Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Using the wall behind me for support, I push to my feet. “To what end? What were you hoping to achieve with such a barbaric crime?”
“The Phaelix agreed to help me, but everything comes at a price.”
I gape as the insight hits me. “You were the man Sandy saw negotiating with the Phaelix in the jungle.” Loathing pushes up in my throat, leaving a bitter taste on my tongue. “What did they promise you in exchange for human slaves?”
“To help me overthrow the rule in Lona.”
I point a finger at him. “It was you. You orchestrated the Phaelix attack.” I go still as another thought burrows into my mind. “The poison and the bridge… That was you?”
“I tried so hard to get rid of you, but you kept on persevering like a pesky plague.”
“Why?” I ask, breathless now. “Why would you want to get rid of me?”
“Come on, Elsie.” He tilts his head. “Isn’t it obvious? Everything was going so well until you showed up.”
“You don’t really want what’s best for Zerra.” I curl my upper lip. “You’re just another power-hungry asshole who wants everything for yourself.”
He clicks his tongue. “Now that’s not true. Aruan is a non-believer. He disrespects the sacred prophecies of the scrolls. He was never fit to be a leader.”
“So you took the task upon yourself.” My smile is cold. “For purely selfless reasons.”
“Think what you like. My only interest is in protecting Zerra.”
The feverish light in his brown eyes is that of a lunatic, a man who believes in his own bullshit.
“Why didn’t you just try to kill Aruan?” I utter a laugh. “Oh, yeah, that’s right. He would’ve crushed you like a bug.”
“With you out of the picture, my cousin was as good as gone. A stone. Dead to any feelings. I watched him turn into nothing but an empty, useless shell over the years.” He says with conviction, “Now that you’re gone, he’ll go back to that.”
“You have no idea.” Another hollow laugh tears from my stomach. “You have no idea what you’ve done.”
“I know exactly what I’ve done. I’ve saved my world from a pending disaster. I’m preventing a terrible prophecy from coming true.” He closes the distance between us and puts a hand on my shoulder. “It’s nothing personal. I like you, Elsie. I really do. No, don’t look at me like that. It’s true. I’m not a monster. It’s going to hurt me to kill you, but it has to be done. Nia was on the right track when she got rid of you when you were a baby, but she didn’t do a good enough job. She was too weak. She should’ve done what I’m doing now. If she had the courage it took, we’d never be in this situation. Do you see now? Nia isn’t fit to be queen. Lona shouldn’t be ruled by weak Alit.”
I shake off his touch. “And you’re so strong? A man who approves of slavery?”
He sighs. “A necessary evil. I was going to wipe it out once I was in power.”
“Without expecting retaliation from the Phaelix? You can’t be that dumb.”
“The Phaelix need to be converted into believers.” He sounds sure of himself. “They’ll see the light, just like everyone else.”
“So on top of betraying your own family, you’re going to take away the Alits’ freedom and impose your personal beliefs on them.”
“The scrolls are the only way. I’ve studied them for years. That’s how we came about. We have to trust the prophecy.”
I chuckle. “The prophecies are subjective interpretations.”
“That’s your opinion.” He frowns. “It’s rather sad.”
“Aruan will destroy Zerra if I’m gone.”
He flashes me a disapproving smile. “Trying to save your own skin? That’s very selfish.”
“Even if Aruan is out of the picture, which will never happen, his family will destroy you before you have a chance of taking over the throne.”
“I’ll just hide out here until the dust settles. The Phaelix don’t have powers, but they vastly outnumber the Alit. I’ll hit when your mate is at his weakest.” He sighs. “Nia was eating right out of my hand. It’s a pity you came and spoiled everything just when things were finally going my way.”
“If you think about it, that’s rather ironic. I would never have returned to Zerra if not for you.” I add with a taunting smile, “If you hadn’t opened a portal for the Phaelix who kidnapped me, I would’ve been dead by now. I guess I need to thank you.”
He scoffs. “It doesn’t matter. Your arrival merely delayed my plans. Yes, things were going so well. Nia is a believer too, thanks to me. Lorak was a tougher cookie, as the expression goes here on Earth.” He smiles as if he’s very proud of himself for knowing that saying. “But once his mate is dead, killing him will be an act of mercy.”