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)
“Unless what?” I asked.
He exhaled slowly. I couldn’t tell if it was from frustration or unease. “Unless our aid is needed there, and if that occurs, it means Nektas has fallen. So, let’s hope that does not occur.”
My breath caught as what he said registered. The idea of the first draken falling was hard to even comprehend. “Yes,” I murmured, swallowing as I fiddled with a button on my robe. “Let’s hope.” Knowing Reaver wasn’t one for idle visits, I cleared my throat. “Did you need something?”
“Your help,” Reaver answered, his gruff voice even more gravelly than usual. “I need your help freeing Jadis.”
CHAPTER 21
POPPY
“Jadis?” I whispered, my eyes widening. “Oh, gods.”
Casteel was on his feet and beside me in the blink of an eye. He curled his hand around my upper arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Yes.” I plucked at a button on the robe. “I just…I forgot about her.” I looked up at Reaver. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve remembered.”
“A lot has happened since you woke,” Cas reminded me.
“Yes, but…” That was a huge thing to forget. “Where is she?”
“She’s in the Willow Plains, beneath Ironspire,” Reaver answered, speaking of the citadel atop the highest point in the Willow Plains, surrounded by four rivers fed by the sea. “Those who once occupied Ironspire and the dorms along the low ground were dealt with.”
I figured as much, based on what I had just discussed with Kieran and Cas. “Do I want to know what dealt with entailed?”
“Probably not,” Reaver confirmed.
My nose scrunched. “And where is Jadis in Ironspire?”
“She entombed herself beneath the citadel, and I couldn’t…”
Letting go of my arm, Casteel looked over at Reaver. His chin had dipped, and his hair hung like a curtain to shield his face.
Reaver let out a dry cough before continuing. “I couldn’t reach her in her sleep.”
Sorrow lodged in my chest as I stared at him. He rarely showed emotion, but what he struggled with now was in every strained word he spoke.
“I know…” Reaver eased the tension in his throat. “I know that, uh, there is a lot you need to get caught up on.” He lifted his head, and his gaze slid toward Casteel. “Since I doubt either of them were wise enough to spend the time since you woke and returned doing anything but copulating—”
“Copulating?” I exclaimed.
Casteel’s hand slid down my back. “It means—”
“I know what it means,” I said, deciding against pointing out that Reaver’s statement hadn’t included only the two of us, and focused on something else he’d said. “You knew I was gone?”
“I felt it the moment you left the realm.”
“Oh,” I whispered, glancing at Kieran. He had returned to the table and grabbed the last biscuit from the bowl.
“I know there are things you must do,” Reaver reiterated, “it’s just that Jadis…” He closed his eyes, and I saw the ridges of his scales become more apparent. Casteel stepped closer to me, and Kieran halted in tearing up more of his biscuit. “I don’t know how long she’s been entombed like that. And I don’t know why she did it. But I can… I know she’s not in good shape.”
“I understand. So does Casteel. And I’m sure anyone else would, too,” I said. “We’ll take care of her now.”
“Thank—” Reaver inhaled deeply, the sound reedy as he blinked rapidly. “Thank you.”
I really hoped he had a reason to thank me. I turned to look for my boots. “Do you happen to know how I can wake her?”
“Nektas believes your touch may do it since it woke him before,” Reaver said.
Based on how Casteel’s jaw tightened, and the way the eather behind Kieran’s eyes pulsed, I could tell that neither of them was thrilled with that. “I don’t know why that worked, and I don’t know if it will…” Shouldn’t the foresight tell me? I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes—
“What are you doing?” Kieran asked.
“Trying to see if the vadentia will tell me why or how it works,” I said.
“How’s that working out for you?”
My eyes popped open, and I sent him a glare.
He smirked. “Not good, I see.”
“I’m never giving you another biscuit,” I muttered, turning to see that Casteel had retrieved my boots and placed them by the chair I’d been sitting in. “At least he’s being helpful.”
“And I’m not?” Kieran replied.
I shook my head, sat, and picked up my boot.
Casteel knelt before me. “There’s time for you to get changed, you know.”
“No one will see her,” Reaver said. “I’ve made sure Ironspire remains unoccupied.”
“Then I don’t need to change.” My eyes met Reaver’s. “Jadis has waited long enough.”
“I think I’ll stay behind,” Kieran announced, glancing at me. “Someone has to.”
“Sounds good to me,” Reaver commented.
“Glad I have your approval,” Kieran drolled.
Reaver raised a brow at him and then said to me, “I wouldn’t waste time convincing him to shadowstep. Those of duality have always had an aversion to it.”