Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Its black tongue rapidly flickers through its lips before Frevella says, “Good.” And just like that, the snake drops to the ground and slithers back to her.
My hands shake so violently, I have to fold my arms and tuck them beneath my armpits.
“Sit.” Frevella gestures to two rickety-looking chairs in the center of the room.
Thane goes first. I follow him. I hate that the chairs face each other. It’s hard not to look at him, especially now that he has his mask lowered. His sharp jawline is peppered in stubble, his lips are pressed into a thin line due to his agitated mood, and his eyes dart from me to Frevella.
“How long will this take?” he asks as she glides toward us.
“However long it takes.” She stands behind him, but the snake slinks closer, stretching up to his eye level. And then it dawns on me—she’s seeing us through the snake’s eyes.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise and a shiver rattles through me as she asks Thane, “Why are you traveling to Elphar’s temple?”
“She needs a prosperity stone,” he answers.
Frevella is quiet for a beat. “And what do you need?” she probes, walking around his chair. Her head is tilted up while her snake studies him intently.
“I’m simply her protector.”
Frevella snorts.
He scowls.
“You. Girl. Why do you willingly risk your life going to Elphar’s temple?”
“For my sister,” I tell her.
“She needs your help, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, poor girl. You would do anything for her, wouldn’t you?”
My heart drums faster as the snake studies me more closely. “Anything,” I whisper.
The cave falls into a tense silence as she makes her way around the room, her fingertips pressed together. Sweat accumulates on my forehead and upper lip from the heat…and probably from the nerves, too. The fire is unnecessary, but perhaps she’s cold. Or maybe the fire is her only source of light. Either way, I can feel my clothes sticking to me, like honey to my fingers. I swipe at the bead of sweat dripping down the side of my face.
“You want my Kelvanite Sphere.” She stops between us. “Very well. I can give it to you.”
I perk up a bit.
“But, as I mentioned, there is a price.” Her snake looks between us, and my hope deflates. “Two secrets must be shared. One from each of you.”
Thane frowns. “Seriously? A secret?”
Frevella doesn’t answer. She remains completely still, her face pointed forward, the snake examining us for her.
“Fine.” Thane’s seat creaks as he adjusts his position. “I kept a dagger on me. It’s tucked in my left boot.”
Frevella’s head tilts backward as she unleashes another one of her croaky laughs. He and I pass a look between each other. This woman is mad.
She faces Thane and leans in, coming face to face with him. “If only it were that simple.”
“I don’t understand what you want.” His words come out through gritted teeth.
“I don’t want your surface secrets. I want to know the deepest, darkest fear that you’ve never shared with anyone—the one that torments you so much, it turns your sweetest dreams into cruel nightmares.” She turns her face toward me. “I want you to tell me about the fear that eats you up inside. That is the secret I want in exchange for my irreplaceable sphere.”
When she moves out of the way, Thane’s amber eyes clash with my dark brown. His teeth grind when he turns away from me, focusing on the fire instead.
“I’ve poured many of my spells, secrets, and energy into the very sphere you seek,” Frevella goes on. “It is dear to me and has saved countless lives. You want it to save yours, then you must reveal yourself.”
As she speaks, the cave becomes hotter. I’m dripping with sweat, and I’m certain the jagged walls are closing in on us. Everything, including the table and bookshelves, feels closer. Even the energy flowing off of Thane feels stronger, like he’s right in front of me.
Frevella grips our shoulders, and a shock courses through my bloodstream. Thane clearly feels it, too, because his eyes ignite a fierce gold.
“Look at each other,” the sorceress orders.
I stare into his eyes as he does mine. I can’t look away even if I try.
“You speak first, Thane Valkor.” I can hear the satisfaction in her voice. She’s pleased to have us under whatever spell this is—to have us as pawns in her hands.
Thane grunts as he tries resisting, but Frevella grips him tighter, her nails piercing into his buffers.
Rynthea’s words ring in my head. Make sure the sorcerer doesn’t fuck this up for us. I try telling him to just reveal something so we can get the sphere, but it’s not my turn to speak yet. Frevella won’t allow me.
“My greatest fear is not getting vengeance,” Thane confesses. He closes his eyes as if those words—that don’t surprise me in the slightest—are an earthshaking declaration.