Total pages in book: 401
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
If I weren’t already mimicking a damn statue, I would’ve been then. There was no way I’d heard him right.
“Chocolate!” he exclaimed, grabbing a chunk.
I watched him take a bite and moan like a man with a mouth wrapped around his cock. “You’re a Fate?”
A frown wrinkled his brow as he looked at me. “Why do you sound like you don’t believe me? Is it because I enjoy the finer things in life?”
“Like cheese and chocolate?”
“Nothing finer.” Finishing off the piece of chocolate, he leaned back in the chair. “I see you’ve stopped fighting my hold.”
I had. “I may be an idiot sometimes, but I’m not a fucking idiot.”
“That’s actually a welcome relief.” He stretched out a long leg. “Wish the same could be said about a certain Primal of Death.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m not still pissed.”
“No need to tell me that. Your anger is like tiny claws scratching at my skin.”
My eyes narrowed. Tiny claws scratching? I held my tongue. Even I knew better than to actually fuck with a Fate despite—wait. I stared at him. “Your eyes.”
“What about them?”
I couldn’t bring myself to say it because the implication seemed impossible.
When I didn’t answer, he draped an arm over the back of the chair. “You can see them.”
“No shit.”
“But can you see this?” He tilted his head and pointed at the vine-like tattoo crawling up his face.
“The shit on your face? Yeah, I can see it.”
He eyed me for a few moments. “Only two other beings besides my kind can see what you can. The true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death.” The hand he had resting on the table began to tap slowly. “You being able to is one of those unexpected developments. You shouldn’t be able to, Joining or not.” The skin at the corners of his eyes creased as he squinted. “Interesting.” He exhaled heavily. “My name is Aydun.”
Like I gave a fuck what his name was.
The look on his face left me wondering if he could somehow hear my thoughts.
“You ready to behave yourself?”
I clamped my jaw tight.
“I’ll take your silence as a yes.” He winked.
It was like someone had snipped the invisible strings holding me in place. Control came rushing back, and I stumbled forward, catching myself as the fur receded and my teeth and fingers returned to normal.
“Huh.” He studied me. “Now that I can see your features…”
I forced myself to take a deep breath, reminding myself of what was at stake. If I provoked him and he lashed out, Poppy would inevitably pay the price. “What about them?”
“You know exactly what. You met said what.”
“Attes,” I guessed. Considering this guy was a Fate, I shouldn’t be surprised to learn that he knew I’d had a meet-and-greet with the Primal.
“I can tell you’re going to be as problematic as him.” His gaze flicked away. “Your Queen did a very, very bad thing.”
Tension returned to my muscles. “What do you think my wife did?”
Aydun huffed. “She crossed the Primal Veil.”
My brows snapped together. “The fuck?”
His eyes rolled, and with those churning colors, it was a strange sight to behold. “Do you think this realm—the one that holds Solis, Atlantia, and even Iliseeum—is the only one? If so, I’ve truly underestimated the arrogance of the Atlantians.”
“Can’t say I ever gave it much thought.”
“Of course not.” He gestured at the other chair. “Have a seat.”
“I’m good.”
“It wasn’t a request.”
“I know.” I remained right where I stood. “Arae or not, I don’t trust you.”
The colors in his irises spun and then settled. “I did not come here to harm you. The last thing I want to deal with on top of the mess your wife’s Ascension caused is said pissed-off wife.”
“Her Ascension—”
“Don’t lie to yourself, Casteel. Or to me.”
My hands fisted. I wasn’t surprised that he knew my name. He was a Fate. But I didn’t like hearing him say it. “So, Kolis is awake. That’s not her fault.”
“You’re correct. It’s not.” He extended the other leg. “But that’s not the mess I’m talking about. What I’m speaking about is what is beyond the Veil. What your wife’s Ascension caused.”
I fought the urge to claim that she hadn’t caused anything. But that wouldn’t get me answers or tell me where my wife was. “She felt pain and death in a way I’ve never seen her experience it before.”
“She felt the pain and death of thousands—tens of thousands. And then some,” he stated, causing my entire body to jerk. “When the loss of life is that great, a Primal of Life will always be drawn to it. Being that she is a true Primal of Life, she was not immune to the need. Neither was Seraphena, but she couldn’t cross the Primal Veil as easily as your wife apparently can. Seraphena was stopped. Your wife could not be.”