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)
CHAPTER 25
CASTEEL
The moment Poppy entered the stables behind me, Setti started trotting in place like he was on display, swishing his tail and letting out a whinny that sounded a little too excited.
“I think you’re happier to see her than me,” I remarked as I approached his side. “We should’ve shadowstepped.”
The horse turned his head from me like the ass he was. I’d wanted to shadowstep. Kieran and the others had agreed to meet us there, but Poppy had insisted on riding. And what the Queen wanted, the Queen got.
Including going to Stonehill.
Normally, I wouldn’t have had a problem with her wanting to see what was happening firsthand, but considering she only just completed her Ascension, she was vulnerable. And she knew it.
But I knew that if I argued with her to stay back, she would just shadowstep her sweet ass to Stonehill herself.
Setti nickered and lowered his head as Poppy approached.
“Traitor,” I muttered as Kieran led the horse out of the next stall and swung onto its back.
Checking the bridle, I glanced over at Poppy. Her steps were slow, her gaze fixed solely on Setti. I tensed, my grip tightening on the reins. The stallion towered over her, and…something odd was happening. Setti had never lashed out at Poppy before, but I couldn’t be too careful when it came to her.
My brows lowered as I watched her slowly lift her hand, the lemony taste of her curiosity gathering in my throat. She looked up at Setti as if she’d never seen him before.
Kieran watched, his mind linking with mine. What’s going on?
No idea.
Setti nibbled at Poppy’s fingers, bringing a small grin to her lips. He nuzzled her hand, his tail swaying as she tilted her head.
“How did no one notice?” she murmured, sliding her hand up his cheek.
My curiosity rose then. I stepped toward them. “Poppy?”
Blinking, she drew her gaze to mine.
“How did you know his name was Setti?”
I had to think about that for a moment. “One of the stewards watching over Elian’s estate told me.” I glanced at Kieran as Delano peered around the corner of the stall, his ears twitching. “Does that sound about right?”
He was watching Poppy. “From what I remember it does.”
“Setti’s been keeping secrets,” she said.
“Secrets?” My brows lifted. I knew people were waiting for us, but I had to ask. “My…horse has been keeping secrets?”
“The bloodsteed has been keeping secrets,” she corrected, sending me a quick glance. “I guess I never noticed it—or maybe it’s more like I never felt it—until now.” She smiled as Setti nudged her hand—she’d stopped petting him. “The essence.”
“The eather?” Kieran questioned. “In Setti?”
She nodded. “I’m guessing neither of you feel it?”
“Uh.” My gaze briefly met Kieran’s. “No.”
“Setti isn’t a horse—well, he’s not a normal one anyway,” she said.
The reins slipped from Kieran’s fingers. “Are you saying he’s…”
“He’s not just named after Attes’s vellám. He is Attes’s vellám.” She straightened the strap along his cheek, and fuck if Setti’s ears didn’t flicker at the mention of the Primal god. “I don’t know how or really why, but Setti’s a bloodsteed.”
I stared at her for what felt like an hour. Yeah, I was shocked as shit to hear that, but I didn’t try to refute what she said. First, it was likely the vadentia. And secondly, Setti had always seemed damn near…
I shook my head in disbelief. “How is this possible? I’ve had him since he was a colt.” My gaze crawled over his shiny coat. “Raised him.”
“I…I don’t know.” Poppy frowned as rubbed the back of her neck. “I don’t think he always appeared as a colt.”
My brows shot up. “What?”
“It’s hard to explain because it doesn’t really make sense to me,” she admitted. “But I think he chose to appear as a colt when you found him at Elian estate.”
“What the fuck?” I murmured.
Poppy ducked her chin as she grinned. “I guess only Elian would’ve known. And Attes. But I don’t know how or why.”
“It has to be magic,” Kieran murmured. “How many times in battle, large or small, has Setti remained standing, unscathed, while others were struck down?”
“Too many to count,” I said. “And here I thought it was just my horsemanship keeping him alive.”
Setti let out a quick, forceful burst of air.
My eyes narrowed on the horse.
“Didn’t you say he started following you all when you saw him in the pasture?” Poppy asked Kieran. He nodded, and she came to my side. “Maybe he sensed that you’re a descendant of Attes’s bloodline, and that’s why he followed you.”
“Maybe,” I said.
“Maybe?” Kieran laughed. “There is no way that you coming across the bloodsteed of the Primal god you’re descended from is a coincidence.”
Yeah, I didn’t think it was. But I had no fucking idea what to think about the fact that my horse wasn’t mine and wasn’t entirely normal. Fuck. I had no idea what kind of reveal would come next. That my father wasn’t who he said he was?