Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“The princess is missing?”
He squeezes the back of his neck before tilting his face up to the ceiling. “The ring you told us about—it doesn’t just give her the kiss of death. It makes it so people bend to her will, and when she walks away no one can remember her. And now apparently Jasalyn can’t remove it. So they don’t know exactly when she went missing, and they can’t remember why she left or what was said or happened to make her go. Your brother was smart enough to make some notes, but he has no notes about whatever made her leave.”
“That ring is controlling her. More than she knows.”
“Kendrick confirmed as much.” He squeezes the back of his neck. I’ve never seen him look so exhausted. “Meanwhile, the shadow court is on the verge of civil war. Mordeus’s followers are preparing to move against the queen. If her enemies know the princess is missing, they’ll use it against her to sow doubt in the crown. So long as Jasalyn wears that ring, we’ll never truly be able to find her, especially with Mordeus having some level of control over her body and actions. What’s worse is that she doesn’t even know what will happen on her birthday.”
I frown, wondering if I’m misremembering what I learned through her memories. “You mean because of trading her immortal life for the ring?”
He blows out a long breath and holds my gaze for a beat before speaking. “Because Jasalyn is a phoenix and once her life ends, Mordeus will be able to harness that power through their connection and take over her body. Mordeus’s resurrection will be complete when his spirit takes her body on her eighteenth birthday.”
“A phoenix? As in the bird that burns and rises from the ash?” I’ve heard of such a thing but never had reason to believe it was more than a myth. “And she doesn’t know?”
“That’s why we need you. We need to find her and tell her what Mordeus has planned—to save the princess and the Unseelie Court.”
That’s why he came for me—because they need me to help them find Jas. Not because he’s in love with me or even because he forgives me.
“The shadow queen has found a tool that will help us rid her of the ring, and with your special gifts, you could help us retrieve it.”
“What tool?”
“It’s called the Stone of Disenchantment. It could nullify the ring’s magic.”
“So if we nullify the ring’s magic then Mordeus can’t take over her body?”
The look in his eyes tells me his answer before he speaks. “Unfortunately, the link between Jasalyn and Mordeus goes much deeper than a magical ring. Using the Stone of Disenchantment is only the first step, but we have to start here.”
I give a shaky nod. I’ll help. However I can, I’ll help. But the confirmation that Misha came because he needs my help and not because he cares lands like a blow.
“We can talk about all this tomorrow. You need to rest.” The kettle whistles and he turns away from me, removing it from the fire before busying himself over steaming mugs in the kitchen.
“It feels like I’ve done nothing but rest for months. Unless you still hate me and prefer I’m silent.”
He brings a mug to me. “Drink this, Prin—” He catches himself and clears his throat. “Felicity.”
I roll the warm mug between my cold hands, staring at it instead of at him. How many times did I long to hear my name from his tongue? I just hoped it would be said with the same tenderness he used when he called me Jasalyn. “Thank you.”
“For the tea or for rescuing you after eight months of captivity?”
My head snaps up. “Eight months? You waited eight months to come for me? Was that supposed to be some kind of punishment?”
His eyes go wide for a beat. “Are you always so grateful when someone saves your life?”
“Why do I doubt you wanted to?”
“I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.” He folds his arms. “You are lucky we found you at all. Lucky you left traces of blood behind in your cell that we could use to track you, lucky that we had a collection of very talented magic wielders at our disposal who could help, and lucky we didn’t give up when we came up empty-handed in realm after realm. Then once we located you behind some artfully crafted wards, we had to begin the process of determining how to access that cell—a task that required a combination of powerful portal magic, sacred stones, and a vast knowledge of the layout of a massive prison in an unknown land.” He flashes a cruel smile. “But please accept my apologies if we didn’t manage all that fast enough for you.”
I grimace. I need to stop giving him more reasons to loathe me. “I didn’t mean . . .” I take a breath and push to standing. “I’m sorry. I really am grateful.”