Total pages in book: 197
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
I thought I knew pain. I suffered unbearable agony trying to force the magic through the bindings around my soul—shredding myself from the inside. What I wouldn’t give if it only hurt that much.
Tucked in that corner alone with my crying sister, my smothered wails leaked through my tear-soaked fingers. I cried and cried until there was nothing left in me, then evermore I cried.
“Calli?” Knock-knock. “Is everything okay? Does Savia need a bottle?”
I sucked in hard, shuddering breaths—roughly wiping my face.
“Calli, open up. I’ve got Mama’s medicine.”
By the time I got to my feet and crossed to the side table, my tears were gone.
I blew out the candles, plunging the room in darkness, and opened the door. Meli tried to come in and pulled up short when I held out Savia, keeping my red, puffy face cloaked in the shadows.
“She is hungry,” I croaked. “Would you mind feeding her? I’ll give Mama her medicine.”
“Oh, but—” She tried to peer around the baby. “I was hoping to spend some time with Mama. Gisela and Jaclan are doing their lessons now, so I can spend the rest of the day with her until I start supper.”
I squeezed my eyes shut as a wave of sorrow drowned me. “How about a trade? You feed Savia now, and I’ll cook supper, so you have more time sitting with her.”
“Hmm. Okay,” Meliora said—so light. So unaware. “That’s a fair trade. Come here, baby.” She took our fussy sister and held her close, dropping a kiss on her crown. “Be back soon, Mama.”
Only when she descended the stairs did I shut the door, resting my forehead upon it. Of course I couldn’t hide the tragedy that just cratered the soul of our family. I simply... wanted her to be as happy as she was for a little while longer.
My feet carried me away, bringing me to her side. Carefully, lovingly, I rested her on her back, crossed her arms, and tucked her in tight. “I love you, Mama,” I whispered. “I already miss you more than there are stars in the sky.
“I promise, I’ll take care of them. It won’t be right away. It won’t even be soon, but one day you’ll look down from the Meadows, and you’ll see us all as you were—blissfully happy and loved.” She swam in my vision. “Good—”
“Ahh!”
I jolted upright. “What was—?”
“Get off me! Let me go!”
I took off, bursting out of the room and racing down the stairs. “Meli? Meli!”
He stood in the entrance—so still and silent, I almost didn’t register him as a threat until I saw the coudarian crystal sharpened into a blade... pressed to her throat.
I skidded to a halt. Grabbing the banister saved my feet flying out from under me and dropping me on the steps.
“Okay,” I said slowly. Calmly. “Let’s all just stop and take a breath. You don’t want to hurt her.”
His lips peeled back from his teeth, snarl bleeding through.
“Put down the crystal.”
“You don’t give the orders anymore,” Kirwan hissed. “Not without a stolen princess’s face. How did you do it? Huh!?” He clamped harder on a struggling Meli, making her cry out. “Was it a trick from the beginning? All of it a plot to bring about my downfall!”
“Don’t be absurd, you narcissistic kakka!” I shouted back just as loud. “Not everything is about you— Actually, nothing I do is for or about you! I saved my mother and sister, and should your downfall have come about as a result...” I shrugged, my smirk nasty. “That was just a happy accident.”
“Lies. Whenever that disgusting, siren’s mouth opens, nothing but lies and destruction falls out.” Kirwan’s eyes were bright with rage. “It’s the greatest regret of my life that I didn’t run you through with my sword the first time I laid eyes on you.”
I barely heard a word the bastard said. My attention was fixed on Meliora and the weapon at her throat. A pinprick of blood smeared on her neck where it cut her.
“Where are the children?” I mouthed to her.
“Safe.”
“Can you break free? Stomp his foot, then—”
“What are you two doing!” Kirwan hauled her screaming out of the entrance, ducking into the side hall.
“Hey,” I cried, chasing after them. “What do you want! Why can’t you leave us alone?”
Kirwan stumbled against the wall, fighting to hang on to his struggling captive. He wrenched her head to the side so she couldn’t communicate with me anymore. “What do I want?! You destroyed everything,” he roared. “The king stripped me of my land, home, and title. He seized my vault. He sentenced me to execution for treason! I have nothing because of you!”
I couldn’t have glared at him with less sympathy if I tried. “And what, Kirwan? Threatening your own daughter will get all of that back? Come now, you’re smarter than this. You somehow managed to get away from the palace guards. Stop wasting time, let her go, and make your escape from Lyrica.”