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)
“What’s wrong with being vulnerable? I’m not judging you.”
He looks away, staring out of the window while clenching his jaw. Rage swirls in his eyes, tiny sparks of gold flashing deep in his irises. That’s when I know the conversation about his brother is done for now.
An ache develops in my chest, but I give him his space. I step back and busy myself with closing the vial and picking up the towels. There is so much more I need to know. The ink on his back is a clear indication that he was with The Shadow Guild. But how? How did he go from being a proud Divine guard to this? This killer who wants revenge and has nothing else to lose?
It’s become clear that Seferin is the reason for Koa’s death. Thane blames himself because he influenced Koa to join The Divine…but what doesn’t make sense is their link to Seferin. How did two Divine guards get mixed up with a Grim sorcerer?
“I’ll get you some water,” I murmur, starting for the door.
“Zaira,” Thane calls before I can walk out.
I pause at the threshold.
“Thank you,” he says.
I turn around. “For what?”
“If you hadn’t thrown that vine to me, I wouldn’t have had anything to hang on to,” he says. “There was only so much I could do with my magic while being washed away. In that moment, I only focused on staying afloat and not drowning. Tossing the vine gave me another option. Same with the swamp monster. I was only focused on my way of killing it, but your advice saved us. So…if we’re keeping score, you’ve saved my life twice. It’s not every day a mortal saves a sorcerer’s life,” he admits. “You should be proud of that.”
I grin, actually feeling a sense of pride. “And all this time you thought I was a useless mortal girl.”
“I thought a lot of things about you when we first met.” He studies my face, as if trying to memorize it. “Turns out I’ve been wrong about a lot of it so far.”
Our eyes connect again, and a buzz charges between us that feels tangible. For a fleeting second, it’s just me and him.
No running.
No fighting.
No danger.
Just two unique, beating hearts in one room.
I linger by the door. “I expect to hear more about Koa,” I tell him, instead of focusing too much on how I feel in this moment.
He presses his lips together, contemplating it. “Sure, sweet one. Later.”
“Okay.” I blush at the nickname. I try to dismiss it—pretending his words haven’t just twisted me into tender little knots or that my heart isn’t pounding with excitement—but I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.
I’m feeling things for him.
Things I never expected.
Chapter 35
“I’m afraid I won’t be making it to the shores with you, my friends.” Kelrean sits with a quilt around his shoulders in front of a gentle fire.
The group’s healing time takes much longer than we anticipated. The sun is setting now, dipped halfway under the horizon. The sight of it increases my anxiety. If we don’t get moving soon, we’ll lose daylight.
Everyone from our crew is now seated around a firepit. Thane is better, but still a little sore, and Rynthea’s arm has recovered completely from the healing elixirs.
Kelrean, on the other hand, needs more time before he can go anywhere, even back home. Apparently, the stab wound through his ribs and shapeshifting took a toll on his body.
“You should rest, friend. Looks like you need it.” Thane’s eyes catch the flames as he points his attention to Kelrean.
“You will learn to like me one day, broody sorcerer.” Kelrean flashes a smug grin at him before looking at Rynthea. “You really don’t plan on continuing the journey?”
“Not without my scythesword,” she says. Then she smirks. “Unless you let me borrow your ax.”
“Absolutely fucking not!” Kelrean shouts, then he winces and clutches his ribs.
“You don’t even need it right now,” she retorts.
“That doesn’t matter! I had that ax handmade with alvanite and the finest steel in Thelanor. I’m the only one who has the honor and privilege to wield it. If I let you borrow it, you’ll hold that over my head, too.”
Rynthea scoffs and then bites into an apple.
Queen Xiaodera and King Jehon approach with three elementalists flanking them. My eyes stretch with surprise when I spot Rynthea’s scythesword in Jehon’s massive, inked hand.
“Rynthea…” I tap her arm.
She peers up from the fire. Then she gasps. She sounds so innocent, like a child who’s found their lost toy.
“My scythesword,” she says in awe as she stands and marches around the fire with heavy steps. “Where did you find it?” Her eyes sparkle as Jehon hands it to her.
“Washed up on the banks at the bottom of the waterfall while some of the tribe were fishing,” he answers.