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)
“Yeah,” I breathed, knowing that was easier said than done. Letting go of the ribbon, I dropped my hands to his arms. The feel of his skin soothed me in a way I wasn’t sure I would ever fully understand. “How do you think the generals really feel about making our move even without Attes?”
“Hard to tell,” he said with a sigh, his hand flattening against my stomach. “But I think Damron and my father are on the same page. As well as Sven.”
“I think we should have Sven stay back with Perry. They haven’t found anything that can weaken Kolis yet, but that doesn’t mean they won’t. And we’ll need that if I’m not successful.” As in, if I didn’t get a chance to get close enough.
“We will be successful,” he replied, his thumb making slow, idle sweeps. “But I agree. A commander can be pulled forward to lead Sven’s regiment.”
“And the other generals?”
“La’Sere?” His chin grazed the top of my head. “I believe she’s onboard. Murin is up in the air.”
“Aylard likely isn’t,” I muttered.
“That’s because he’s a coward.”
He was many things, a coward included. But… “He’s afraid of dying. Most people are.”
“There are worse things than dying.” His thumb circled my navel. “Someone as arrogant as Aylard should know that.”
“Has he always been that way?” I asked, curious.
“Our paths didn’t cross often in the past,” he shared. “But I was not impressed when it occurred.”
I snorted, and it was quite an unattractive sound. “I get the feeling he’s not as…” I searched for the right word. “Respectful toward the wolven as he is toward Atlantians.”
“Your suspicions would be on point.” Casteel shifted, leaning back an inch or two.
“Am I making you uncomfortable?” I looked over my shoulder. “I can move?”
“Absolutely fucking not.” His arms tightened, and then he continued once I settled back into him. “You know issues were brewing between the wolven and Atlantians again.”
I did. Alastir had also spoken of such, which was one of the reasons he’d wanted Cas to marry Gianna.
My lip curled.
“Atlantians like Aylard are part of the reason. I’d like to say we are without bigots, but that would be a lie that would only serve to empower those like him.” His thumb began moving again. “Not many view the wolven as less than, but one is enough.”
Anger sparked, stirring the essence. “That doesn’t even make sense. The wolven are closer to the gods.”
“Such hatred rarely makes sense.”
Gods. I’d seen that enough in Solis to know it was true. “Do you know why? Is it because of the war with the deities?”
“Some of it. Both sides killed many.” Cas drew up a leg, bending his knee. “But some of it stems from the lack of space those like Aylard believe was worsened by the increasing wolven population. As if they were taking something they had no right to.” Casteel scoffed. “They seem to forget that, since day one, Atlantia belonged to both the Atlantians and the wolven.”
One could argue it belonged more to the wolven, considering their unique ties to the true Primal of Life. I had a feeling Cas would agree.
“But Aylard will fall in line,” Cas continued. “People like him always do.”
I cocked an eyebrow at that, unsure if it was a good thing, even if it benefited our needs. I shifted my thoughts from Aylard. “We also need to deal with Masadonia. I think it’s safe to assume—unfortunately—that the scouts I and then you sent will not be returning.”
“I fear I have to agree with that,” he said, arms clenching and then loosening as the heaviness of the loss settled in my chest. “But we’ll handle Kolis first and then deal with whatever awaits us in Masadonia.”
I nodded, figuring Masadonia had remained an even fiercer Ascended stronghold. Whether or not it was on Kolis’s behalf didn’t matter. Taking on the Ascended after Kolis would be like fighting Craven, who were little more than bones.
“If we have time tomorrow, I want to train. With a bow,” I added. “It feels like years since I picked up a bow. And I would also like to train with the sword.”
“That can be done.” His lips brushed my temple, drawing a smile from me.
It didn’t last, though, as my mind returned to what would happen when we arrived in Pensdurth. What needed to be done.
His thumb stilled above my navel. “Poppy?”
“Stop reading my emotions.”
“Should I lie as you have and say I will?”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”
His chuckle was quick. “What are you thinking?”
Knowing we needed to be on the same page, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You know what has to be done, right? What I have to do.”
Casteel went quiet.
Turning around, I rose to my knees. Our gazes locked. “I am his weakness—”
“Then why do you have Sven digging around looking for something to weaken him.”