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)
“I heard about the creatures who take over their host’s bodies. Old magic, but if the stories are right, you’ll run from this host if I cause you enough pain.”
I jerk away, ready to run for my life, but I can’t. He has me locked in place with his magic, and he grins the moment he sees it register in my eyes. When his blade plunges into my shoulder, I scream.
He pulls the blade free before dragging it down my arm. He plunges it through my hand. “This is going to be so satisfying.”
If my body were in my own control, I would crumple. I’m not strong like my brother. I’m not fearless in the face of pain, and this—this pain laced with anticipation of more to come—is brutal.
But then Leon’s blade clatters to the floor and he gulps like he can’t get air.
Misha’s eyes blaze as he yanks Leon off me, holding him with one hand on either side of his head. “You drank too much tonight,” he says, staring into the male’s watery eyes. “You don’t remember anything after leaving the ball, only that you were so jealous of the attention your brother was getting from the princess that you drank yourself mindless.”
“Heard something strange,” someone says down the hall, steps coming closer.
Misha releases Leon, letting him crumple to the ground. His eyes dart to the door for a beat before a blast of magic shimmers through the room and a portal appears. I try to move toward it, but whatever magic Leon used to paralyze me still lingers and my movements are strained and jerky.
The doorknob turns and Misha wraps me in his arms. In the next moment we’re tumbling into a grassy field. Misha lands on top of me, and before I can appreciate the sensation, he rolls to sitting, resting his arms on his knees, breathing hard.
“We’ll wait here until Pretha can come open a portal for us,” he says.
I clutch my wounded arm to my side and look around. “Where are we?”
“In the pastures behind the Pandians’ barn.”
I want to ask why he can’t open a portal to get us back to the Midnight Palace, but something tells me he wouldn’t appreciate the question.
“You asked why I insisted on coming,” he says. “That was why. Lark told me to be cautious tonight.”
And since Lark has visions of the future, he would have very good reason to take her warning seriously. I cough out a laugh. I feel practically manic. My blood is buzzing with the thrill of having survived while still pumping like I need to flee. “Maybe just warn a girl next time?”
“What would you have done differently if I’d said, ‘By the way, my niece said the bad man thinks he can torture you out of your body and to please not let him accidentally kill you’?” Exhaustion lines his face, and while I know he just expended an exceptional amount of magical energy, I’m shocked to see him so spent.
“You knew what that meant?”
His full lips quirk in amusement. “I had no idea what any of it meant, but that’s not unusual for Lark’s visions. I just knew you were in danger. I figured it would be better if you weren’t alone.”
I shift, slowly testing my muscles before moving to sit up. “Thanks.”
“Look who can move again.”
I flinch. “The stone. I left it on the table.”
Misha pats his side. “I grabbed it before we left.”
“Leon’s more powerful than I thought if he could hold me still like that.”
Misha shakes his head. “No, I was starting to feel it even in the short time I was in there. You must’ve set off some trap when you entered the room. I’m guessing some substance the brothers are immune to.”
“Crabknot seed,” I mutter. “It paralyzes anyone who breathes in enough of it. If the family uses it for security, they probably eat the roots regularly so they aren’t affected by the seeds.” I knew something was off, but I was so focused on my mission I didn’t stop to think about what I was smelling.
Tonight could’ve ended very differently if Misha hadn’t been so close.
“I’m glad you came,” I say.
“Good to know my company is preferable to death. Even if only slightly.”
I want to laugh but the pain in my arm and shoulder are too intense.
He studies me, brow furrowed. “They have a healer waiting for you at the palace.”
“Leon won’t remember?” I ask.
Misha winces. “Not my best work, but it will do.”
“And what about Ezra? Will he be suspicious that Jasalyn never showed?”
“Skylar doesn’t think so,” he says. “She told him the princess changed her mind because she didn’t want her sister angry with her. We’ll probably need you to take Jasalyn’s form again tomorrow to lock the story in.”
A portal appears in front of us, and Misha helps me stand, an arm wrapped around my waist as we step through it and into a bedroom with the familiar black stone floor of the Midnight Palace.