is Torin killing half the plane. Reality is I’m the last of my line still living on the plane, and I can’t chase after my dreams.
Niall takes a long breath. “It doesn’t matter. We need to get you to Sir Giles’s province. I sent word that I was bringing you.”
“Did you? And how were you going to explain my absence?” As far as Niall knew, I was a heap of ashes in the town square.
He flushes. “That’s why I needed the knife.”
“You were going to find someone to take my place. I’m not sure my father would approve.” Of course I also know how ruthless my father can be. I doubt becoming a corpse-eating ghost softened him much. “I suppose it wouldn’t be too difficult to find someone with the Finn coloring. And if Father taught you, then you could perhaps teach her how to do a halfway decent impression of me. After all, no one has seen me since I was a child.”
He reaches out for my hand. “I was doing what it took to secure the throne and get rid of Torin so your father has a chance to be free and your brothers a shot at coming home.”
I avoid his touch. It isn’t a horrible plan.
“Well, now you don’t need to. You have me.” My course is set. My heart aches at the thought of leaving them. I just discovered my Dark Ones, but the only thought that hurts worse than leaving is the idea of staying and discovering all the ways they plan to use me.
Niall settles his pack on his shoulder. “You need to change. We’ll have to pose as husband and wife traveling to market or looking for work, but people will ask about that dress. It’s too nice to travel in, and it looks as though it got singed. Come on. Let’s go inside and get you ready. You can pack up some small items. It should be two days’ walk to Sir Giles’s.”
He turns and strides back up to the tower. I follow. I’m placing a lot of faith in a man I barely know, but my father sent him, and I’ll fare better with a pretend husband than on my own.
“I’ll be quick.” I rush up the stairs, already pulling at the ties of my dress. The wolf shuffles up behind me, utterly ignoring my command to stay. I open the door to my small room and let the wolf in. “You only listen when you want to.”
I cross to the dresser and pull out traveling clothes. Suede pants and a big blousy shirt. Comfortable clothes.
“I suppose you won’t let me eat him now. No one ever does.” A feminine voice causes me to shriek.
I turn and there’s a naked female on the bed. She’s slight, petite, and graceful, with huge blue eyes and a mass of wavy, sun-kissed brown hair. And the wolf is nowhere in sight. A shape-shifter? A hag can shift.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not a hag. Everyone always assumes I’m a hag. Meg says I’m a werewolf, which is much better than what Dante calls me. Shanimal. Silly name and a silly man.”
Dante? “Dante Dellacourt? My cousin?”
The woman smiles, a bright thing that lights up the room. “Your cousin, my husband. I think that makes us family, Bronwyn. Or should I call you princess? Your brothers are very informal.”
Tears well. Where there was terror only a moment ago, a reluctant hope swells inside. “My brothers?” I’m talking to a naked wolf woman who claims to be my cousin by law. It’s all too much. “I find it convenient that you suddenly know my brothers.”
The woman’s eyes widen. “I do not suddenly know Beck and Cian. I have known them for a while now. At first I think Beck feared that he would have to slay me. It’s a good thing he did not try. I would have taken a chunk out of his hide. And Megan would have been very distressed. She likes me. She’s my cousin, too. It is good to have family. Although my family is very odd. I like you. You’re different. You seem to understand the necessity to be a bit brutal with your enemies. Which brings me back to my original point. I think you should allow me to eat that man. He is going to get you in trouble.”