Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Muttered agreements rang out.
“I’ve noticed the monstra go dormant for days whenever a soldier dies, my lord,” someone piped up, earning a nod of approval from Ian. “Perhaps if we make a daily sacrifice, using criminals, we can stave off—”
“No,” the king bellowed. “No one needs to die but the monstra. I’ve been to the mountains, and I know there are nests here, here and here.”
“Then, at your command, we’ll go in hard and fast while the creatures are sleeping,” Ian said, switching tracks. “Hopefully, we can eliminate the hordes without any more loss of life on our end.”
A new chorus of agreement. I worked my jaw. Such a good actor, playing the devoted servant.
“Your Majesty,” Captain Rourke announced, bowing his head. “I present to you the oracle who says she has seen twenty years into the future. And her… pet. A monstra who is also a man. They were found on Dead Man’s Pass.”
Conversations ceased as everyone focused on Jasher and me. All gripped the hilt of a sword or a dagger, including Ian, who showed as much disgust as the others, as if he didn’t know Jasher was his clone.
“I did not believe…did not think it possible.” Ahav strode closer, then jerked his attention to me. “Where did you find this creature? How does it have the skin of a man?”
Nope, no one noticed the sunset irises. I could point it out, to seed for the big reveal, but having my birth father’s full attention hit with the force of an avalanche, growing stronger every second.
When he grunted in irritation, I remembered his question. “All monstra are half man, majesty. They morph between forms. This one just happened to stick mid-switch.”
Murmurs of disbelief blended.
“That cannot be true.” Unable to hide his frothing curiosity, Ian stepped to the king’s side for a closer look at Jasher. “How did you capture it?” he asked me.
“Easily,” I quipped. Everyone else probably assumed his interest sprang from a desire to stop the monstra, but I knew better.
Another man closed in on the king.
Eyes neon red, Jasher gave a feigned lunge. The man lurched backward.
Not exactly the-boyfriend-meet-the-father introduction a girl hoped for.
Ahav stroked his strong jaw, pensive. “I expect a different answer when I ask you the same question, Oracle. How did you capture it? Be specific.”
Rather than mentioning the shackles, I said, “He chose of his own free will to help me, and we’ve been together ever since.” The truth without further details.
Suddenly, heat flared behind my eyes. I cried out, gripping my head as the war room turned hazy, the soldiers instantly repositioned around the table. Everyone but Ahav and Ian, who stood with me. No sign of Jasher.
“What’s happening?” I gasped out, but no one heard me. My voice sounded distant, even to my own ears.
My mother sailed into the room, wearing a lovely gown of purple velvet dotted with specks of colorful paint, her dark hair flowing in shiny curls, her baby bump noticeably smaller.
“Did I hear someone say there’s an oracle in our midst?” she asked, skirting around me, heading straight for Ahav, who extended his arm in a silent invitation.
Just before she reached him, a soldier leaped forward, unsheathing a dagger. No one clocked his purpose until too late. The blade rammed into the queen’s belly once, twice, thrice.
King Ahav roared a denial. So did I.
The world spun again. I blinked, and everything righted. Back to the present. But I was panting, the men silent and staring at me.
“The queen,” I muttered, spinning, searching. Not here.
“Oracle?” Ahav asked, voice deep with concern. “You had a vision of my lady?”
“I…” Something warm and wet dripped over my lips. I wiped my face with trembling fingers. Crimson wet the pads, I realized with a frown. A bloody nose? “I saw her…she was just here…” I shook my head. “But now she’s gone.”
“Please,” he rushed out, gripping my arms. “Tell me what you saw.”
Growls left Jasher.
As I struggled to think, I scanned the faces of my audience, gasping when I noticed the very same soldier who’d stabbed the queen. But that would mean…
No. No! I don’t have visions. Flashes of memory here or there, a dream, but only ever of the past. I wasn’t an actual oracle.
Unless I was?
I bit my tongue, tasting blood. Elowen and I were due to have a chat.
“Oracle,” Ahav exploded, giving me a shake.
Jasher lunged at him, and this time, he meant business.
“Stop!” I shouted, and he froze, his claws inches from the king’s throat.
My heart thudded. What just happened?
A muscle jumped beneath my father’s eye. “Lock him below. I’ll decide the best way to deal with him after I’ve dealt with the oracle.”
“He won’t harm you, I’ll make sure of it,” I assured him. “Let him stay with me. Please.”
My request went unheeded. Soldiers yanked Jasher to the exit. When I attempted to follow, the soldiers that remained behind blocked my exit.