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)
“Oh.”
Kieran laughed, the tone deep and rich. I started to speak when I suddenly felt a chill of unease prickling my neck. It wasn’t as intense as what I’d felt when the Ancients began to Awaken, nowhere near that, but I stilled and held my breath. Could something like that be happening again? No, Holland had said it wouldn’t.
“I think the essence of life is much easier to handle,” he said, pulling my attention back to him. “You would know.”
I bit my lip, thinking of Casteel’s reaction earlier. “You’re right, but just so you know, the essence of life isn’t exactly a walk in the park to control, either. You’ll know the first time you feel that pull. And you have to be careful. With mortals, if life is given…then another is taken in its place.”
He leaned forward. “Are you saying that when all the mortals who died fighting at the Bone Temple were restored…?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.” The vadentia had gone quiet. Typical. “Maybe with both Seraphena and Nyktos intervening, it ensured some sort of balance.”
“Man.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “I hope so.”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “But it’s not just that. Making the choice to bring someone back?” I swallowed. “It’s easy. Too easy.”
“I know.” He reached across the space between us, his fingers brushing my leg as he placed his hand over mine, stopping me from pulling at a stray thread on the hem of the shirt. “I do know.” He squeezed and then dropped his arm. A moment passed. “It’s still easier than controlling the essence of death.”
“Yeah.” I laughed. “Still easier.” I cradled the glass against my chest. “I wonder why the essence split the way it did between you two.”
“Perhaps it’s because she,” he said, his voice dropping in a way that made me grin, “created the wolven.”
“Possibly,” I murmured. That made sense, but I didn’t think that was the only reason. But I had no idea why I thought that. Had to be the vadentia. “Did you see how Cas looked?”
“Kind of hard not to,” he replied, settling in the armchair.
“The shadows in his skin? They matched the marks I saw on the Ancients.”
“I haven’t seen them on you.” He looked at me as he slumped back. “Then again, you haven’t gone full Primal since you woke.”
“Sounds like I went full Primal when I was possessed.”
“You didn’t,” he said, looking away.
Yeah, because he and who knows who else wouldn’t be here if I had.
But Casteel…? “He hadn’t been going full Primal then either.”
Kieran squinted as he took a drink. “You and I will make sure Cas stays level,” he said, somehow knowing where my mind had gone. Maybe his mind had gone there, too.
My chest squeezed as my gaze lifted to his, my mind flipping to the promise I’d made him swear to. “And what if neither he nor I stay level?”
“Then I guess I’ll have my hands full.”
“Kieran.” I sighed. “You’re not our…”
“Nanny?” he suggested.
My lips flattened.
“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. I’ve always thought that.” His steady gaze held mine. “But he won’t do anything to jeopardize you, and him losing control would do just that.”
“I’m not worried about him losing control,” I argued.
Kieran raised a brow as he leaned back again and took a drink.
“Okay. Maybe just a little,” I admitted, thinking about what the Fates had said. “But only because I know how hard it can be to control the essence.”
Kieran nodded, falling quiet for several moments before shaking his head. “Of all the birds,” he muttered, unease filling his voice. “It had to be ravens.” He dragged a hand over his chest. “My people see them as an omen—well, not so much any longer. But the eldest of the wolven? They did. It’s because of what they represent to the gods.” His gaze lowered to his glass. “Ravens serve as a warning,” he said. “Of death and destruction.”
About an hour or so later, awareness throbbed in my chest, alerting me to Casteel’s presence before he returned.
I hopped up from the settee. Ignoring Kieran’s raised brow, I placed my glass on the table and darted into the main chamber.
Casteel strode into the room, flipping a switch on the wall. Warm, buttery light spilled through the space as I skidded to a halt. The sight of him never failed to make my breath catch.
“There you are,” he said, the light of the chandelier glinting off his cheekbone, as he made his way toward me. His steps slowed, and his eyes heated to a warm honey as he swept his gaze over me. He drew his lower lip in, flashing a hint of a fang. “Poppy,” he spoke, his voice dropping low.
Sharp swirls of tight, hot tingles twisted through me at how he purred my name. “What?”