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)
“Could he use his will to create a situation that kills?” Kieran asked.
I thought about it, and instinct told me yes. Especially him. After all, he was the true Primal of Death.
Death was his specialty.
I nodded.
Casteel’s glacial golden stare burned with the brilliance of frozen amber as it swept across the chamber. I glanced at his glass. There were hairline fractures in it.
“That’s…” Kieran cleared his throat and leaned back. “Good information to have.”
I arched a brow at that. More like terrible information to know. I reached over and put my hand on Casteel’s glass. His gaze snapped back to mine, and I smiled. A moment passed, but then he lifted his fingers, one by one.
“I think we should also operate on the assumption that Kolis has returned to full power,” Kieran stated as I rose and walked to the credenza. “That way, we don’t underestimate his capabilities.”
“I agree with that, but…” I frowned as I got an eyeful of what had to be a hundred different decanters and bottles. Who needed that many different versions of whiskey, wine, or sherry? Shaking my head, I grabbed the one I’d seen Kieran use earlier and filled a new glass. “But it’s not going to be easy to kill Kolis—and yes, I know both of you figured that. But there are only two ways to kill a Primal.” I went back to the settee and sat as I handed Casteel a drink that hopefully wouldn’t end up all over him. “One is another Primal—a mature Primal—who carries the embers of true life, true death, or both. They can strike down another Primal.”
“Does that include Kieran or me?” Casteel asked.
“I…” Tugging my hair free from under the robe, I loosely braided it as I waited for the vadentia to answer. When it didn’t, I sighed. “No. I don’t know.”
Nodding, he leaned forward, picked up the hair tie I’d dropped there earlier, and handed it to me. “What is the other way?” he asked.
“I don’t know—and yes, it’s the faulty vadentia again. I know there’s another way, but the foresight’s silent.”
“So helpful,” Kieran murmured, eyeing his glass before taking a long drink. “So, this means we have to find a way to weaken Kolis.”
Glancing at Casteel, I nodded. “Essence from an equally powerful Primal will weaken him. So will Ancient bone,” I said, mentioning something they already knew.
“The dagger’s in the chest,” Casteel answered when Kieran looked at him. “Though I imagine getting more of that will be difficult.”
I laughed. “There’s probably some in this realm, but buried…and possibly with flesh still attached.”
“Well, that’s not an option,” Casteel murmured.
“Maybe there’s more in Iliseeum?” Kieran suggested, and I nodded, even though I didn’t know. It just seemed logical. “Even if we have an army outfitted with Ancient bone, it means nothing if we don’t know where he is.”
“True.” Casteel leaned back and hooked one leg over the other. “The first thing we should do is confirm his location. Pensdurth seems like the likeliest place. Then we need to determine the size of the army he’s gathered.”
“After that?” I asked, having a feeling I already knew the answer.
His eyes met mine. “Then we go after him with everything we have. We don’t sit back and wait for him to make another move.” Faint shadows appeared along his cheeks, causing my eyes to widen. “We show no mercy to him or any who support him.”
Tension gathered in my chest. I liked the plan, as simple as it was. A lot. But… “What we have might not be enough.”
“What we have is three Deminyen Primals. He’s only one Primal god who has been entombed for a millennium.” A smile full of smoke and shadows appeared, causing the eather in my chest to hum. “We should not underestimate ourselves.”
“You’re right, but neither of you has fought with eather. Only I have. And that doesn’t mean much since my experiences are limited,” I reasoned, looking at Kieran. “Why am I being the completely rational one here? Isn’t that your job?”
“I’m a wolven,” Kieran replied dryly.
“I know. You said that earlier.”
He arched a brow. “As I said, how do you think I change forms? Stay in one or the other? Summoning the eather will likely be little different.”
I twisted toward Casteel. “And what about you? You haven’t used the eather outside of accidentally summoning random ravens.”
Casteel raised a brow as a corner of his lip curled up. “How do you think I use compulsion, Poppy?”
I pressed my lips together. “I don’t think using compulsion is on the same level as using your will to inflict bodily damage.”
“You may be right.”
“May be? Shifting forms does require more…control over the essence. Something neither of us has experience with.”
That half-grin appeared once more. “Is that so?”
I frowned. What was that supposed to mean?
“We should begin training, though,” Casteel continued. “With the eather.” A dimple appeared in his right cheek. “You can be our…instructor.”