Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
I remained very still as, her black gaze fixed on me, she padded closer. A tension in her frame, she sniffed at me. Her muscles relaxed slightly. Still, she nudged the pup away from me and guided him back into the barn.
I let out a relieved breath. Well, that could have gone worse.
A loud bang came from far behind me, followed by a barked, “What the hell?”
I pushed to my feet and pivoted. The shocked voice belonged to Justus. Frowning, I took a single step forward … right as Talon came moodily striding out of the feed room. He stopped when he spotted me, and his glower kicked up tenfold.
“You didn’t walk in on them going at it, did you?” I asked. He had to have known—heard—that they were having sex.
He glared at me, clenching his fists.
“What did I do now?”
More glaring.
“I didn’t go into the barn, if that’s what you’re thinking. I was just guiding a stray pup back to his pack.”
Talon sharply tipped his chin at the stable’s exit and then stalked out.
I followed with a pained sigh. Clearly Xalbia wasn’t quite over for the day. “Do you often storm into rooms while people are doing the dirty?”
He tossed me a hard look over his shoulder.
“I was just asking.” I glanced around, noticing that everyone was still gathered near the bonfire at the opposite side of the garrison. “Why did you order me out here?”
He pointed at the tower and then made a beeline for the garrison’s exit.
A shard of panic stabbed my chest as I came to a sharp halt. “The Sovereigns want to speak to me?”
He only grunted in response, not breaking stride.
“Why?” Unease laced every syllable.
Nothing.
My pulse kicking up, I pushed, “What’s this about?”
Still nothing.
I ground my teeth. “Dammit, Talon, at least give me a heads-up if I’m about to walk into a dangerous situation.”
He halted, sighing, and turned to face me. For once, he wasn’t glowering. His features smooth and reassuring, he raised his hands slightly in a calming gesture, though a glint of impatience lit his eyes. Message delivered, he continued walking toward the garrison’s exit.
Inwardly cursing, I reluctantly caught up to him. “What’s this about?” I again asked, unable to imagine what could have sparked the Sovereigns to essentially summon me.
A shrug was his only response.
My every step reluctant, I allowed him to lead me out of the garrison and over to the tower. All the while, I struggled to make sense of this—and not merely because my anxiety made it harder to reason it through. Where was the actual point in them requesting a face to face meeting? Why take time out of their day to speak with me when they could attain whatever answers they needed simply by asking Talon?
Sparing him a quick look, I bit into the inside of my cheek. Maybe he had reported something about me that interested them. But what? I hadn’t done anything notable. I hadn’t shown any outward signs of power.
The only thing that could have piqued their interest was that I’d demonstrated an immunity to lamiae venom. But they would have learned of that way before today, and I didn’t think it something they would feel inclined to speak with me about anyway.
So what, then?
I just didn’t know. Inwardly cursing yet again, I drew in a deep breath. The edginess building in my system made my fingers flex and my heart beat faster.
When we reached the tower, Talon turned to me and cuffed my twitching fingers. His gaze sober, he shook his head. His message came through loud and clear: Don’t let them see you’re anxious; show no weakness.
I heaved in a centering breath, stilled my fingers, and gave a long nod.
He released my hand, opened the door of the tower, and ushered me inside. The walk up the winding staircase was no more pleasant this time than it had been last time, but it didn’t hurt my legs quite as much, and I didn’t lose my breath.
My treks around the Pines had clearly toughened my body up some. A realization that would have made me smile if I wasn’t about to see the Sovereigns again.
Once we reached the same floor as we had on our previous visit to the tower, Talon led me down a familiar hallway and directly to the audience chamber. Only the three ruling half-bloods and Ariadne were present.
“Ah, here you are,” Minos said to Talon, planting his hands on the armrests of his throne.
The constant purr of power within me … dimmed. No, withdrew. As if it reflexively shied away from the Sovereigns or something.
What the—
“Anara,” Minos intoned, his rich voice almost a rattle in my bones. “How are you this evening?”
I mirrored Talon in coming to a halt several feet before the platform of thrones. “Fine, thank you.” My voice came out stilted.