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 don’t know how long she’ll be out, but she’ll be okay.” Kieran’s gruff voice drew my gaze up to his as he walked forward—well, limped.
I inhaled sharply as I got a good look at his face. His lip was split, the skin under his right eye was swelling, and so was his jaw.
Kieran gently laid Poppy on the bed with a wince. Straightening, he grabbed the blanket, pulled it over her legs, and stepped back. My chest rose and fell rapidly as we locked stares.
“Please,” Reaver grunted. “Don’t start fighting again.”
We both ignored him.
“Your face.” I could feel the wood splintering as my claws dug in. “Me? Her?”
“Both,” Kieran answered, his gaze moving back to Poppy. “She’s going to be…”
He didn’t need to finish.
Once Poppy woke, was herself again, and learned what she had done, she would be torn up.
And that hurt more than… The promise.
I couldn’t let myself think about that right now. I’d lose my shit again if I did, and that wouldn’t help Poppy.
“Fuck,” breathed Kieran, running a hand over his shoulder and clasping the back of his neck. “What do we do? She needs to feed, and I…” He pressed his lips together. “We can’t leave her like this.”
I let go of the bedpost. The bones of my back cracked as I straightened my spine and turned to where Poppy lay. If not for the smears of blood on her neck, she’d look almost peaceful. But crimson streaks glistened over the dried smudges.
“Nektas will eventually return for his daughter,” Reaver said. “He may know something.”
“And when will that be?” Kieran asked.
“I don’t know.”
“How is that an answer?” Kieran’s frustration turned sharp with a bitter edge of panic. “She needs him.”
“Yes, but so do Sera and Ash,” Reaver shot back.
“Ash?” I frowned.
“Nyktos. Ash is just—it doesn’t matter.” Reaver waved his hand and shook his head. “In case you have forgotten, all the gods have awakened. All of them. Including those loyal to Kolis. And, yeah, they still exist, even though everything possible was done to smoke out Kolis’s loyalists after he was entombed. Most of the draken are here, which leaves both Dalos—the true seat of power for the true Primal of Life—and the Shadowlands largely unguarded. Until Seraphena and Nyktos return to full strength, Nektas will remain there.”
“Great.” Kieran laughed harshly. “If she didn’t get enough blood, she’ll need to feed again. If not…”
He didn’t need to finish. I already knew. She could fall into bloodlust, and that was a complication we didn’t need. But I couldn’t have her at my vein.
My insides turned even colder as reality set in. “We…I can’t let her feed.” I couldn’t look at him. “If she feeds, she’ll get stronger, and if that happens…” I trailed off, letting Kieran think it over.
When he cursed, I knew he got what I was implying.
“Finally, you’re making some sense,” Reaver said.
My head whipped around to face the draken, a sharp hiss of air seeping through my clenched teeth.
Reaver’s eyes narrowed. “You’re so…catty.”
My upper lip curled. “The only reason I’m not paying you back for hurting Poppy is because you brought her back.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw as he shifted his gaze back to her. “The fact that she didn’t try to kill any of us is a good sign, I guess.”
As I backed up, I tossed a pointed glance at his chest.
He huffed. “She still held back.”
True.
If she hadn’t, we’d all be dead. But I still hated seeing her like this, being unable to help or comfort her. But… “It means she’s still in there.”
Reaver said nothing to that.
Turning, I walked into the bathing chamber on legs that were still stiff and sore, but that, too, would fade. I’d heal. So would they. Mostly. My jaw flexed, and I checked my anger. I picked up a washcloth and used the pitcher to dampen it. When I returned, Kieran remained by Poppy’s side.
“Okay.” He stepped back as I passed him. “What happened when she woke up? Did she immediately try to run?”
I told him what’d happened as I carefully dabbed at the blood on her throat. Told him how confused she’d been and how desperately she’d fought against feeding before finally giving in.
“Her eyes…” Kieran said after a few moments and then cleared his throat. “They were just pure silver when she woke after the Revenant attack.”
I nodded, glancing back at the draken. “They looked like Nyktos’s.”
Reaver dipped his head. “That’s how Primals’ eyes look—well, all except for the Queen and the true Primal of Death.”
“How do—?” Kieran lowered his voice. “How do the Queen’s eyes look?”
“Like Poppy’s, but not,” he said. I was beginning to see why Kieran wanted to punch the draken every time they shared space. “The Queen’s eyes are green and silver. We never knew exactly why but believed it was because she was born mortal.”