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)
So, it was because of the essence I carried within me? I probably should’ve guessed that at this point.
“It’s because of who you are,” Thorne added, drawing my gaze to his. “To him.”
“I’m nothing to him.” The words spilled out before I could even process them, each laced with venom that surprised me. Sure, Kolis was the enemy, and from what I knew of him, he sounded like a horrible being, but I had no personal ties to him. Still, those stinging words made it feel personal.
The splotches of blue and brown in Thorne’s gaze churned. “You are everything to him.”
I’ve always known you. A chill of revulsion crawled up my spine at the dry, brittle voice that slithered into my mind. I’d taken a step back without realizing it. Where had I heard that voice before?
Thorne stared, his gaze unwavering.
“You know what needs to be done.”
Blinking at the sound of Holland’s voice, I dragged my attention from Thorne. “I know.” I swallowed the taste of bile. “I need to end Kolis. And I will.”
“Good.” The essence flared brightly in Holland’s eyes as a silver, shimmering line of energy appeared to our right. A tear in the realm started to open. “Once you return to the mortal realm, your powers will be unbound.”
I almost thanked him. Luckily, I stopped myself and decided it was probably best to leave without saying another word. I turned to the tear, catching the faint scent of pine. My heart sped up, but I faced them. “What was the point?”
“Of?” Thorne asked.
“Of this. Today,” I said. “Our not-very-helpful chat.”
Holland laughed quietly. “It was important for you to know what you are.”
I met his stare. “I already know who I am.”
Glancing at Thorne, I turned once more.
“Poppy,” Holland called.
Damn it.
I stopped.
“Life always prevails,” Holland said.
“But you.” Thorne stepped forward, his swirling eyes meeting mine. “Only you can liberate bone and ash. Only you can liberate death.”
CHAPTER 17
CASTEEL
The late-morning sun washed over the Peaks as I stood at the window.
Hours had passed since Poppy left. When I asked Aydun what he’d done to keep others unaware of her absence, all he had said was that they would believe she still slept. But I had a feeling he was doing something else. No one had even knocked on the chamber door.
That should concern me, but everything he’d told me about the lands beyond the Primal Veil—what had happened there and why—consumed my thoughts.
The knowledge that Poppy had felt all those deaths sickened me. Even with my newly acquired abilities, I couldn’t imagine what she’d experienced. I just wanted her in my arms and to erase the horror from her memory.
My jaw tensed until I wondered if I’d crack my molars like my body had when it hit the wall.
After Aydun had announced that the end had begun and it would be worse than what had happened beyond the Veil, he’d decided to word the why behind the devastation there poorly. Very poorly.
“The Ancients woke because of her,” he’d said. Like he wasn’t putting all that shit on my girl. “Just as we dreamed.”
Because of her.
I’d lost my shit.
Lunged at him and managed to get my hands on him. I’d seen the flicker of surprise in his eyes before he introduced my body to the wall.
Because of her.
Bullshit.
And it wasn’t denial that had me thinking that. Yeah, I got that the Ancients Awakened in those lands because of Poppy’s Ascension into a Primal with the powers of life and death, but it was not because of her. It wasn’t her fault, and I swore to the gods, if any of the other Arae said that shit to her, I would end them.
I drew in a long, slow breath as metal clinked off dishes.
The bastard was still eating.
Aydun had also told me who the Ancients once were, why some had gone to ground, and who they were now.
Unia eta eram.
Ruin and wrath.
And they were asleep, even here, likely right under this damn castle, and in the east, beneath the streets and homes of Atlantia—or what Aydun had called the Bonelands.
This whole time, we’d believed that the first Primal gods were the ones who created the realms. We’d been wrong. The truth had either been hidden or was lost to time. Regardless, I was willing to bet I knew exactly what the Fates were.
But, according to Aydun, the Ancients weren’t the problem.
At least, not right now.
Kolis remained the most pressing issue. A big one that’d kicked off a clock that was ticking down to the end. His presence alone wasn’t the only reason, though. That had to do with the other shit Aydun had spouted off.
Of course, none of it told me how to defeat Kolis.
“That would be considered interference,” he’d said.
How the fuck was everything else he’d said not considered interference?