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)
Oh, my gods.
Attes’s laugh wasn’t nearly as chilling as what had come out of Casteel, but it was threaded with the same promise of violence. “I can kick your ass despite my incredibly advanced age. How about that?”
Casteel lowered my arms. “I’m about to sound incredibly clichéd, but I would love to see you try.”
“You won’t be seeing any of that.” I stretched onto my tiptoes, briefly considering reaching out to Kieran. I quickly dismissed that idea because I had a feeling he couldn’t help.
“If that’s true, then why are you hiding behind your wife?”
Oh.
Shit.
I didn’t even have a chance to react. One second, I was in front of Casteel. The very next, I was behind him, staring at his tense back muscles.
“Not anymore,” Casteel growled, getting right up in Attes’s smirking face. “So, what are you going to do?”
“Nothing.” I shot forward and threw my arm out against Casteel’s chest. “Neither of you is doing anything.”
They weren’t listening as they sized each other up.
“Do not make me separate the two of you,” I warned. “Because I can and will.”
The curve of Casteel’s lips matched Attes’s as I felt a throb of awareness. I quickly looked at the sky, then returned my gaze to them.
“Cas, you need to be angry with me,” I said, attempting to squeeze between them. “Not him. He’s done nothing but say some really idiotic things.”
“Oh, I’m angry with you.” Casteel’s swirling eyes remained fixed on Attes. “And we’ll handle that later.”
“I didn’t think I said anything idiotic,” Attes replied.
“How about we handle it now?” I managed to force myself between them. “You can lecture—” I squeaked—like a field mouse—as I was gently scooted back several feet. “What the fuck?”
“That wasn’t me,” Attes stated.
“No shit,” I snapped, glaring at Casteel. “I’m starting to get really angry with—”
Reaver broke through the clouds, scattering them as he extended his wings. He landed behind Casteel with a heavy thud, sweeping his wings back as his talons dug into the ground, sending bursts of soil and rock into the air. Smoke wafted from his nostrils as he puffed out a breath.
“Did someone call for backup?” Casteel asked.
My head snapped back to him. “You need to stop talking.”
“Why do I have a feeling that only happens when he’s asleep?”
“You, too,” I snapped, pointing at Attes as I stalked forward. “Both of you need to shut up.”
“That’s not going to happen,” came Reaver’s gravelly voice. I dared a quick peek at him, and yep…naked. “Both like to talk. A lot.”
“You wound me, Reaver,” Attes replied.
The draken snorted. “I’m sure I did.”
A muscle ticked in Casteel’s jaw. “He’s naked, isn’t he?”
“Of course,” I muttered, crossing my arms.
Attes frowned and finally, finally broke eye contact with Casteel to glance at Reaver.
“The people of this age are quite prudish,” Reaver stated.
“Not wanting your dick out near my wife doesn’t make me prudish,” Casteel shot back.
Attes’s silver gaze slid back to him, and his jaw loosened. “I think I actually agree with that.”
Reaver sighed.
“What are you doing here, Reaver?” Casteel asked. He still hadn’t pulled his stare from Attes.
“I sensed what felt like some shit about to go down,” he replied. “And when I felt Poppy’s rising frustration, I figured that whatever it was would at least be entertaining. I was not wrong.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I closed my eyes. It didn’t pass me by that his comment meant he was still bonded to me. But at the moment, I didn’t care.
“So, what is happening here?” Reaver asked.
“Well,” Attes drawled. Without even opening my eyes, I felt his stare.
I tipped my head back. “I saw someone on the Cliffs. I knew it wasn’t Kolis in person but figured it was him tagging along with a Revenant or Ascended. So, I decided to send him a message.”
“And you decided it without waking me?” Casteel asked.
I cracked open an eye. Those shadow-laced golden eyes were on me now, which I supposed was an improvement. “You needed your sleep.”
“I’m not going to even dignify that with a response.”
“Isn’t that a response?” I retorted.
Casteel lowered his chin.
“Why would you think that was who was on the Cliffs just because you saw someone out here?” Attes asked.
Um…
“That’s a good question,” Reaver chimed in.
I opened my other eye. “It’s a long story that doesn’t matter.”
Casteel went to speak but…
“At all,” I stressed. “I came and killed the Revenant. That’s it.”
Attes laughed. “Yeah, that’s it. That’s all I stumbled upon.”
“I know that’s not it,” Casteel said. “Because you were bleeding.” He turned his stare back on the Primal god. “Why don’t you tell me what you stumbled upon. But first, tell me how you managed to do so.”
Attes stiffened to the point he nearly matched my posture. I didn’t intervene because his appearance was awfully convenient.
“Waiting,” Casteel murmured.
“So am I,” Reaver added.
Attes’s jaw flexed. He took a step back and held Casteel’s stare. “I’m not your enemy.”