Total pages in book: 401
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
“My Queen,” he said, and warmth began to curl low in my stomach as he gave me a slow, teasing, and utterly infuriating grin that lifted one corner of his mouth. “That’s not your chair.”
I frowned. “I didn’t realize we had assigned seats.”
Casteel dragged his lower lip between his teeth. “We do now.”
“That’s—”
“I assume,” Kieran cut in, returning to the table, “that what he considers your chair is still floating by the chandelier.”
What?
Blinking, I tipped my head back.
“You forgot about it,” Kieran stated.
I willed the seat down—and not on either of their heads—then plopped into it. “No.”
Casteel smirked and sat beside me. “She did.” He glanced at Kieran.
I sank a good two inches into the chair.
“Now that no chairs are seconds away from falling on us,” Kieran said, sitting and ignoring the death glare I gave him, “I do have two pieces of news I didn’t get a chance to share. The first one is that your new quarters are ready.”
“Perfect.” Casteel pulled the cork from the bottle as I sat back, watching them. “And the second piece of news?”
Kieran picked up several rolled linens. “It’s regarding Pensdurth.”
I sat up and took a linen roll from Kieran. “What’s going on with Pensdurth?”
“We received a message from one Duke Ashwood,” Casteel explained, pouring deep-ruby-red wine into three glasses. He placed one before me. “Letting us know that his fealty remains with the ‘one true King.’”
“Kolis?” I asked. That heavy, sinking feeling hit me in the chest again. I breathed through it, refusing to acknowledge it. Doing so made it feel like he still held influence over me.
“Yes.” Casteel moved several strips of roasted beef from the platter and placed them on my plate.
The hand in my lap balled into a fist as I picked up a fork with the other. “Pensdurth may be a smaller port city compared to Oak Ambler, but it is still vital for providing food and resources to the southern cities.”
“I know.” Using a large spoon, Casteel scooped up some vegetables and set them on my plate. “I sent a regiment there to aid in him rethinking his choice.”
“You’ll like this,” Kieran said quietly, adding a small mountain of rice to my quickly overflowing plate while theirs remained empty. “Da’Silva, one of the guards sent with your father, returned this morning to inform us that they encountered a rather sizable force stationed between the Blood Forest and Pensdurth’s Rise.”
My stomach dipped as Kieran added several slices of chicken breast to my plate.
“Well, now we know where the missing generals likely went,” Casteel remarked as he cut some grilled fish into bite-sized pieces. “Exactly what is considered a sizable force?”
Kieran nodded. “Da’Silva estimated about two thousand.”
“How many did we send?” I asked as the fish Casteel had cut up ended up on my plate.
“Not nearly that many.” A muscle along his jaw flexed as he picked up his glass and took a drink.
“That’s why I sent Thad to assist,” Kieran said, referring to the brownish-black draken I’d yet to see in his mortal form.
My mind flashed to the seventeen that had perished outside of Massene, sending a wave of anger and sorrow through me. They had awakened only to die. It would never seem fair to me.
“I had planned to get your opinion on doing so, but it was one of those moments where I was deterred,” Kieran added.
“It was a smart call,” Casteel told him.
Forcing a breath, I asked Cas, “Why did your father go to Pensdurth?”
“He escorted the envoy to ensure they made it through the Blood Forest with the least number of losses,” he answered, his hand moving once more to pick up some cubes of cheese, which, unsurprisingly, also ended up on my plate.
“You sent him?” My voice rose. “And please put some food on your plate.” I glanced at Kieran. “You, too.”
Kieran inclined his head. “Yes, my Queen.”
I dropped my hand to the table with a loud thump.
His lips twitched.
“My father found himself growing restless,” Casteel explained, finally plating his own food after he poured more wine. “I gave him something to do.”
Kieran let out a barely audible snort, which, based on Casteel’s flat amber stare, he heard.
“Why was he restless?” I asked, worry for his father growing. Valyn Da’ Neer was well-trained and strong. He’d make it through the Blood Forest. However, we had no idea what was truly happening in Pensdurth or who was there. We did know that gods loyal to Kolis had awakened, though. What was stopping them from entering the mortal realm? Nothing.
Taking a bite of chicken, Kieran returned Casteel’s stare from across the table.
Cas raised a brow.
“Okay.” I looked between them. “Someone tell me why.”
“I barred my father and most of the generals from entering the city,” Casteel answered.
“Why would you do that?”
“Many of the Atlantian forces still remain outside the Rise. Having them in the city would have added to the people’s stress and concerns.” Casteel frowned in my direction. A moment later, I felt his left hand land on my knee and heard his voice whisper through my thoughts. Eat, my Queen.