Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I threw myself into the fray. Either my body remembered the battlefield educations I’d received in the past, or my oracle-senses kicked in at full wattage; I expected every opponent’s every move, striking and blocking with speed and certainty, even saving Elowen from losing a limb.
When the last monstra fell, silence rang so loud it hurt.
“There could be another round,” Elowen said, panting, as we faced the door.
The royal guards did as well, shaky but willing.
Seconds ticked, but the next flood of monstra didn’t come. Trembling, I turned my attention to the queen.
She pulled at handfuls of her hair and babbled, “It’s worse. So, so much worse. I see them. Even when I close my eyes. Why do I see them?” She spewed the words at everyone and no one.
The sight of her gutted me. “Take her to Kansas, to Daniel, and stay with her,” I beseeched Elowen. “If you return, you’ll die. I can do this without you.” I faced her straight-on. “Trust me to do this. You trained me. I’ve learned from my mistakes.”
The same words Jasher had offered to me, and I’d denied him. No guilt. Not now.
Elowen narrowed her eyes.
“Please,” I added. “I’m ready.”
Her mouth opened and closed, fear sparking in her eyes, stripping away her royal veneer. “I cannot leave you to face the big bad alone.”
“You must. If I spend my time worrying about you, how will I end Ian?”
Mom’s upset intensified, until she punched at the walls. “Let me out! Let me out!”
“Very well,” Elowen croaked.
“Swear it,” I demanded of my sister. Let us be clear. No water maiden loopholes left untied. “Swear you won’t come back to save me.”
A single tear dripped from her chin, and I caught it with my fingertip mid-air. Without thought, I pressed the moisture over my heart, a seal and a promise, and breathed out, “I will kill Ian, no matter what. This I swear to you.”
“And I swear I won’t return to save you,” she spit out. “Now let’s get Mother to the catacombs. Ian cut off every water source he could to the palace. That one, he cannot control.”
“He’ll be guarding it.” I tightened my hold on my blood-wet daggers. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll deal. Let’s go.”
Elowen took the lead, with our mother in the middle. We pinned her in, ensuring she remained in motion.
Her eyes remained closed, and she continued to pull her hair, mumbling under her breath now. “Dead, dead, they’re all dead.”
Though I ached for her, I couldn’t stop to offer comfort. We moved quickly through smoke and screams. Down twisting halls, through splintered doors. Killing any monstra we neared.
The catacombs were eerily empty. A trap, no doubt about it. That didn’t stop us.
In the chamber where I’d stayed, I sensed monstra, but I didn’t see them. They lurked nearby, perhaps even watching us.
Gripping my weapon tighter, I scanned the room, ready.
“I sense them, too,” Elowen muttered, sweeping a hand over the pool. Water spiraled to life, glowing crimson to welcome her with open arms. “He’s behind a secret passage, intending to reveal himself when I’m gone.”
“He can hear you,” Ian called, almost laughing.
Fury burned through me, but it was ice cold.
Elowen gathered mother close and walked her forward. “This can’t be good for you, sister.”
He wanted a private conversation? Excellent. I shared the desire. “Trust me,” I repeated, squaring my shoulders. Frost hardened my veins. “I will defeat him.”
She cast me one of those sad smiles over her shoulder. “I know you will.” Then my beloved family…sank away.
“I love you both,” I cried as they vanished.
A sharp click sounded, a hidden door opening in the stone wall, where Jasher had once been bound. I spun on my heel, facing Ian, daggers aimed. But the blades weren’t the real weapon. I let power collect in my chest, a churning tide.
Out stepped Ian, smiling as he flipped Jasher’s coin. “I didn’t think they would ever leave.”
Betrayal lanced a jagged line straight through my middle. Of course Jasher left the passage rigged for him.
Ten soldiers marched out behind him, forming a menacing backdrop.
“Forget about your mother for now. Sin wants her gone from this world for now,” he said, smug. “We have a better death planned for Queen Elowen upon her return. And she will return. She always does. Yes, I’ve begun to remember too.”
No, Elowen wouldn’t come back. She’d given me her word. And I didn’t care what else Ian wished to say.
As sweltering, icy heat unfurled, I arrowed at him. To drown him, I needed to be near him.
His soldiers surged, shielding him. I fought them. I fought them hard. Hot blood splattered me. I wasn’t even winded, strength pulsing from the heat. One by one, they fell, until only Ian himself remained.
Then I pivoted to face him—and dropped the blades. Clang.
His smile slipped. He backed away from me, holding out his hands. “Don’t you dare—”