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)
He nodded. “And Holland’s actions could be seen as him giving you aid.”
“But he did aid me,” I pointed out. “He got me out before that thing could…” My chest squeezed with nausea and a hot burst of anger. “Do whatever it was trying to do.”
His head tilted slightly as his lips pressed together, momentarily forming a tight line. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” I muttered, too embarrassed to admit that I’d gotten my ass handed to me.
He eyed me for a moment, then continued. “I’m guessing retrieving you doesn’t count as interference. If it did, he would’ve known. Though I can tell he didn’t get you out of there fast enough.” His jaw hardened. “You were fighting.”
“Trying to,” I muttered. I wouldn’t call what I’d engaged in fighting. More like an ass-kicking. And I hadn’t been the one doing it. “If the other Arae aren’t happy with my presence, why did he help? And why would they be mad?”
“He couldn’t drop you off unconscious. Your boy would’ve lost his damn mind.”
Boy.
My lips twitched, and I shook my head. “Then what’s the big deal?”
His gaze shifted away as he scratched at his chin. “It probably isn’t, and I’m just talking too much.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve always been upfront with me.”
“Yeah.”
“Even when it was something I didn’t want to hear,” I added. “But you’re not being upfront with me now.”
“You’re right.” Vikter sighed and dropped his hand. “Why don’t you go clean yourself up, and then I’ll answer your question.”
“How about you…?” I trailed off as rays of warm sunlight reached me. Glancing down, I saw streaks of dirt on my feet and calves—
Oh, my gods.
I was still wearing the thin nightgown.
My face caught fire as I folded my arms tightly over my chest.
“There’s a bathing chamber through that door to your left,” Vikter said, finding something about the ceiling to be of great interest. “I’ll be waiting.”
I wheeled around without hesitation and hurried to the chamber he spoke of. Shutting the door behind me, I leaned against it, my face still burning.
As if today wasn’t already traumatic enough.
And it sounded like it was about to get even more messed up.
“Okay,” I muttered under my breath. “I am so not going to think about the fact that I was barely clothed in front of the man I think of as a father.”
I glanced around the large room, brightly lit by windows that ran along the top of the walls. The entire space was…white. The floor. The walls. The large tub. The stall, very similar to the showers in Atlantia. The large vanity. Everything was made of white marble.
I quickly took care of the necessities. Once I was done, I took another look at the chamber. A light-gray-and-blue robe was draped over a white wooden chair. Oddly enough, there was no mirror. Sending a yearning look to the shower stall, I turned to the marble basin. There was no time for a shower. While I badly wanted to spend more time with Vikter, I needed to find out what’d really happened in that strange land. Then I needed to get back to Cas. He must be going out of his mind with worry, especially considering what he’d gone through while Kolis had me under his influence.
Kolis.
My jaw tightened. Everything Casteel had told me came roaring back as I made use of the pitchers of fresh water and the mildly sweet-scented bar of soap. But as I scrubbed the dirt from my skin and washed my face, what I’d seen earlier overshadowed what had happened to me.
Yeah, learning that I hadn’t had complete control of myself and remembering practically nothing from that time, well, it sucked. But I survived. It was nothing compared to what had happened to all those people.
Exhaling roughly, I looked down. Some of the skin on my legs and arms was a splotchy red. I grabbed a nearby towel, hoping I wouldn’t bruise now that I was a Primal since I didn’t plan on telling Cas about getting my ass handed to me. Even though he couldn’t have done anything, I knew guilt over not being there to back me up would eat at him.
Which meant I really needed to think about that before I rushed off again.
But, in my defense, I couldn’t stop myself. It was like being compelled. But for what? To just stand by and watch people die? That was bullshit. I was a Primal of Life. I could take away pain, heal, and even bring life back to those who had passed. They weren’t gifts from the gods in the way the Ascended claimed they were, but they were a gift—one I could’ve used. But Holland had prevented it.
Anger simmered as I roughly dried myself off and yanked on the lightweight robe. I inhaled deeply as I buttoned the robe and pushed down the anger, preparing myself for whatever Vikter didn’t want to tell me.