Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
“I’m glad I got the chance to know you better,” I replied.
She nodded and walked out.
The minute the door closed on her, Aleksei requested, “Allain, may we have your office for a few minutes?”
“Already leaving,” Allain replied, and he was. He stopped at me. “I can work with Nata, I believe very well.”
He was impressed too.
I was thrilled we agreed.
I nodded.
He left.
I turned and gave out a little scream because Aleksei was right there.
“I’ve called a family meeting,” he announced.
Terrific.
Ugh.
I was about to say something, but it was then I saw the banked amethyst fire burning behind the stars in his midnight eyes.
So what I said instead was a soothing, “Aleksei.”
“Do you know the story of the first True Heir?” he asked.
Oh hells.
“Honey,” I whispered, because I did. Everyone in Night’s Fall did.
He launched in anyway.
“There was no king. We were still a clan. The Starknight clan. But the chieftain was a despot. The beings were suffering greatly under his rule. Due to the strength of his dragon, he was unbeatable. As such, he had absolute power. And he wielded it viciously. Entire tribes were wiped out. Beings starved while he feasted. He executed anyone who didn’t agree with him.”
“Drahko.”
“Everyone looked to his son to end their plight. He also had a powerful dragon, but not powerful enough to defeat his father. He despaired for his beings. So much, he left the Clan Caves, and as an act of sacrifice, on horseback rather than flying, he embarked on the treacherous journey to this very isle to beg the Night God to intervene. The Night God heard his pleas and infused in him the power of all the skies, this magic showing in his eyes. His dragon had vulnerable sheet wings hued blue. With this magic, he had webbed wings of purple. His dragon was handsome. With this magic, deadly spikes protruded from his head, down his spine and along his tail. His claws grew sharp as razors. He returned to the Caves and challenged his sire. He killed the king, took the throne, and the people knew abundance and harmony again.”
“Aleksei.”
“We discussed it and made our decision this morning, Laura. It was a considered decision. And in the end, the right one.”
He’d been moved as well about the response of Naylyn’s family.
“Yes, however—”
His tone was deteriorating, and a little of the Aleksei who lost it on me the night of the gallery sparked through.
Okay.
This wasn’t good.
“I warned them,” he reminded me.
“Maybe we should—”
“They do not trouble my mate.”
I stopped trying to calm him down.
He took my hand in a firm grip.
“Come, love, it’s time for my father to meet the True Heir.”
I wasn’t certain what that meant, considering his father had a hand in creating that True Heir.
But still…
Farg.
Chapter 26
The True Heir
I wasn’t even close to prepared for the impossibly high ceilinged, wide halled, crystal chandeliered, plush carpeted, gilded wonderland that was the Celestial Palace.
We were going at such a fast clip, and even if the journey was long to wherever we were headed, I didn’t have much chance to do more than glance into the rooms that were studies of creams and golds, sea greens and sky blues, watered taffeta pink and champagne, ivory and porcelain blue…and the list goes on. And I certainly had no opportunity to peruse the plethora of paintings, portraits, sculptures, china, candelabrum and furnishings.
I also didn’t have the headspace for it, considering Aleksei was a male on a mission and he was all but dragging me through the stunning opulence, all the while I raced beside him in three-and-a-half-inch heels.
Therefore, I was wildly relieved when he suddenly stopped.
I sucked in a breath.
As I did, it felt like my beast stretched, almost strained, toward him.
And good gods, I wasn’t sure, but I sensed I felt the same coming from Aleksei.
My mind was taken off this when he asked curtly, “Do you wish to hire her?”
I blinked. “Nata?”
“Yes.”
Oh dear.
How to answer this?
“She was the most impressive candidate,” I said hesitantly.
He jerked up his chin angrily and started dragging me again.
“Honey,” I called. “Please slow down. I’m in heels.”
He slowed, but even so, his determination to get where we were going didn’t ebb one bit.
We passed about ten more rooms, turned down a hall, went up some stairs, passed another five, and I was beginning to lament wearing my sleek, black, patent leather pumps, even if they were normally pretty comfortable. What they weren’t was designed to hike two miles on plush carpet or otherwise.
Fortunately, Aleksei turned again, into a room that was a study of red and burgundy, gilt-edged furniture…and royals.
The king and Errol were sitting together on a silk damask couch the color of a red rose.
The king was scowling at Aleksei.
Errol was fighting a smile.
The queen was pacing the area behind the couch.
Timothee was slouched in an armchair to the side of the couch, one ankle resting atop the other knee.