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)
Kendrick intertwines his fingers with mine, and I let him lead me up the stairs and into the room Amelia indicated would be mine. It’s small but it has a big window behind the bed. There are plenty of candles for light while I sleep. I should feel safe enough if Kendrick wants to save Loryn the aggravation by sleeping in his own room.
He drops his satchel on the floor in the corner and then shuts the door. “I’m sorry about Loryn. She means well, but she’s toeing the line. I’ll talk to her.”
“You don’t need to do that,” I murmur, but I’m distracted. The room seems familiar to me, and at first I can’t place it. “You brought me here. After I confronted Erith and you found me in the rubble of my old house.”
“We needed somewhere safe in Elora, and I knew Amelia would accommodate us.”
“But she didn’t know me. She wasn’t here?”
“Not that day, which is for the best. She would’ve lost her cool at the chance to meet your sister. She’s completely enamored with the idea of an Eloran human rising to power in Faerie and thinks your sister is the quintessential badass.”
I smile. “Well, I can’t blame her for that. Do Hector and Loryn live here too?”
He shrugs. “They stay sometimes, but this is Amelia’s home. They are emissaries for the movement, so they go from town to town in Elora to check in with our people and keep things organized.” He digs a piece of chalk from his satchel and walks to the corner, marking something on the wall.
“What kind of things?”
“Killing Erith is only the first step to putting the realm to rights,” he says, moving to another corner. “We have a long fight ahead of us, so it’s vital that we keep our supporters in the loop—letting them know what to expect and how they can help.” He moves to the third corner and I realize he’s drawing runes on the walls.
“What are those for?” I ask.
“It’s a barrier to keep unwanted guests out of this room. In Faerie I’d just use my own magic to create wards around us, but here it’s safer to use mage magic.”
I want to ask if he always warded the spaces where I slept when we were together, but I already know the answer. Kendrick’s protected me from the day we met. “I didn’t expect your friends here to know about me,” I admit.
After marking the final corner, he wanders to the window and stares out for a long time before answering. When he finally does, all he says is “They care about me, and I care about you.” He looks me over one last time, as if he’s trying to convince himself I’ll be safe here without him. “Natan and I need to run out to see someone, but we’ll be back in time for dinner.”
He heads through the door, and I blurt, “I don’t want them thinking I’m a threat to their queen.”
He turns around slowly and leans on the doorjamb, scanning my face. “I’ve never wanted to fight for anything the way I was willing to fight for Elora.”
“I know. And they know that too. I just want you to know, I won’t ruin—”
“But that was before you. Everything’s different now.”
Everything in my chest twists tight. It’s hope I have no right to hold on to. “Kendrick . . .”
“You’re fighting for your life, and there is nothing that’s more important than that. That’s why I haven’t pushed this thing between us.” He swallows. “But, for the record, I reject any future that doesn’t include you. I’m not willing to give you up, not so long as you’ll have me.”
I stride across the room and tuck my hand into his belt to tug him forward. Rising onto my toes and pressing my mouth to his, I slide my hand behind his neck, and he slides his behind my back. He’s warm and soft, and his kiss makes me believe this will all be okay. We will find the witch and undo the deal. We will find a way to save Elora from the tyranny of the Seven that doesn’t require me to watch the male I love marry someone else.
Kendrick angles his mouth over mine and pulls me closer. I melt into him and brush my tongue against his. He groans, removing the hand I’ve slid up into his shirt and against his warm skin without thinking.
I laugh and pull away. “Sorry.”
“Never apologize for that.” He leans back in to nip at my bottom lip, then backs out the door, dimples flashing just long enough to promise soon.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jasalyn
Kendrick and Natan are out longer than expected, but Amelia distracts me from my worry by telling me about her family and life in Elora. She asks me questions about where I grew up and what it’s like to live in the Midnight Palace. By the time Kendrick and Natan appear, she feels like an old friend.