Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
He’s not offended by my response. “Oh, Elsie. I would have killed her, but I did not. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Does it? Because he definitely would have just killed her. Seen the worms inside her and made them go into hyper mode or something, just because she refused me a job. Can I blame her? We’ve been sleeping in the roads, in the rain. We’re covered in mud and dirt, our clothing wrinkled and tattered. We do look like vagrants. I wouldn’t hire us either. “You just saw the problems inside her and decided to use that against her to get what you wanted. I don’t think that’s better.”
He shrugs.
“You see what’s inside everyone. What do you see inside me? What are you going to use against me?”
That makes Kalos pause. I stop, too, and we stare at each other for a long moment. I’m suddenly afraid of what he’s going to say. Am I full of worms? I drank from a stream. I ate a wormy baker’s bread. Plague? I could be full of all kinds of horrible things at this point.
“I see inside you,” he says softly, “And I see kindness and strength. I see a relentless spirit that refuses to give up. I see someone who urges me to be better at all times because she truly wants all good things for me, not because it’s easier for her.”
Oh. I suddenly feel like a jerk. My cheeks get hot and I bite my lip to keep from breaking into a goofy, awkward smile at his compliments.
His gaze falls to my mouth. “I see a person I want to kiss when I’ve never wanted to kiss anyone since…”
“Belara?” I blurt out. I’m so curious about what happened.
Kalos’s softer expression changes to a wary one. “I don’t like to say her name. I don’t like to even think about her.” His gaze flicks to mine, and he starts walking again, leaving me feeling like I just ruined a good kissing opportunity.
I trail after him, my curiosity burning a hole in my gut. “Will you tell me what happened between you two?”
“I am sure the legends have their version.” He snaps his fingers and Dingle moves to his side.
I have to break into a jog to catch up, and my nearly destroyed shoes feel as if they’re going to fall off my feet. I drop to a knee, tighten the laces on both, and race after him again. “I’d rather hear your side of the story than any legend.”
Kalos is quiet for a long moment. His angry steps eventually slow and he glances over at me. “She used me.”
“I see.”
For a while, I think he’s not going to give me more than that. Just when I’m about to give up hope, he continues. “She made me think she cared, but she just wanted me to raise an army to fight for her, to take the lands she wanted. I thought she was a kindred spirit. I asked her to become my bride. She laughed in my face and told me she had what she wanted from me.”
His words are clipped, short. His body language is stiff as he walks, and he won’t look me in the eye. I get the impression that Belara’s betrayal came from out of nowhere and left Kalos not only heartbroken but humiliated. How much worse is it if you and your girlfriend are gods? Everyone hears about the betrayal. And while Kalos likes to be handsome and likes nice clothes, he’s also rather private. “I’m sorry.”
“I should have guessed.” He shrugs. “Belara is mercenary above all else. Beauty is a power to be wielded, and she uses hers like a blade. All beauty has an edge to it.” Kalos glances over at me again, our eyes meeting briefly. “That’s what I like about you.”
I sputter. I know that with the right makeup and a good hair day, I can pass for “cute.” Right now, I’m very far from both, but I didn’t think he saw me as a hound dog. “Wow. Because I’m not pretty? Geez, thanks.”
“Because Belara’s beauty is on the surface and hides an ugly heart. Your beauty is not on the surface. Your hard edges are not cruelty, but determination.”
It’s a good save, I decide. “Fair enough.”
“And now I grow weary of talking of people I dislike and past events that matter only in history scrolls.” His tone takes on a bored edge. “You’re in charge of our journey. Where are we going next?”
I know a change of subject when I hear one. I let it slide, though. There’s plenty of time to pry more tidbits out of my companion. In fact, we have nothing but time. “We keep heading west, towards the Dirtlands and the place with no magic.” I pause, worried. “You didn’t plague anyone back in the village, did you?”