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)
He smiled, and the shiver it sent up my spine stood my neck hairs on end.
“I’m not going anywhere, bitch, because I’m not threatening my daughter. I’m threatening your sister.” His grin widened. “Here’s how things stand, I didn’t get away from the palace guards, they were murdered. Slaughtered. Undoubtedly your doing.”
My doing? What was this madman talking about!
“They left the bodies next to my cell, so I took the keys and escaped. But not to save myself. I tried to stop them! Save my people, but it was too late for anyone else. Your dogs have overrun the palace and the streets, but that’s fine,” he hissed, talking mostly to himself. “I can make it right. I’ll be Lyrica’s savior, her leader, and—thanks to you giving me such a brilliant idea—her king.”
I goggled at him. “What are you ranting about? You’re insane!”
“Silence! For once in your life, keep your worthless mouth closed!”
“Ahh!” Meliora screamed as the crystal cut deeper. Blood flowed freely down her neck.
Balled fists shaking, I bit hard on my lip—falling silent.
Kirwan laughed. “Finally. So this is what it takes to keep your tongue in your head? Just like I knew it would.” He sobered quickly. “Now listen up. You’re going to get every jewel, every chalice, every bit of your stolen loot, put them in sacks, and bring them to me. I’ll need coin to recruit the soldiers needed to take back Lyrica.
“And I’ll need you.”
My forehead crumpled but I didn’t speak, gazing at Meli. His mind has snapped. How do I get my sister away from him?
“When the time comes, you’ll recant every one of your lies and accusations. Admitting that you impersonated the princess and recruited faeriken mercenaries to help sell your lies. No doubt using your pussy to addle them under your sway.”
It was entirely certain he didn’t need to add that last comment. But leave it to Kirwan to be vile to the end.
“Go,” he ordered. “Get the coin, and get your sister.”
I stilled. “Excuse me?”
“Not the infant, I’ve no patience for those. Get the curly-haired blonde brat. Now,” he bellowed when I didn’t move.
“No.”
He arched a brow. “You either take one sister with you, or I slit this one’s neck right here on the carpet.”
I breathed hard, hands clutching the other behind my back. “You don’t have to do this,” I rushed, mind spinning. “I’ll get the jewels and go with you quietly. Just leave my faywens alone.”
“Go with me quietly? Don’t make me laugh,” he gritted. “Nothing and no one keeps you in line, except these brats. Last chance, get the girl, or I’ll kill—”
I slipped the dagger from my shift and threw—aiming right for his vile mouth.
Eyes rounding, Kirwan reacted on instinct. Hand flying off Meli’s throat, he threw out the crystal and shouted a runic word.
The dagger collided with an invisible barrier, bouncing off and skittering across the floor.
“Meli, run!”
Throwing her head back, she smashed her skull in his face. Blood spurted from his ruined nose, freeing her from his grip as his hands flew up.
“Monster,” she shrieked, stomping his foot.
Bones crunched in my ear.
“Go,” I cried, grabbing and pulling her away. “Take the children and get out of—”
“Argh!” Pure, magical force slammed into us, blasting us into the hallway.
We dented the wood crashing into the wall. Pain surged through every limb and screamed out every pore. We crumpled on the floor—my head ringing.
“You just never... learn, girl.”
Through the haze, Kirwan limped over—waving his hand. Before my eyes, he healed his foot and nose with the crystal.
He towered over us whole... and angry.
“I said I’d kill the girl if you disobeyed.” A sword appeared in his hand, its hair-thin edge dancing the light off its tip. “I’m a man of my word.”
“Wait!”
“Stop!”
The blade sliced the air, falling on Meli’s neck.
Kirwan blasted off his feet.
Spinning through the air, the faeman never reached the ground. He propelled up and slammed against the ceiling.
How? I shoved up and crawled to Meliora. Holding her close, I whipped around—searching for whoever was doing this. Was it the twins? The only two of three people in this home who still had magic?
“Gisela? Jaclan?” I called. “It’s okay, faywens, you don’t have to do this! Haeowen will take care of him, I’ll—”
A figure stepped into the hall, shadows cloaking all but her legs and bare feet, but that was all I needed to see to stop my heart.
“Mama?” I rasped. “You’re— You’re—” alive? stuck in my throat.
Unseen hands seized me and Meli, and lifted us into the air. I swallowed a shriek of surprise as we flew over her head, and wound up behind her—protected by her.
“Mama, how are you doing this!” Meli cried.
Our mother didn’t answer. She had one focus and one focus only. Dropping her fist, Kirwan slammed to the floor, his head bouncing off the wood.