Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
His usual air of intensity sharpened to a razor point, as if he were 100 percent invested in what I had to say. No wonder I was falling for him. He couldn’t be any sexier.
I rested my head on his chest, letting his heart beat against my cheek. “Long ago, a fierce warrior found a dagger able to cause irreparable wounds. He told himself he would only use the weapon for good. Bad guys beware.” I wrinkled my nose and lifted my head. “Are you sure you’re interested in this?”
“I want every detail.” Cyrus nipped my bottom lip before easing my cheek back to his pec. “I will have them.”
Yes, apparently, he could be sexier. “One day, the warrior came upon a masked thief in the process of fleeing the scene of a crime. They fought, and the warrior nicked the bandit before he got away. But our fearsome warrior wasn’t concerned. That small cut promised to do his job for him, since the wound could never heal, only worsen. The would-be thief was set to suffer for the rest of his too-short days. The perfect punishment for his crime.”
“This is a bedtime story for a little girl?”
My chuckle possessed a delighted tinge. “Don’t worry, it gets better. The warrior went home to discover the wounded thief was none other than his treasured son. In that moment, the warrior realized he himself now suffered a far worse fate than his child, for he was doomed to live long with the consequences of what he’d done.”
“Aaah. She was telling you that your father hurt himself far more than he hurt you.”
“Exactly.” My shoulders rolled in as I sighed. “I admit, there were times I took comfort from the thought of his torment. Other times, I pitied him. Now, I rarely even think of him.”
Using the gentlest of tones, Cyrus told me, “His inability to see your worth speaks of his faults, not yours.”
I was beginning to believe it. Lifting my head, I smiled at him. “Your father cares for you too. He even questioned me about my intentions toward you.”
Cyrus’s eyes brightened. “Did he now? And how did you respond?”
Grinning, I eased from his embrace. “I’ll have to tell you later. We have a party to prepare for. I assume all the counts and countesses in the building are attending.”
“All,” he confirmed. “No one turns down my father.”
Perfect. I rubbed my hands together. “Fair warning. You’re going to see Arden Unleashed tonight. I no longer care who I offend or what rules I break. I won’t stop pushing for answers.”
“I thought you’d say that.” He backed up, putting distance between us. “Get ready and join me in the office. I’m going to teach you how to break into locked drawers without leaving a trace.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Don’t you know you are a gateway into the eternal?
—The Book of Soal 1.19.24.7
I rode inside an elevator with Cyrus, headed for his father’s penthouse apartment. My steps were confident, and not just because I wore the prettiest, frilliest, pinkest garment I’d ever seen, with a scooped bodice and a tiered hem that reached midthigh. A seamstress who lived in the building had measured me, made alterations, and added embellishments with each new cycle of on, off. Soft slippers adorned my feet, anchored in place by ribbons that crisscrossed up my calves. I also wore a pair of thin pink gloves.
A stylist tamed my hair into a sleek bun, to make me “the epitome of sexy sophistication.” Flawless, barely there makeup gave me a delightful, dewy freshness. I even wore special pieces of jewelry that doubled as weapons. Things Cyrus just happened to have on hand for reasons he’d refused to explain. The only trinket that didn’t double as an armament was a silver bracelet he insisted I wear for reasons he refused to explain.
“By the way. You can speak freely.” He traced a fingertip along the chain around my neck. “You’re wearing a device that prevents voice recordings.”
Nice! “Well, I meant what I said earlier. I am Arden Unleashed.” I’d floundered around for answers long enough. Tonight, I would bypass boundaries. Make waves. Speak up. Put myself in danger, if necessary. “I may not get another opportunity like this, and I intend to make the most of it,” I vowed. Not just for my loved ones but for the world. This wasn’t a game between gods but life and death, and it was time I treated it that way. Time to go all in, whatever the consequences.
“I’m ready for anything,” he replied, confident. “Do what you must.”
His unwavering support meant everything.
I chewed on my lower lip and glanced at him. Mistake! The sight of him set my heart into a pounding race. “For starters, I’m going to stop looking at you. The sight of you fries circuits in my brain.” He wore black slacks and a white dress shirt with the sleeves partially rolled, revealing the world’s hottest forearms. Multiple rings adorned his fingers.