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)
“Yes,” Lirian grunted.
Gods, did he have to sound so disappointed?
The newly arrived Ancient strode forward, his gaze sweeping my features and lingering only for a second on my forehead. “Interesting,” he murmured.
My brows shot up. Was he referring to my scars? The urge to touch them was hard to resist. “And who are you?”
“That is Thorne,” Holland offered, a hint of exasperation clouding his voice. “And I’m not sure what he’s doing here.”
“Did you think I’d miss this opportunity?” Thorne countered, and I fought the urge to retreat as he came unnecessarily close while passing me and then stopped not even half a foot away. He smelled of the outdoors, like untouched woodlands and…bad life choices. “If so, then you have forgotten who I am.”
I held my ground, arching a brow.
“She’s married,” Holland announced. “Happily so.”
Golden-brown hair brushed the pattern along his jaw as he dipped his head. “Is that so?” he asked, the silver flecks in his swirling eyes brightening. “How happily?”
There was something about his voice. It had lowered and smoothed, yet it sounded like a whisper and a yell at the same—
Mother.
Fucker.
My nails dug into my palms as I smiled up at him. “Happily enough to rip your dick off.”
His head drew back, the eather dimming in his eyes as he chuckled. “Just checking.”
“To see if you could compel me?” I demanded, anger spiking.
His smile was teasing. “To see if you really were our newly Ascended Primal.”
“As if I’d be here if I weren’t,” I snapped, forcing my hands open as I turned.
Thorne sat in the chair Vikter had occupied, stretching out his ridiculously long legs. “You were asking if we knew how many died. Too many,” he repeated, all softness gone from his features and voice. “The Continents beyond the Veil are not only several times larger than the lands you know but also heavily populated. Even the city you saw fall, which I believe was once a part of the Laurasia Continent, held more souls within it than the entirety of your kingdom. And that was not the only city to go to ruin, nor was he the first to Awaken.”
My shoulders curled toward my chest as I thought about what I’d heard when I first arrived in the place he’d called the Continents. “The eruption?”
Thorne nodded. “One Awakened near a volcano that had erupted in the past.” A heavy sigh left him. “The number of casualties would seem so impossible it would mean nothing to you.” Sorrow threaded each word. “It is truly more than you can comprehend.”
I believed him. And good gods, I wished I didn’t.
“Is there anyone left?” I asked, my voice still hoarse.
“There is.” Holland sat in the chair next to Thorne. “Life always prevails, Poppy. Never forget that.”
I nodded, blinking back the hot sting of tears. I had a feeling crying in front of them would be like limping in front of a cave cat.
“Before we were interrupted,”—Holland paused, pointedly looking at Thorne—“you asked if I felt the same as the other Ancients. If I agreed with the cleansing. And I said I did, but what I thought changed.”
I nodded.
Holland leaned back in the chair. “But I still ended many lives in my journey to understand what I was feeling then. Experiencing emotion wasn’t something we were used to.” He lowered his gaze to his glass. “I stood with the Primals and fought my brethren, but that doesn’t undo the horror of my actions. I still see the pain of those I slaughtered for what I wrongly believed was the greater good.” He took another drink. “You must think I am a monster.”
“A little.” I swallowed hard, not really sure what to think. I didn’t know this man, and even though he was a Fate—an Ancient—I didn’t know if I could trust him. But… “If mortals can change, then so can gods.”
“You truly believe that?” Lirian asked.
“I do,” I said without hesitation. People could change. I believed in that—I’d seen it. “And you must believe that, too, since he’s here.”
Lirian neither confirmed nor denied that, which was really comforting.
Glancing at Thorne, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d also been like Holland or if he’d been one of the ten. I decided against asking, though. What would it matter at this point?
Holland studied me for several moments before casting his gaze forward. “We all stand here today because we ensured we could no longer suffer the same fate as our brethren.”
My brows lifted. “I’m hoping you will explain that further.”
“All of us released embers of our essences to become what we are today, what others know as the Arae.” Lirian tilted his chin back. “You can look at our eyes to see that. They do not carry the gold of life nor the crimson and shadows of death.”
“Our purpose is to ensure the balance.” Holland set his glass aside. “And that those who went to ground never wake up.”