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)
My stomach muscles tightened as I drew up my legs.
Or tried to.
They didn’t respond to the command my brain was sending to them. They remained dangling against the glass.
I tried again.
My heart stuttered as my gaze met his. I couldn’t move my legs. Or my arms or head. What air I could get into my lungs lodged in my throat. I couldn’t move at all.
Lirian smiled as that outline of wings filled in, full of crackling eather. “As I said, you’re not more powerful than me.”
Fury exploded through me like the force of a wildfire as I could do nothing more than lock glares with him.
“Let her go,” Holland commanded.
It didn’t seem like Lirian was about to do that as he held me at eye level. “We should’ve been the ones to handle this.”
“Lirian,” Holland shouted.
“That’s what I wanted.” Tendrils of heated eather started to swirl around his shoulders. “We should’ve killed you. And believe it or not,” Lirian said, “I would’ve happily carried it out. Rules be damned.”
My eyes widened as a blur of black shot across the chamber.
“I was more than willing to make that—”
Thorne appeared behind Lirian and grabbed him by the shoulder. “Release her,” he ordered. “Now.”
Jaw clenched, Lirian lifted one finger at a time and let me go. I landed on my feet, managing not to stumble.
Thorne yanked the other Ancient back, and I stepped away from the window as Lirian suddenly went airborne and flew across the chamber.
He hit a pillar with a nice, fleshy smack and fell forward, his knees cracking off the floor.
“Are you okay?” Thorne asked me.
“Yes.” My heart still pounded as I touched my sore throat. Glancing up at the Ancient, I saw that he still held his glass. Wow. “Thanks.”
“Not necessary,” he replied, lifting the glass to his lips as he turned to Lirian.
The Ancient was standing now, tugging the front of his tunic down, straightening it. He stilled as I started toward him, anger carving into the taut lines of his features.
“I’m so gonna find out how many Arae are around and exactly how many the realms can afford to lose,” I told him, ignoring the slight ache in my throat that accompanied each word. “And you know what I’m going to do once I have that information?”
Lirian smirked. “I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“Poppy,” Holland called.
Ignoring Holland, I didn’t blink as I stared up at Lirian. “I’m going to come for you.”
Something flickered in Lirian’s eyes and darted across his face as I sensed his unease.
“You need to leave,” Holland said, turning to Lirian. “Now.”
Holding my stare, the Ancient stepped back and vanished with a charge of energy.
“Will I be able to do that someday?” I asked, staring at the space in front of the pillar. “Poof in and out of chambers?”
“One day,” Holland answered. “Yes.” His inhale was audible. “I’m sorry about that. He shouldn’t have behaved that way.”
Nodding, I turned to him. “Why didn’t you all kill me?”
Holland went completely still for what was likely only seconds but felt like hours. “Because it went to a vote, and the decision to end your life was not unanimous.”
I stared. “You all voted on whether or not I should die?”
“We did.” Thorne strode toward the table and picked up the carafe. He frowned.
“I know how that sounds.” Holland returned to his seat. “But we had a choice to make. Allow you to be born and grow or not.”
“Well…” What was I even supposed to say to that? “I guess I know what Lirian voted. What about you two?”
“I think it’s clear what I voted for.” Thorne placed his glass on the table and crossed his arms. “I was against it.”
My gaze flicked to Holland.
“I was also against it.”
“Why?”
Holland didn’t answer.
Irritation grew as I grabbed a piece of hair and spun it around my finger. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“You remind me so much of her,” Holland murmured.
“Do I even want to know who you’re referencing?”
“Seraphena.”
“Oh.”
His gaze flicked to my hand. “She has a habit of doing just as you are when she’s either nervous or busying her hands in an attempt not to use them. On someone.”
“Oh,” I whispered again, my hand stilling.
Holland clasped his hands behind his back. “You know what must be done.”
I did.
I was just about to ask him how him telling me what needed to be done wasn’t considered interference, but I figured it would be a waste of my time.
“Do you have any questions?”
“Can you tell me anything useful about defeating Kolis?”
Holland returned my stare with a look as lifeless as the marble statues lining the Hall of Gods.
“Whatever,” I said, wanting to leave and return to Casteel. But something Lirian had said resurfaced. “Why would my birth have anything to do with Kolis?”
A flicker of something like discomfort or unease passed over Holland’s stoic face, sending a wave of dread through me. “It’s because of what you are.”