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 felt that when you brought Tawny up while we ate.” Kieran tipped his head back against the wall. “She’s been through a lot, and I have no clue about half of it.” His gaze slid to mine before darting away. A moment passed. “So, I assume the generals will be conveniently unavailable until tomorrow?”
It was annoying how well he knew me. “Sounds about right,” I said, knowing Poppy would be pissed if she knew about this. But like Kieran had said, she had been through a lot. She needed time to settle.
There was a beat of silence. “You need to feed.”
“That’s why you’re here.”
A brow rose.
“Not from you.” I scratched my fingers through my hair, not even allowing my mind to go there. “I’ll handle speaking with the generals and everything.” That everything included speaking with our…what had Poppy called it? Our Shadow Council.
His gaze returned to mine. “I can handle that.”
“I know.”
He eyed me for a moment before nodding. Yet again, it really fucking annoyed me how well he knew me. Because I didn’t have to say a word. He could sense the tension thrumming beneath my skin and the edginess coiling tightly in my gut, stretching every nerve.
“Then will you feed?”
Exhaling slowly, I gave him a bland look.
“Yeah, I know me repeatedly asking that is annoying as fuck, but I also know you’re reluctant to feed on anyone but her.”
“I’ll feed,” I said. “I shouldn’t be gone too long, but someone needs to be near her until I return.”
“You okay with me being that someone?”
Tension spread to my neck and then my jaw. “She’s not a threat to herself or others. So, yes.”
Kieran’s lips twisted into a strained smile. He shook his head and let out a dry, cutting laugh.
Anger rose, bitter and noxious. “I say something funny?”
“Absolutely fucking not,” he shot back and then stretched his neck to the side.
“Good,” I bit out, the essence stirring.
A muscle started ticking in his clenched jaw as he eyed me. He’d sensed the rise of eather in me.
I pushed the shit down as irritation at him, at me, at Poppy—at all of us—for being in this fucking situation grew. There was another reason I wanted to talk to him. “I haven’t said shit to her about what happened.”
He inhaled sharply. There was no need to elaborate.
“I just want to make sure we’re on the same page,” I continued.
Kieran pushed off the wall and started to turn toward the Solar and the doors to the antechamber. The moment he faced me, I recognized the stubborn, wide-legged stance for what it was. “So, are you planning to not say anything?”
“What’s there to say?”
He stared at me, his nostrils flaring. “Don’t play that shit with me.”
I smirked, my stance mirroring his. “Who’s playing, Kieran?”
“You.” He stepped forward, ignoring the look on my face that surely warned him to shut the fuck up. “There’s a whole lot of shit to be said. And you know what else?”
“No, but I have an unfortunate feeling you’re going to tell me.”
“There’s also a whole lot of shit that needs to be thought about,” he said, just like I knew he would. “Something you clearly haven’t done.”
“And what is it you think I haven’t thought about?”
Kieran didn’t hesitate. The bastard never did. “The same damn thing I told you to ask yourself—why she asked me to make that promise and not you.”
Ice trickled through my veins. He had to be fucking kidding me. As if every moment I didn’t spend thinking about Poppy, Kolis, and the kingdom wasn’t spent on that very fucking question. It was eating me up. It’d damn near consumed me while we were at Ironspire, and she said she knew she could come to me. The lie I spoke had tasted bitter. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”
“Why?” Kieran demanded. “Because you don’t want to admit to yourself—”
“Because I don’t want to knock your fucking ass through a wall,” I said. “And then have to explain it to Poppy, who would be pissed.”
“Will knocking my ass through a wall get you to pull your head out of your ass?” Kieran challenged. “Because if so…” He spread his arms wide. “Have at it. I’ll tell Poppy it was an accident.”
The ice in my veins spread to my chest. The offer was almost too tempting. “Kieran.”
“Come on,” he pushed, and I felt the summery heat of his power brushing against my skin. A faint golden sheen appeared beneath his flesh. “Do it. I’ll even let you get the first couple of hits in.”
The laugh that left me caused the light from the sconces in the hall to flicker. “She just woke up.” I stepped toward him, leaving only a few inches between us. “And even if she isn’t saying shit, you know she’s overwhelmed. I’m not going to add to that.”