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)
“Poppy.” Her name rumbled from my chest.
She groaned. “Please put some clothes on.”
I grabbed my breeches and pulled them on as I glanced out the window, seeing that the sky looked the same as when Aydun was here. A frown pulled at my lips. My suspicions about the Fate messing with the time grew. Because night should’ve fallen by now. Securing the flap on my breeches, I shook my head. “You can look. My modesty is now protected.”
“Modesty,” she huffed.
Grinning, I faced her. Much to my disappointment, she had already pulled on the sleeping gown. My gaze lowered to the robe lying in tatters under her. Recalling what she’d said about it—or tried to—I asked, “You said you got the robe at Mount Lotho?”
“Yeah.” She glanced at it and cringed. “I think it belonged to Penellaphe.”
“The Penellaphe?” I walked to where I’d laid the robe that I’d given her before she felt the pull to the other realm.
“Yes, that one.” She paused. “She’s married to Holland.”
“Really?” I picked it up and walked it over to her. “I didn’t know the Fates were the marrying type.”
“Me, neither.”
I held the robe out to her. “Was she there?”
“If she was, I didn’t get to see her,” she said, her voice full of disappointment. She rose and turned, slipping her arms through the robe’s sleeves. “I didn’t see any of the gods while—”
I noticed as she felt the wave of awareness I did—one that reminded me of cedar and crisp morning air.
Kieran.
Poppy’s gaze shot toward the door and then swung back to me. “You can feel him again, can’t you?”
I nodded, sensing he wasn’t on our floor yet but was getting closer and moving fast. “It’s like there’s a…cord deep inside me. Similar to the bond. It ended when your Primal notam kicked into place but returned after the Joining. And it’s growing stronger,” I told her, gathering the sides of her robe together. “There’s no taste of emotion, just a sense of knowing. Woodsy. Like—”
“Cedar.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the sense of awareness amplified. I smiled at Poppy as I felt the woodsy mark brush against my mind.
She’s awake.
It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t respond.
The press of the mark got stronger. Is she…?
He didn’t need to finish the question for me to know what he was asking. I followed the pathway back to him. Yes.
Kieran had stopped moving, and I knew what he was waiting for. Permission. My eyes closed as I rested my forehead against Poppy’s. A part of me wanted to deny him entry, but as she placed her hand on my chest, I tasted the bubbles of her excitement. She wanted to see Kieran.
And I wouldn’t—couldn’t—prevent that.
Focusing on his mark, I pushed my thoughts outward. She’s waiting for you.
There was a pause, and then, Thank you.
Fuck. I severed the connection. Those two words were like a punch to the chest. Lifting my head, I found Poppy watching me.
“So, you can read emotions, sense what feels like the notam, and summon the eather,” she said. “Have there been any other changes?”
“Since I know you prefer showing versus telling…”
Her brows arched as I focused on her. Clearing my mind, I let my senses stretch out to find her unique mark. It was earthy, warm, and all her.
What did I say was the prettiest part of you?
Poppy jerked back. “Did I just hear your voice in my head?”
I stood and took her hand. “If I was asking about your pussy, then yes.”
“Oh, my gods!” She smacked my chest.
Laughing, I tugged her closer. “Stand still.”
“How is that possible?” she demanded, staring up at me as I clasped the buttons of her robe.
“I think it’s because of your notam with the wolven.”
“Like it expanded to include you?” she asked. “And you can talk with Kieran that way, too? What about the other wolven?”
“So far, I’ve only been able to mind-link with Kieran.”
“Mind-link? I’ve never thought of calling it that.”
“That’s what it is, isn’t it?”
Poppy nodded and studied me. “Is there anything else you’d like to share?”
“Most definitely.” The corners of my lips tipped up as her eyes narrowed. “But that will have to wait.”
“But—”
I kissed the tip of her nose.
“Cas—”
When the chamber door swung open, I let go of her hand.
Silence filled the space, but I kept my eyes on Poppy. Without looking at him, I heard Kieran stop—actually, it sounded like he stumbled a bit.
I tensed.
Poppy stepped forward, her fingers plucking at the material of her robe. “Kieran?”
Kieran sprang into action, crossing the distance between them and sweeping Poppy into his arms as he pulled her against him.
“I’ve been so worried,” he said. “All of us were.”
His voice was so coarse with emotion that my head turned toward him before I could stop myself.
“I’m okay now,” she assured him, her feet dangling a good foot off the floor. “Are you okay?”