Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“You underestimate me.”
“I hope so.”
“Just tell your mother and grandmother to give me some time. I’m not saying don’t prepare for war, because if I’m gone, war is inevitable. Prepare. But wait. Because if my plans come to fruition, there won’t be a war.”
She watched me for a moment, then nodded.
“Okay. But no more kidnappings. No more stepping into my realm.”
“Understood.”
“Is she okay?” she asked.
“Serin? Yes. She’s visiting her lake right now with her guard. Replenishing herself and the lake. She has to come back with me, but I’m treating her well. Introducing her to cooked food. Keeping her safe.”
Celestine’s head cocked to the side, watching me with a look I couldn’t parse. “Good. I will tell my family to stand by and plan, but we won’t act unless our hand is forced.”
“And don’t come back here, Princess. Not even with a whole army of draca.”
She nodded.
“Good luck, Jet. I really hope you can pull this off. For all our sakes.”
With that, she turned and made her way back to the carriage with Jasper.
But as I watched, I spotted a familiar face. Pretty, blonde. Amy. Standing with a draca’s arm around her.
“Amethyst,” I greeted her. “So that’s why you wouldn’t marry me,” I said, nodding toward the man at her side, some of his rough spines still sticking out of his skin.
“I would apologize,” she said in that sweet voice of hers, “but I’m not sorry.”
“Won’t lie, it was a bit of a kick to the pride to have your betrothed run away right before the wedding, but I didn’t want to marry you either.”
“We’re all just pawns in our parents’ plans.”
“Until we choose a different path.” My gaze slid to her partner. “Keep her out of this realm.”
“I will.”
With that, the carriage turned, moving back where they’d come from. The draca took to the sky, their colorful, leathery wings blotting out the blue.
Vishen and I stood there until they disappeared.
“Well. That buys us time,” Vishen said.
“Let’s hope it’s enough. Come on. We need to get back before we’re missed.”
We walked in silence, both lost in our thoughts, toward the lake.
But before it even came into view, a scream filled the forest.
“Serin!”
My heart stopped.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Serin
The closer I got, the more the lake called to me.
I could hear the gentle ripple of the breeze across the water, the sound of a frog at the shore, the presence of a deer taking a sip.
It called to me in my bones, urging me forward, my steps getting quicker and quicker until I was running, Nira rushing to keep up with me.
Home, my bones sang. You’re home.
I broke through a line of willow trees, and there it was.
It looked different. The water was lower. Less blue. Some of the water lilies had withered and died.
But it was still home.
“Don’t need to be shy with me,” Nira said, shrugging as she took my small sword from me.
I didn’t hesitate.
I slid out of my shoes, then my pants, leaving me in a small swatch of fabric Nira had constructed that she called ‘panties’ and insisted I wear because they ‘help with the chafing issue.’ I didn’t know what the chafing issue was, but as with all things, I chose to trust the much more experienced Nira.
I left on the tight shirt along with the panties and teased my toes into the cool water.
It sang through me as I sank deeper and deeper until it completely enveloped me.
The whole world fell away.
Time ceased to exist.
All I was aware of was the feel of the water as I swam, all the tension in me loosening. The weight that had been pressing down on my shoulders fell away.
Pleasure bloomed through me, but for the first time, I had something else to compare it to.
Jet’s face suddenly burst through my mind, his lids heavy, his gaze heated.
And for the first time in my life, the lake… it wasn’t enough.
I broke the surface, ready to suck in a deep breath, when I heard it.
The clash of swords.
My heart sank as I whipped around in the water and looked toward the shore.
And there was Nira, body twisted, sword raised.
Engaging with, oh no.
No!
The troll.
Vrad.
And rushing up behind her with a large tree limb raised? That was the redheaded fae who’d helped kidnap me.
“Nira!” I screamed, treading water.
“Stay there!” she yelled back.
She twisted, swiping at the redheaded fae to back him off. But Vrad took the opportunity to swing, punching her so hard in the head that she went down on her knees with a grunt.
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
This couldn’t be happening.
They couldn’t hurt—or kill—her. Not for me. And, surely, that was why they were here.
I dove under the water, knowing I would swim faster, even as my heart pounded against my ribcage at not being able to see what was happening on the shore.