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 gaze flicked up as the road ahead grew darker. Thick clouds seemed to hang over Stonehill, blocking out the moonlight. “Good call.”
“It wasn’t me,” Emil replied. “It was Malik.”
My head cut to him. “My brother is out here?”
He nodded. “He’s the one who notified Naill.”
My jaw clenched. What was Malik doing out here?
Poppy’s hand landed atop my forearm and squeezed.
Forcing my jaw to loosen, I glanced at the roofs. A frown pulled at the corners of my lips. The streets were starting to look—or maybe feel—familiar to me.
“We’re here,” Poppy murmured, her tone flat.
Emil looked at her in surprise.
“Are we?” Kieran asked.
The Elemental blinked. “All I know is the location.” He turned forward, seeing nothing but a dark, barren street ahead.
My gaze shifted to the homes as Setti’s hooves clattered off the cobblestones. No light shone from inside any of the houses on either side. I searched the street and its thin stretch of sidewalk, spying the iron beams of streetlamps. From the road, I could see that the glass domes were blown.
Kieran mind-linked with me as he eyed the lights. Kolis.
Looks like it.
“I can feel it,” Poppy said after a moment, straining forward. “I can feel death.” Her breath was short and shallow as Delano edged closer, causing Setti to blow out a puff of air in annoyance. “You all feel it, too. It’s in the air—that thick stagnancy. The chill. It’s Death.”
Knowing she meant that with a capital D, I tugged her back against me again as Kieran glanced at her. His gaze flicked to mine, worry etched into his features.
I knew what drove that concern.
We had no idea how vulnerable Poppy remained to Kolis’s influence. She was awake, but the connection between them that had been forged was still there. I wanted to turn Setti around and take her back to Wayfair—fuck, take her as far from this city as possible. Because she wasn’t just talking about death.
And I didn’t want her anywhere near where he was or had been.
It took every damn ounce of restraint I had not to give in to the near-feral need to take her away, to protect her, as we continued on. She’d have my fucking balls if I even suggested it.
Poppy looked down at Delano, and I saw how close he was, somehow managing to avoid being trampled by Setti. I was half-worried that he would try to jump on Setti’s back to be even closer.
A bend in the road ahead appeared, and I picked up on the sound of hushed voices and movement. Seconds later, the guards’ golden armor became visible in the thin strands of moonlight breaking through the thick clouds overhead. A group stood clustered together about two blocks down, half in the street.
I spied my brother amid them, his arms crossed over his chest as he turned toward us. He backed away and took a few steps before halting. His arms unfolded and fell to his sides. Even from here, I felt his shock.
Malik moved away from the group, who hadn’t yet realized who traveled with us. That didn’t last long, though. The others turned, and their surprise was like a splash of cool water. I wanted to wrap Poppy in my cloak and hide her away, but again, she would likely grab one of the swords I’d strapped to my back and stab me if I tried.
A wry grin tugged at my lips as I slowed Setti.
Poppy looked over her shoulder. “Do I even want to know what you’re thinking?”
“Probably not.”
Bringing Setti to a stop, I swung off his back and then turned, settling my hands on her hips. She didn’t need my help, but her hands went to my shoulders nonetheless. I lifted her from Setti’s back and settled her on her feet.
Delano brushed against my legs as he came to her other side. Her hand went down to stroke the fur between his ears.
Malik’s mouth opened, but then he snapped it shut. I eyed him, quickly seeing that his face was more gaunt than the last time I’d seen him.
The fucker hadn’t fed.
Malik’s chin lowered. “My Queen.”
Poppy’s head tilted. “No—”
Behind Malik, the guards moved as if coming out of a trance. Hands swung to chests as they began to kneel.
“Oh, gods, please don’t,” Poppy said quickly. “No one has to…” She trailed off as about half a dozen dropped to one knee, their heads bowed as they echoed Malik’s greeting. “Do that,” she finished.
“They didn’t do that when they last saw me,” I drawled. Unable to be upset by the show of respect. I bent down to whisper, “Don’t forget to tell them they can rise.”
A soft sigh escaped her. “You may rise.” She waited as they stood. “And you do not need to do that again.”
“Disagree,” I murmured.
Her head snapped in my direction, her glare burning straight through the shadows of her cloak. Slowly, she turned her head back to those before her. “I…I command that you do not bow to either me or Casteel.”