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)
“You sure about that?”
“I think so—no, I’m sure. It’s the vadentia.”
It took me a moment to remember what the word meant in the language of the gods. Kieran probably would’ve known in a heartbeat. “Foresight?”
She nodded. “It came with the Ascension. I’m not sure why only I… Actually, I think that might have to do with me being a descendant of the Queen of the Gods and female. And because, technically, I’m the first Deminyen to Ascend into Primalhood.”
“Well, aren’t you special?”
She shot me an arch look.
I chuckled. “So, you are our Queen, even more so now.”
“Wouldn’t that make you even more of a King?”
“No.” I leaned back and drew up a knee. “It would make me your Consort. Just as before.”
“I still reject that notion.”
“Of course, you do,” I parroted back her earlier words.
Poppy grinned, but it faded too quickly. “You said this would continue to add to the imbalance,” she said. “Has that already started?”
“Yeah.” I scrubbed a hand over my jaw. “The sun.”
She tensed. “The sun?”
“You know how it should rise in the east?”
“Should?” She stared. “I’m going to need a whole lot more detail. And fast.”
“Well, it doesn’t anymore,” I told her. “Now, it rises in the west.”
Poppy opened her mouth. Closed it. “That can’t be good.”
“Other than freaking out the mortals, it hasn’t had much of an impact. However, it did the switch up…” Damn, that was only two days ago. It felt longer than that. Then again, who knew how long Aydun had done whatever he had to halt time? “That was about two days ago.”
“So, the effects may not have been seen yet.” She gripped the blanket. “Has anything else completely illogical happened?”
“Not as far as I know, but I’m guessing the longer Kolis remains in this realm”—lifting a hand, I ran my fingers along her braid—“the more obvious the imbalance will become.”
“What could be more obvious than the sun rising in the west?” She shook her head. “He didn’t give any examples of what else could happen?”
“No.” I tugged the band securing her braid free and slipped it onto my wrist.
Poppy was quiet as I meticulously finger-combed her hair. “This is good news, though,” she said eventually. “Not the sun thing, of course.”
Chuckling, I gathered up her hair. “Definitely not that.”
“But you and Kieran are Primal gods,” she continued as I brought the length of hair over her shoulder. “It means both of you will be powerful.”
“It does.”
She bit her lip as I skimmed my hand down her arm. Her back arched as she said, “And how do you feel about being a Primal now? You don’t seem surprised.”
“I think I got all the surprise out of me when I saw the eather swirling around me the first time,” I replied, which was true. “I’ve had some time to process it.”
Her worry thickened as she said. “But this wasn’t something you expected when you agreed to the Joining. Neither did Kieran. But…” She pulled in her lips and then released them. “So, you’re okay with it? With being a…Primal of Death?”
My hand went to her waist as I shifted onto my knees. I crowded her until she was flat on her back and beneath me. Her scent, sweet and warm, surrounded me. I kissed her shoulder. “Are you?”
A fine shiver danced over her skin. “Yes.”
I nipped at her. “Then so am I.”
She stared at me. “You make it sound like my feelings are the only thing that matters, Cas—”
Kissing her, I captured her words with a sweep of my tongue over the seam of her lips. She opened for me at once. And, gods, just one kiss, and I was full of need for her. I wanted nothing more than to sink into her tight, wet heat. And I would if the kiss continued for much longer.
With effort, I lifted my head. She pulled back with a breathy sigh, her slightly unfocused gaze searching mine.
I understood what she was looking for. “The moment I saw the essence around me, I knew it was the essence of death,” I told her. “The Deminyen thing is a shock, but I still feel the same.” Mostly. “And I’m sure some things will take some getting used to, but I’m okay with that. All right?”
Exhaling softly, she nodded. A moment passed. “I think it’s far past time we start acting like a King and Queen.”
“Unfortunately, you’re correct.”
She reached up and brushed my hair back from my eyes. “That means you need to move.”
“I know.”
Her lips curled up. “You still haven’t moved.”
“I’m working on it.” I gave her one more quick kiss and pushed myself up and off the bed. Standing, I stretched my arms, trying to loosen the too-tight muscles.
Her heady, sweet scent increased, heating my blood. Lowering my arms, I looked over my shoulder.
Poppy lay on her side, arms crossed over her breasts. Her lower lip was between her teeth as she eyed me.