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 answering smile hurt a little less. “It is.”
There was something…adorable about his awe as he refocused on the man. Almost childlike.
A weary sigh left me as I shifted my gaze toward the back of the warehouse, where stacked crates shielded those neither the Healers nor I had reached in time. Ten Atlantians. Twenty mortals. So far. It had taken nearly everything in me not to place my hands on them and restore the warmth to their bodies.
I couldn’t.
A life for a life.
If I brought a mortal back, another would be taken to keep the balance. It wasn’t the same for gods or Atlantians, but I couldn’t bring an Atlantian back and not a mortal. There was no balance in that.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
Soft fur tickled my cheek as Delano leaned into my side. Turning my head, I pressed my face into the side of his neck and let myself relax into him for just a few moments.
A minute was too long.
Poppy, Delano called.
I’m fine.
Pulling away, I used my hands to push myself up. Luckily, I didn’t sway as Delano stood. If I had, he would have dragged my ass from here.
Ignoring the stiffness in my body, I watched the servants from Wayfair rush in and out of doors, carrying baskets with clean linens and anything that could be used for bandages for a few seconds and then turned. I looked for the fair-haired Healer, Syrus, finding him kneeling next to an Atlantian guard. Casteel was with him, his dark head bowed. I looked away before Casteel lifted the white sheet he held, already knowing the man had passed.
Eleven Atlantians.
So far.
The lower streets were still being searched, and I knew those found dead weren’t being brought here.
Chest heavy, I started to walk, though I did so with company. Delano was at my side, and Emil and Hisa were only a few steps behind me. The auburn-haired Atlantian was quieter than I’d ever known him to be. I let my senses stretch out as I slowly moved between the beds made from blankets we’d had the servants bring. Those conscious stared either at the large, snow-white wolven or me. Or at my two shadows, whose hands rested on swords as if ready to strike if someone so much as twitched in my direction. Probably at all of those things. I was too tired to care about the stares or worry about what they thought as they looked at me.
Something caught my attention. I wasn’t sure what, but I glanced toward the front of the warehouse just in time to see a cloaked figure carrying an empty basket. The figure was slender and tall, and as they neared the doors, a breeze lifted the hood just enough for me to glimpse white curls.
Tawny.
My wry smile froze as my stomach lurched.
No.
Nope.
I didn’t have time to think about that.
Turning, I kept walking until I stopped at the feet of a man with a pile of bloodied bandages wrapped around his stomach. I started to kneel—
Another faint quake struck, drawing a chorus of groans and muted curses as my gaze lifted to the ceiling. The slivers of moonlight seeping through the gaps in the rafters were widening.
“It’s holding,” Hisa advised quietly.
But for how long? went unsaid.
“And that one was weaker,” Emil added.
It was.
The quakes had been happening every hour or so since the gods vanished, fading in strength with each pass.
I had a bad feeling about those quakes. Bad enough that I couldn’t let myself think too hard about them because I didn’t have the strength to deal with the answer.
“I think it would be wise to move anyone who can be to…” A wave of dizziness swept up the back of my neck and over my head. Inhaling sharply, I fought the icy-hot pressure that followed. It bore down on my skull, making my head feel like it was seconds from cracking open.
Don’t pass out.
“Poppy?” someone called, sounding as if they were outside.
Do not fucking pass out.
Delano nudged my hand, and I blinked several times as the pressure retreated—pressure I wasn’t sure was due to only having taken enough blood from Casteel to be able to use the eather to heal or something else.
I opened my eyes to find Casteel standing several rows away, his gold eyes fixed on me. A muscle ticked along his jaw. His brother was beside him, speaking to him quietly. I remembered he’d said he had something to show us.
“I’m sorry?” Turning away, I began to kneel beside the man again. “What did you say?”
“I was saying we can move them to the Wayfair gatehouse,” Emil suggested. “It’s large, pretty clean, and more secure.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Eyeing the pile of bandages, I leaned over the man. “Can you start on that?”
“Of course.” Emil started to turn but stopped. His shoulders tightened as he faced me. “You’ve done enough, Poppy.”