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)
Casteel’s hand tightened around mine, and I dragged my gaze from the throne. We crossed the cella, our steps echoing through the hollow chamber. While I was curious to explore the glittering halls and sun-drenched chambers, there was no time for that.
I could hear the crowd gathering outside.
Climbing the spiral staircase to the High Chamber where the others waited, I expected the flutter of nerves to grow into those large birds of prey. But they didn’t. Nor did my heart begin pounding with anxiety. The realization caused me to stop.
Casteel, a step above me, turned. “Poppy?”
I looked up at him. “I’m not nervous. I mean, I’m a little nervous, but that’s it.”
“That’s a good thing.” He cocked his head. “Right?”
“Yeah.” And it made sense.
Cas studied me for a moment. “Is there another reason you stopped?”
I drew my lip between my teeth. “I guess I’m just surprised.”
He continued staring at me for a few seconds, and then his lips curled up in a faint smile that came close to making the dimple in his right cheek appear.
“We should probably keep moving,” he said.
Squashing the disappointment, I nodded. He squeezed my hand, which was almost as good as glimpsing the dimple. Almost. We continued up what felt like a never-ending staircase. By the time we reached the short hall, my calves were burning, which I felt was quite ridiculous, considering I was a Primal god. Stealing a quick glance at Casteel as I heard Emil, I saw that he appeared utterly unbothered by the fact that we’d just climbed a thousand steps.
Of course.
“He won’t kill me,” Emil said, his hushed voice reaching us.
“Emil,” was Vonetta’s quiet whisper.
Oh, dear.
“While I normally find your confidence attractive—”
“You find everything about me attractive,” Emil cut in.
“I also find it inflated in this situation,” Vonetta continued. “He may not kill you, but he will definitely break something. Many somethings.”
“As long as it’s not my dick—” Emil’s head snapped up as we rounded the corner. Vonetta hastily stepped back. A wide smile broke out across Emil’s face. “There you two are. We were starting to get worried.”
“Sure, you were,” Casteel replied.
Vonetta stared at the floor as if she might find the answers to life written in the limestone. I fixed my gaze on her, and she cast me a quick look, her lips pursing.
“We were,” Emil insisted. “What would we tell the crowd if our Queen and King went missing?” He stepped aside, his easy grin not fading. “Everyone is waiting for you inside.”
As we passed between them, Casteel looked at Emil. “By the way,” he said, not even trying to keep his voice down, “he is definitely going to do worse than break your dick.”
My head snapped toward Cas as Kieran stepped out at the end of the hall. “Why are we talking about breaking dicks?” His gaze moved behind us. “In front of my sister.”
“We aren’t,” I said before Casteel could open his mouth. “Only he is. And no one knows why.”
Kieran frowned.
So did Casteel. Why would I be talking about breaking dicks?
Good question. I didn’t have to look behind me to know Emil had likely gone as pale as an Ascended. And Kieran’s not going to do that to Emil.
Want to bet?
I rolled my eyes. No. Because I would win. At least, I thought I would. But based on how his smirk grew, I was beginning to think I was overconfident.
Kieran eyed his sister and Emil. “And what are you two doing out here?”
That question didn’t help.
“I was making use of the privy, if you must know,” Vonetta replied. “It’s that time of the—”
“Never mind,” Kieran interrupted. Now, he appeared as sickly as a Craven. “Forget I asked. Gods.” He held the door open. “Everyone is inside.”
As we entered the High Chamber, I glanced at Vonetta.
She sent me a quick grin.
Keeping my face blank because I could feel Kieran’s stare boring into me, I faced forward. The High Chamber consisted of two rooms, and people were scattered across both spaces. But my gaze was immediately drawn to a head full of tight, snow-white curls.
My stomach twisted sharply. I still hadn’t told Tawny what I’d done. And I’d had ample time at this point. I was being a coward. As she stepped out from behind Perry and his father, I noticed she wasn’t alone.
The only wolven who wasn’t a child and shorter than me stood beside Tawny, her golden-blond hair falling over her shoulders in loose waves.
With her flawless golden skin, wide-set winter-blue eyes, and absurdly perfect figure, Gianna Davenwell was as beautiful as the first time I’d seen her—even more so as she smiled at something Tawny said.
Casteel’s gaze followed mine as Hisa skirted Delano and Naill. So…do you think they have something going?
I don’t know, I told him. Tawny had never expressed such interests before, unlike when a male caught her eye. But I didn’t think that meant there hadn’t been any, especially considering the world we came from. Such attraction wasn’t outright forbidden in Solis among the nobility, but it hadn’t exactly been something welcomed. Tawny might not have felt comfortable discussing her attraction. Or perhaps she, like me and many of the second sons and daughters, simply hadn’t gained enough experience to know what she liked.