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’s really upset,” I said, leaning my head back against Casteel’s chest to look up at Kieran. “My touch didn’t work on Jadis,” I told him, unsure of what Casteel had told him about what’d happened in Ironspire. “I don’t know why, but…”
“I heard.” Kieran let out a heavy sigh. “That’s a shame.”
He sounded genuine, which was as surprising as his parting words to Reaver earlier. It made my chest ache even more. I pushed down the knot that had formed in my throat and stepped forward, having no idea where I was going but needing to move.
I didn’t make it very far.
Casteel’s arm tightened around me, keeping me in place.
“Poppy,” Kieran said.
My fingers twisted the laces. “Kieran?”
“You do realize that being unable to wake the draken is not your fault, right?” he said.
Nodding, I stared at the embroidery on his tunic, taking a closer look at it. The golden brocade was richly detailed, adorning the collar and shoulders in a series of intertwining suns connected by swirls and flourishes that resembled vines. I thought it had been clothing he’d found here because we hadn’t traveled with anything as fine as what he wore now, but that design?
“Where did you get the tunic?” I asked.
“What?” he said, the frown clear in his tone.
“The tunic you’re wearing,” I pointed out. “Did you find it here or…?”
He glanced down, running his fingers over the panel. “I think the shirt was here, but Naill added the embroidery.”
I stared at the design, thinking how similar it was to the marks I’d seen on the Ancients and Casteel. “He’s really good—”
“I don’t give a shit how good he is with a needle and thread,” Kieran interrupted.
“That’s not very nice,” I murmured, tensing as Kieran crowded me—us—in.
I was trapped.
Between them.
At that moment, my mind took a very inappropriate walk down memory lane, leading me back to the night of the Joining. The positioning had been different; Casteel in front of me and Kieran…
I bit my lower lip. An unexpected tightening in muscles below my navel forced me to take a sharp inhale that carried…spicy and smoky scents. My heart turned over heavily as I lifted my gaze.
The hue of Kieran’s blue eyes had brightened to a color more vivid than the Stroud Sea as Casteel’s hand firmed on my waist. My fingers ceased their mindless twisting.
No expectations.
No expectations.
Heat still crept up my neck as I felt Casteel’s mark brush against my thoughts. I’m actually going to be responsible and ignore that lovely scent of yours.
Every muscle in my body went stiff as my mind flashed between the fact that if Casteel had picked up on that, Kieran had also, and, well, I had no idea. I had no idea what to do or think about any of that. So, I wasn’t going to. Not for a single minute—or even a second. Or…
“Poppy,” Casteel said aloud, and my knees felt a little boneless at hearing the roughness in his tone that spoke of things I would not think of. He cleared his throat. When he spoke next, the silken promises threaded through my name were gone. “You do know it’s not your fault—Jadis.”
My eyes closed. “I know.”
“Do you?” Kieran asked, and I refused to listen too closely to his voice.
“Yes.”
The hand on my hip slid across my stomach, turning me around. Amber eyes stared into mine. “Don’t lie.”
“I’m not,” I insisted, holding his stare. “It’s just that I…I still feel bad that I couldn’t do what was needed of me.”
“That was their expectation of you. Not yours.” Casteel cupped my cheek. “You did what was asked of you. And that was all you could do.” His eyes searched mine. “Okay?”
Exhaling slowly, I nodded.
Casteel held my gaze for a moment longer and then pressed his lips to my forehead. “Your heart is too good.”
My brows knitted. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I would.”
I smiled, but I honestly didn’t understand why he—or the Arae—spoke of me as if I were the…Chosen. Pure of heart and body. Neither was true. Sure, I didn’t want to burn cities, but that alone didn’t make me good.
“Did you get the instructions out?” Kieran asked, changing the subject.
“The meeting with the generals will happen tomorrow afternoon.”
I still thought the meeting could happen now.
“I’m going to clean up.” His gaze shifted to mine. “Kieran will keep you out of trouble while I do.”
“Well, that should be easy,” I said as he stepped back and walked around Kieran and me. “I often stay out of trouble.”
“Really,” Kieran drawled.
My nostrils flaring, I spun on the wolven. “Shut up,” I said and heard Casteel’s snort from the other chamber float out to us. “That also means you,” I yelled.
The echo of his taunting laugh was irritating. And, unfortunately for me, a very attractive sound.
One side of Kieran’s lips tipped up as I looked at him.