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)
My lips pursed. “Sounds about right.”
Kieran turned to Cas. “And you allowed it?”
“Really didn’t have a choice,” he stated blandly. “Like she said, the Fate kept me here.”
Kieran dragged a hand over his head and shifted his focus back to me. “Why did you have to go?”
“When there’s such a great loss of life, I’m sort of pulled to the source of it. I didn’t mean to cross to the Continents.” Seeing the expression on Kieran’s face, I added, “That’s what they called the place.” I tilted my head as I studied Kieran. “I’m surprised you didn’t feel it. You have the essence of life in you. Come to think of it, Cas should’ve felt something…” I trailed off as the knowledge whispered through my thoughts. “It’s because a true Primal of Life and a true Primal of Death already exist.”
A muscle ticked in Kieran’s jaw. “If that’s the case, then why did you feel it?”
My brow furrowed. “Because there’s…no one like me.”
“Wow,” Kieran replied.
Heat crept into my cheeks. “I mean, there’s no other true Primal of Life and Death.”
“Uh-huh.” His features softened.
Casteel rose and came to my side, gently tugging on a strand of my hair. “Just so you know, I agree with Kieran.”
“About what?”
“That shadowstepping isn’t simply taking a few steps.”
I stared at him for a moment and then felt a grin tugging at my lips. “Whatever,” I grumbled.
“I’m going to scrounge up some food,” he said, straightening the chain around his neck. “And you will eat.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
Walking to the table, he sent Kieran a passing glance. “I assume you haven’t eaten recently?”
He shook his head.
Casteel picked up the platter. “Then I’ll grab enough for the three of us.”
A brief flicker of surprise flashed across Kieran’s features. He quickly masked it, but I saw it. My head tilted as I glanced between them. “Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Of course.” Casteel paused by my side and kissed me. “I’ll be back shortly.”
I nodded and watched him as he turned to Kieran. “I haven’t had a chance to tell her about the Luxe yet.”
“What about the Luxe?” I asked.
“Fill her in?” Casteel asked.
Kieran nodded.
As Cas walked toward the door, I felt it again—that stirring of energy. I looked at Kieran and found his gaze fixed on Cas’s back. The way he looked at him… My stomach churned as I opened my senses. Kieran had his walls up, but there were cracks in them. Thin enough for a hint of…wariness to seep through.
Wrapping my arms around my waist, I thought about Casteel’s vagueness when I asked him where Kieran was. He’d barely mentioned him since I woke, and there was a tension between them that didn’t take reading emotions to feel.
The energy charge was still going, but this time, it was stronger—almost like a hum in the air. And it lasted until the door closed behind Cas.
Pulling my gaze from where he’d disappeared, I focused on Kieran.
He raised his brows.
I returned the expression.
“What?” he said, uncrossing his arms.
“Were you two communicating with each other?” I asked. “Through the notam?”
His brows rose. “You could tell?”
“I felt the eather,” I told him. “So, you two were using the notam?”
“Possibly.” He cocked his head. “And I can tell that annoys you.” A small grin appeared. “Someone doesn’t like being left out of a conversation.”
“This someone also doesn’t like that both of you can read emotions now.”
“I could always—”
“I know. But it’s easier now, right?”
Kieran said nothing to that.
“What were you saying that you didn’t want me to hear?” I asked as I walked to the table.
“He was just asking what I was in the mood to eat,” he answered.
“Really?” I picked up the pitcher of the fruity water and poured two glasses. Kieran nodded. But that was…odd. I couldn’t remember Casteel ever asking him that before. They knew each other well enough they didn’t have to.
“Yes.” Kieran smiled as I handed him a glass. “You sure you’re feeling okay?”
I nodded and walked to the armchair. “Are you going—?” I stopped, spying something on the floor in front of the chair. Bending over, I picked up what appeared to be either black and gold or brown…fur. I turned to Kieran and held the tuft between my fingers.
“What?” he scoffed. “You don’t think that belongs to me, do you? I’m not a shedder.”
“You shed.”
Kieran scowled. “Not like that.”
“Uh-huh,” I teased.
“That’s not even wolven fur,” he said.
I raised a brow. “Then what is it?”
“Cave cat.”
I blinked. “There was a cave cat in the chamber while I was in stasis? If so, I’m going to be disappointed—” Then it struck me. Could it be from Ires? I didn’t remember freeing him, but apparently, I had. And if I had gotten close to him, I could’ve picked up some of his fur.
I frowned as I turned the tuft over. But it wasn’t the right color. Ires’s fur was gray. Unless he had some sort of undercoat. Shaking my head, I laid it on the small, round table beside the chair.