Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“Of this land, yeah.” She made a disgusted face and shook her head. “I’m sure it’s really pretty and it has some amazing qualities—or so Tarian says—but the gods are shit and the creatures are way overboard. You should see what the twisted magic does. It’s not pretty. Leathery zombies. Seriously. Nah, this is better. Going home—bringing him home—is better.”
His gaze was deep. “You really do love him.”
“I do, yes. I really do.”
“He’s it.”
“Yes. Fated mate aside, yes, he’s it. He and his people will fit in perfectly, you’ll see.”
He nodded. “How scared am I going to be on those huge, winged creatures?”
She laughed and shoved him. “Hopefully not as scared as I was. I didn’t look down.”
He blew out a breath and looked that way, spying Tarian coming over and monitoring his progress. Once close, Mordecai stuck out his hand. They’d been introduced in the marble city, but they’d been busy working on the deal and not much had been said.
Tarian took his hand, their grips tight.
“Take care of her,” Mordecai said.
“You’re not going to give me an or else?” Tarian asked.
Mordecai smirked. “I don’t need to. She is your or else.”
He let Lexi drag him to the creature he would be riding.
Tarian turned to her, but stiffened. He glanced to the right, where Zorn was finally approaching. He’d been sitting in on the deal-making, too, hardly sparing her a glance. She hadn’t pushed. He’d say what he needed to say when he needed to say it.
Tarian went to step away, but paused. He nodded. Zorn had said something mentally. He knew what Celestials could do.
“Gremlin,” he said in his gravelly voice, stopping in front of her. He didn’t say anything else for a moment. His eyebrow quirked.
She grinned and rolled her eyes, reading his subtle cues and really having missed him. “He tried to talk me out of it, in the end. He’s really not so bad.”
“Remains to be seen.”
“Sure, sure. How was the trip here? Any close calls?”
He cocked his head. There was certainly a story or two in there, and they didn’t have the time.
She nodded. When they got home to safety, they’d have all the time in the world to catch each other and everyone else up. She couldn’t wait.
“I’m glad it worked out like this,” Zorn said. “Even though…” His eyes flicked Tarian’s way.
“Yeah, the start wasn’t great. But hey, I have magic now, and a very cool tattoo. I don’t have to walk in the shadows anymore, either, so I can show this baby off at galas and events. Wait until the magazines get a hold of me!”
“I wouldn’t reveal that you have magic,” he said.
“Why not?”
A ghost of a smile flowed over his lips. “Because then how would you fuck with them?”
She outright laughed this time. “Good point.”
Before heading over to crowd around with the others, he turned to Tarian and stuck out his hand. Tarian took it.
“She is my work of art,” Zorn told Tarian. “But the student has not outstripped the teacher. Yet. If you hurt her, I will make you feel pain in ways you never thought possible.”
Tarian’s face was somber, but his eyes belied his mirth. “I don’t doubt it, sir. She is, indeed, a work of art. Your efforts made her unstoppable.”
Zorn inclined his head. “Be good to her. She deserves better.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
Zorn nodded, didn’t bother glancing back at her, and walked away.
“Well,” Tarian said softly, draping an arm around her shoulders, “that was fucking terrifying.”
“Why?”
“Because he let run through his head all the gruesome things he was thinking about. He definitely has fae in his blood, and it shows.”
She laughed, feeling so light. So great. So loved. Given Tarian enjoyed Zorn’s ruthlessness, she knew they’d get along. They’d all get along. The fae would have a learning curve in their new homes, but at least they’d be stepping into a larger family that would accept them, unlike how they’d spent the last four years.
“Are you ready?” Tarian asked, taking her hand.
Her happiness died as she looked at Stratow. She let go of a breath. “I guess. Maybe this time I’ll look down.”
“No, this time you aren’t going with him.” Tarian’s wings flowed down his body, so beautiful. He scooped her into his arms. “This time, you’re going with me.”
She nestled against his chest as he shot into the sky, so high and fast and powerful. She looped her arms around his neck and felt secure within his hold. She kissed his neck, then his cheek. His lips.
“We’re going to fly low,” he murmured, holding her tightly. “I want you to see a little bit of Faerie before we go. I want you to want to come back and explore more.”
And so they did, soaring over the green vegetation and sparkling creeks. She saw creatures scurry into brush and beautiful meadows filled with iridescent flowers. He was right. The wylds were lovely. The living things were interesting, if deadly, and she wondered how her magic would work on them—if it would at all.