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)
I scanned the stone, searching for any hints of change and finding none. Disappointment threatened to rise as I concentrated on the thrumming essence. I hadn’t done that last time. I hadn’t even tried last time. But I could feel the power humming through my veins, and a glow of silver tinged in gold radiated from my hand.
But still…nothing happened.
“It may take her longer,” Reaver reasoned. “She’s still considered a youngling, and she’s deep in her sleep.”
I nodded, keeping my hand on her. Come on. I repeated those two words over and over as the seconds ticked by, the only sound the pounding of my heart. I couldn’t take back what Isbeth had done to Jadis, but I could at least bring her back to her family and loved ones. I needed to be able to do this. My skin vibrated, and my chest hummed as the aura around my hand pulsed and flickered over the stone.
“Jadis, please come back to us,” Reaver said, his voice soft and gentle in a way I’d never heard it before. “Please return to us.” The breath he exhaled was ragged, and when he spoke again, it came out as a broken whisper, “I’m sorry, Jade. So fucking sorry.”
A slice of pain cut through my chest. I closed my eyes. Desperation swelled. The heat of eather flared from deep within me as I felt Casteel kneel behind me and set his hand on my shoulder.
“Just a couple more minutes,” I said—or pleaded.
Squeezing my shoulder, he stayed silent. We waited more than a couple of minutes, but I was willing to wait hours.
I pressed a little harder against the stone and bit down on my lip until I tasted blood. What if she couldn’t—? No, I wouldn’t let myself think that.
“Poppy,” Reaver uttered hoarsely.
Frustration prickled at my skin. “Just a few—”
“It’s okay,” he swore.
My hand trembled. “No, it’s not.”
Reaver twisted toward me. “Look at me.”
“I need to focus,” I stated firmly.
“Poppy,” he uttered, his voice cracking like a frayed rope about to snap.
I turned to face him, the light from the torch casting shadows across his angular features. Pressure clamped down on my chest.
Reaver swallowed as he took hold of my wrist and pulled my hand away from the stone. “It has to be okay.”
I shook my head, staring at his long, slender fingers encircling my wrist. “I…I don’t know why it’s not working.” I searched my whirling thoughts, but no intuition held any answers for me. And I didn’t know what that meant. Lifting my head, I looked at Casteel. “I don’t understand. And the absolutely useless vadentia isn’t working.”
I turned back to Reaver before Casteel could reply, my heart lurching. Not wanting to give up, I pulled against his hold. “Let me try again.”
His gaze flicked behind me. A heartbeat later, Casteel’s arm went around my waist.
“Reaver,” I whispered.
He turned his gaze back to Jadis.
The cold dirt walls blurred as Casteel led me away. When we reached the entrance to the desolate chamber, I couldn’t help but look back.
Reaver sat before Jadis, his chin touching his chest as he pressed his hand to the rough stone of the entombed draken. He looked…lost and defeated, his shoulders trembling.
As Casteel walked me into the hall beyond the earthen chamber, there was no stopping what I’d refused to allow myself to think before—to fear. That there was no undoing the harm the Blood Queen had inflicted upon the daughter of the first draken.
CHAPTER 22
CASTEEL
Poppy stood just inside the narrow hallway of our new quarters, fidgeting once more with the buttons of her robe. She would snap them off if she kept it up.
“While you wait for me,” I said, “you should investigate the bathing chamber. I think you will find something of interest.”
Interest sparked in her eyes, but it was dull. I hated to leave her after what’d happened in Ironspire, but there were a few things I needed to tend to.
I placed my hand on her lower back and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of her lips. “I’ll be back shortly.”
Poppy’s gaze flicked behind me as she nodded. Closing the door, I ran a weary hand over my face.
Fuck. I really needed to shave.
Dropping my arm, I turned. My gaze immediately locked on eyes as familiar as mine.
Kieran leaned against the wall at the end of the hall, arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t speak until I reached his side.
“Should I get Tawny?” he asked.
“She’s not ready to see anyone,” I said. Tension gathered in my shoulders as I looked back at the closed doors. Her reluctance to end the Ascended was expected, but her hesitation to see Tawny? Knowing how important she was to Poppy, I didn’t get it.
“I noticed she didn’t seem too keen on doing so.”
“Her anxiety spiked again when I mentioned visiting with her while we were at Ironspire,” I said, turning back to him.