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)
His wings burst free with violence, whisking him vertical.
In perfect unison, the examiners scattered farther back. Their eyes gleamed with fascination as they continued their inspection. “Look at those joint hooks.”
My heart climbed into my throat. “Why is Ian allowed to participate?” I quietly demanded of Ahav as Jasher returned to the wall and sat, tucking in his wings. “You said you would proceed as if he’s guilty.”
“Until the Ring proves otherwise,” the king replied without heat, “I’ll also proceed as if he’s innocent. The same way I’ll proceed with you.”
I pressed my tongue to my teeth.
“Give me the journal,” he demanded.
My gaze jerked toward Ian. He seemed absorbed with Jasher, but I wondered if he listened to my conversation with the king.
Legs still wobbling, I staggered to the bed. Reached for the leather-bound tome—
Gone.
I tore through the blankets, scrabbled along the floor, patted beneath the mattress. Nothing. Only cold air and panic.
“It’s missing.” My pulse beat like a war drum. It wouldn’t burn and now it had vanished?
Ahav said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes. He was losing patience with me, hemorrhaging trust second by second.
The men finished their examination and filed out. From his position against the wall, Jasher blew them a kiss goodbye.
“Ian,” the king called, and his friend stopped and faced us. “Tomorrow you will face the oracle in the Ring of Truth.”
Ian canted his head, his gaze quizzical rather than fearful. “May I inquire of the charge, sire?”
A muscle jumped in Ahav’s jaw. “She claims you work with the monstra.”
No reaction. “A serious charge indeed.” The guardian focused on me. “If you apologize and admit you lied, we can continue in peace.” He spoke with the ease of someone who’d already tested the Ring—and won. “But if you continue to malign my character, I will act.”
My stomach turned over. “Are we supposed to box or something? Because I come with truth bombs, not right hooks.”
A slight smirk, soon wiped away, then a head shake. “That isn’t how it works. But so be it, Oracle. We will proceed. Enjoy your night. You won’t get to enjoy another.” Off he strode, whistling, as if he had no cares.
King Ahav trailed him, but lingered in the doorway. “In the Ring, the one who speaks truth strengthens. The one who lies creates shackles. The winner decides the fate of the loser.”
Perfect. Ian didn’t stand a chance.
Ahav’s gaze burned into mine. “If you tell even one falsehood, Ian will have every right to take your head. Punishment for your baseless accusations.”
“I’m not worried,” I said, confident.
“You should be.” His jaw tightened. “Something in me doesn’t want you to die, even though your survival marks the betrayal of my dearest friend. This time loop you believe we’re in… It would explain why I feel as if I’ve met you, a stranger, a thousand other times.”
My pulse leapt. Could he feel our shared blood? See the echo of himself—or of his queen—in me?
“Let’s talk again after I dominate in the Ring,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. He would be more inclined to believe me then. “And don’t worry. Like I told you, I have no intention of killing Ian. Only binding him.”
Ahav’s eyes darkened. “If he is the monstra clonemaker, as you claim, I’ll kill him myself.” He left then, sealing the door behind him. The air went with him, the room shrinking until every breath scraped.
Okay, so, I’d made a mistake, accusing Ian without a surefire backup plan. If Ian fell, the bond controlling the monstra would snap, and Jasher would be dragged to the grave with him.
Dread thickened my blood to an icy sludge. “New plan,” I announced to my roommate. “Tonight, we learn how to sever your tie to Ian without the Ember.”
Jasher shrugged, unconcerned. “You can’t save me. We’ve passed the tipping point. There’s no stopping the momentum now. Can’t you feel it?”
The pressure? Yes. There was never a moment I didn’t. “I won’t let you die,” I vowed. “I’ll search every book.” This was Elowen’s room. Perhaps she’d left an instruction manual. A clue. A potion. Something! “I’ll summon her.” Yes. That.
I rushed to the pool, calling, “Elowen. Let’s talk. I’m ready to bargain.”
Minutes passed without a disturbance. I tried her magic phrase. “Until the end.”
Nothing.
I huffed, frustrated.
Jasher flipped his coin, infuriatingly calm. “You should dance for me before I die.”
“You’re not going to die,” I snapped. “But please, tell me more about the dancing.” This was the second time he’d mentioned it.
“Remember,” he stated. Flip. Catch. Flip. Catch. Kevin stood with his arms raised, as if cheering.
Discouraged but not defeated, I perused the bookshelves for anything related to the monstra, family legend, emeralds, embers, breaking codes, or the history of Hakeldama. I found mathematics manuals. More math. Math, math, math. Gardening. Nothing I needed.