Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Adrian stood, intending to move the phone closer to Haru, but Haru also stood and walked around the table to perch on the arm of Adrian’s chair. Adrian sat again, while Haru braced a hand on the back so that he was surrounding Adrian.
“I was there and saw her,” Haru confirmed.
“Did you…” Caelan began and stopped. “Could you sense any magic from her?”
“Apparently, she lost control of her magic while she was being tortured. When we entered the facility, I could sense her magic everywhere, but it was fading. By the time we reached her body, I could sense a faint magic that I believe was hers. However, the lingering magic in the air from Shey and Tyche was stronger.” Haru gave his answer carefully, his brow furrowed as he stared at the phone. There was something particular Caelan was worried about, but he wasn’t willing to share his thoughts.
“Okay. Thank you. I…I need to think about this.”
There was another lengthy pause, and not for the first time, Adrian hated the distance between them. After spending months with Caelan, he’d gotten good at reading the king’s expressions. Being unable to see Caelan’s face was driving him crazy. So much of his job was being able to anticipate the king’s needs and thoughts. How could he be effective at his job if he couldn’t guess at what the king needed?
“So, this other god? The God of Luck, you said?” Drayce interjected. His voice was stiff as if he were trying to be lighthearted, but Adrian could hear that he was concerned as well. “What’s he like? Big and scary?”
Adrian groaned. “You’re a dragon. I can’t imagine what you would see as big and scary. Never mind. No, he’s not. If Haru hadn’t announced that Tyche was a god, I would never have guessed it. Fuck. He’s the most normal, scrawny, average-looking guy you’ve ever seen. Crazy red hair and enormous green eyes. Also, he’s obsessed with coffee and is terrified of Haru.”
“No shit!” Drayce gasped, and even Caelan chuckled in the background.
“It is true. He is odd and afraid of me,” Haru admitted with a smug smile. “He seems afraid that I will blame him for the war between the dragons and the gods.”
“Thoughts?” Caelan chimed in.
“I like him.” Those three words earned Adrian a dark glare from Haru, but he continued as if he hadn’t noticed. “He’s funny and seems nice. Kind of harmless. Even though I did see him kill three armed guards with nothing more than some really bad luck.”
“Whoa.” Drayce exhaled. “Freaky.”
“I am reluctant to trust him. He may appear harmless, but he is still a god. They are all tricky. Even my own cousin.”
Adrian thumped Haru in the middle of his chest with his fist, but the damn dragon caught his hand and continued to hold it despite Adrian’s efforts to pull it free. Butterflies fluttered in Adrian’s stomach, but he ignored them.
“Shey trusts him,” Adrian pointed out stubbornly.
Caelan sighed as if he could see them bickering. “Remain cautious. All gods and goddesses are dangerous. He may be trustworthy, but we don’t yet know what he wants. After everything that has happened, I know it is silly to ask, but…when do you think you’ll be coming home?”
Adrian’s shoulders slumped, and Haru loosened his grip, allowing Adrian’s hand to fall back to his lap. “Your Majesty…”
“That’s never a good start,” Caelan muttered.
Adrian corrected himself. “Cael, I’m hesitant to leave. I know our job was to find Shey, and we’ve done that, but I don’t think he’s ready to return to Sirelis. He was tortured, and people with no one to protect them are dying here. Shey’s the type to want to finish a job, regardless of the threat to himself. Besides, what if they get their hands on a god or goddess more powerful than Tyche or Yesuntei? A lot of people died after the Goddess of Nightmares’ magic went crazy. We’re all better off leaving the gods alone.” Adrian sucked in a deep breath and noisily released it. “Plus, Shey really came through during our fight to reach you and the others in the Ordas. I don’t want to leave him now.”
Caelan grunted, and Adrian could see him frowning in his mind, a little furrow forming in his brow. “Understood. Just know that I see your mission completed and successful. You are free to come home at any time. But if you stay, I ask that you keep me apprised of the situation. Especially the situation with the gods. I can send you help. You must come home safely. I need my personal guard back.”
“Yeah, because apparently I’m too distracting,” Drayce interjected, making Adrian snort. He could imagine how Drayce was distracting his fiancé.
“I will. I promise.”
“Haru,” Caelan continued. “If things get too dangerous, you have my permission to scoop Adrian up and fly him here immediately. To hell with gods and princes.”