Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Power.
Her father believed she possessed more power than the King of Scotara. What did that mean for Dravic, his crown, his kingdom… for them?
She had spent her entire life having others decide what was best for her. Her mother had decided silence would protect her. Her father had given her mother the magic to make it possible.
Now everyone told her she was the healer who could defy death. Dravic told her she would be his queen. They all loved her. She knew that now. But love did not answer the question that would not leave her.
Who was Adira?
She looked at Dravic sleeping beside her and her heart broke a little more.
She needed to find the answer herself.
And she knew that if she stayed until morning, she never would.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
A Winter Apart
A Glimmer of Hope
Winter had settled hard over Caerith.
Snow covered the castle grounds and continued to fall beyond the windows of Dravic’s solar. The fire burned high in the hearth, but he barely noticed its warmth.
“She has been gone nearly two months,” Dravic said.
Kaelan sat across from him. “You searched for her. We all did.”
“Not nearly long enough.”
Until snow had made the roads nearly impassable and reports from Caerith could no longer be ignored. Scotara had needed its king, and Dravic had been forced to make the choice he had hated most.
He had returned home without Adira.
Fiora had stayed behind, insisting she would continue the search, which had given him some hope. But he had yet to hear from her.
“Tharne warned me I was wasting my time,” Dravic said. “He claims I will never find her unless she wishes to be found.”
“He is probably right.”
Dravic’s eyes narrowed.
Kaelan laughed. “You may be my king, but that does not make you pleasant company when someone tells you something you do not wish to hear.”
“I did not ask for your opinion.”
“Nay, but you are getting it anyway.”
Dravic leaned back in his chair. He had learned quickly that having family came with liberties he had never permitted others. Strangely, he did not dislike it.
“She should have remained with me,” Dravic said, the thought of why she didn’t continuing to haunt him.
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps you say?”
Kaelan shrugged. “Bria believes Adira needed to leave.”
“Bria is wrong.”
“Tell her that.”
Dravic scowled.
Kaelan grinned. “I thought not.”
Dravic stood and walked to the window.
Somewhere beyond the falling snow was the woman he loved. He had awakened that morning at Morvane Castle and reached for her. The bed had been empty. He had known immediately. She was gone.
He had searched the castle, then the woods, Tharne and his men having joined in the hunt.
Nothing was found. Not a single footprint despite the snow-covered ground. Not even the hint of a trail.
It was as though Adira had simply disappeared and perhaps she had.
He had argued with Feena/Faith, whatever her name was, and Tharne, demanding they use their magic to find her, especially Tharne. He was from the most powerful clan in Driochmor. How was it he could not simply find Adira with his magic?
Tharne argued that it was not that easy until Dravic had battered him with questions that he finally admitted that Adira, his daughter, was more powerful than he was.
Magic.
Dravic had spent most of his life distrusting it. Now the woman he intended to make his queen possessed more of it than anyone believed possible.
“I think Tharne knows more than he tells me.”
“That would not surprise me.”
“Nor me,” Dravic said, “which makes appointing him to my council questionable.”
Kaelan stared at him. “You appointed Tharne to your council?”
“He will represent Driochmor.”
“Tharne agreed?”
“Aye. He was more than eager when I offered it.”
“I would have liked to have witnessed that conversation.”
“You would have been disappointed. We had more important matters to settle than our dislike of one another.”
Kaelan leaned back in his chair. “Then the borders?”
“Gone. Driochmor is part of Scotara. Its people will no longer be treated as something to fear simply because magic runs in their blood. Tharne has agreed that Driochmor will stand with Scotara, and I have given my word that Scotara will stand with them.”
“That will not please everyone.”
“I am king. I do not require everyone to be pleased.”
Kaelan smiled. “You and Tharne may have more in common than either of you wishes to admit.”
“Do not insult me.”
Kaelan laughed again.
Dravic shook his head, though the corner of his mouth threatened to betray him.
Family. It remained strange to him. He had spent years with no one who dared tease him, question him, or speak to him as Kaelan did. Tavish came closest, though even he knew when to retreat.
Adira was his family and he and she would grow a family together. The thought tore at his heart. Where was she? What was she doing? Was she safe? Unharmed?
“She will return,” Kaelan said, seeing the struggle on Dravic’s face.
Dravic turned to him. “You sound certain.”