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)
“Is that so?” Malik demanded.
“It is.” Casteel held his brother’s gaze as he reached over and scooped up a spoonful of sliced cucumber and onion marinated in some sort of vinegary dressing.
A slow, tight-lipped smile crawled across Malik’s mouth as Casteel placed the cucumber mixture on my plate. I recognized that kind of smile. I’d seen it on Casteel’s face a time or a thousand. It was a sure sign that Malik was seconds away from committing an act of violence.
Emil glanced at Perry, who then fixed his gaze on his plate, while Delano sank a good five inches down in his chair.
Reaver leaned forward, momentarily blocking my view of them as he grabbed half of the roasted fowl.
“You do realize that I’m your older brother,” Malik stated, his finger tapping the stem of his glass.
Eat. Casteel’s voice drifted through the notam, his stare fixed on Malik. “And you do realize that I’m the King, right?”
Tawny’s eyes darted back to Malik as she drank her wine.
“Last I checked, being King doesn’t mean you can give orders without any explanation.”
Tawny’s gaze shot back to Casteel. It was almost as if she were watching some sort of match—one she was engrossed in.
“Actually,” Casteel drawled, leaning back in his chair, “I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what a King can do.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kieran pinch the bridge of his nose.
“Sure. If said King has no aspirations of being a good one.”
Naill’s lips pursed.
“I don’t think he has any interest in being a good King,” Reaver said around a mouthful of food. “Unless it involves his Queen.”
Kieran’s eyes closed.
“While your comment was completely unnecessary,” Casteel said to Reaver, “I never had any interest in being a King, let alone a good one.”
Malik’s mouth opened.
“Really?” Tawny said.
“Really.” He also tapped his glass with a finger. “Unless it has to do with my Queen.”
I resisted the urge to argue. Cas wasn’t giving himself enough credit. He did care.
“Huh,” murmured Tawny.
“Why do you have such a problem with me going?” Malik pressed. “Our father is missing, Cas.”
The cucumber and onion soured in my stomach.
“I know.” Casteel took a drink. “But I don’t believe for a second that is what fueled this offer.”
“What do you think did?” Malik challenged. “Me planning to try to join up with Kolis?”
Reaver stopped with a forkful of mashed potatoes halfway to his mouth. “Is that what you plan to do?”
Malik’s golden eyes shot to the draken, narrowing slightly as his lips thinned.
“It’s a valid question,” Reaver stated flatly and then shoved the potatoes into his mouth. “Since you brought it up.”
I worried Tawny might pull an eye muscle, glancing between the three of them as she finished her second glass of wine. Or was it her third?
“I don’t think that’s why you want to go,” Casteel replied, thank the gods.
Emil lifted the wine bottle and tipped it in Tawny’s direction. She nodded eagerly.
“Care to elaborate?” Malik asked.
“Not particularly,” Casteel responded.
Malik’s finger stopped tapping, and the mask of insolence he wore began to crack.
I figured it was time for me to speak. “I’ll go.”
Casteel’s head whipped toward me. “Absolutely not.”
“That won’t work on me,” I stated, putting my fork down.
His eyes narrowed as essence pulsed through them. “Want to bet?”
“It would be a boring bet because you would lose,” I countered.
“Oh, man,” Delano murmured, fully halfway down in his chair now.
“Mother and Father are fighting,” Emil remarked under his breath. “Again.”
I frowned at him, then shook my head.
“We already discussed this, Poppy,” Casteel said from between clenched teeth.
“We discussed me going there to kill Kolis,” I corrected, catching how Malik’s brows shot up. “Not going there to see what’s happening.”
“Actually,” Kieran drawled, “I’m pretty sure we covered that, too.”
“Not really,” I argued. “I’m talking about popping in and out before he even knows I’m there.”
Kieran turned a bland look on me. “Does the length of time matter?”
“Well, I mean…” My eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t, but—”
“I’m so glad our conversation really left a lasting impression on you,” Casteel cut in.
“It did, but—”
“You know what it means when you use the word but,” he said.
“I understand what words mean, Casteel. But that conversation took place before,” I said. “It’s not like he’ll immediately know which Primal god is there. It will take him a few moments,” I said, unsure whether I was right or not. I had no idea how I felt to other gods. “There’s a difference between him sensing just one of us versus all three. I would leave quickly, and it will take me maybe half a minute to get there—”
“What?” Tawny lowered her glass.
“She can shadowstep,” Reaver answered, eyeing the fish on my plate. “Move through and between the realms using eather.”
Tawny blinked as I picked up my glass. “I’m going to pretend that made sense.”
“Samesies,” Emil murmured.