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)
“No. When I was asleep.”
I slowly turned my neck to her as Kieran’s brows rose.
“Not like that,” she quickly added. “When I was in stasis.”
Attes’s eyes widened.
“Only briefly, though,” she added.
I figured it had to do with her past—perhaps some buried part of her that remembered her time as Sotoria. “That didn’t answer my question.”
“I will never hurt her,” Attes said. “If that is what you think.”
That was not what I was thinking.
The Primal’s stare returned to her. “I’m sorry, it’s just that she…”
“Looks like Sotoria?” Poppy finished for him. He nodded. “And you knew me?” she added.
The muscle in Attes’s temple was back to ticking. “Yeah, I did.”
I focused on the feel of Poppy’s hand on the center of my chest, right next to the ring. “And what type of relationship did you have with her?”
“Casteel,” Poppy hissed, her cheeks flaming.
“No, he has every right to ask that question.” Attes dragged a hand over his face, then dropped it. His eyes met mine. “We were friends. That was all we ever were.”
Just friends.
I didn’t believe that for a second.
CHAPTER 50
POPPY
My gaze traveled over the golden threads Naill had painstakingly sewn into the dark-gray tunic’s shoulders and bodice, my mind not on the public address taking place in less than an hour.
Friends.
Attes and Sotoria had been friends. I honestly didn’t know how to feel about that. Not because I had no real memory of it or because Casteel clearly wasn’t thrilled about it—something I found amusing, despite knowing it shouldn’t be. That probably said something not so great about me, but Casteel truly had no reason to be worried or jealous.
I mean…come on.
I didn’t know how to feel because Attes would’ve had to know her while Kolis held her. After all, being a ruling Primal of War, he wouldn’t have been able to spend any length of time in the mortal realm. How could I still feel…fondness for him?
How could we have been friends, and he did nothing to help me?
There had to be more to it—
Wait.
“Not me.” I stared at my reflection, biting my lip. “Her.”
Something like this couldn’t be okay.
But it had to be.
The backs of my eyes burned, and I pressed my hand to my stomach. It trembled as energy stirred within me. My throat…it didn’t sting, but it did feel itchy and full of pressure. I wanted to scream. That’s what itched and built pressure.
Instead of screaming like a maniac, I drew in a deep breath and held it for several seconds like Seraphena had suggested. Then, I exhaled slowly. I had no idea if it helped, but I no longer feared screaming. Perfect timing because I felt Casteel’s return.
I turned from the mirror and walked toward the Solar. The sight of Casteel was no small miracle. It made my breath catch in my throat and pushed the darker thoughts to the edges of my mind. I came to a complete stop and took him in. I hadn’t seen him when he left to check on the preparations for the address, as Tawny and Vonetta had been busy applying paint to my lips and eyes and attempting to do something with my hair other than leaving it in a braid. It had ended with half my hair up and the rest cascading down my back.
Dressed in a fitted tunic with the same golden embroidery and black breeches, he looked every inch the god he now was.
Gods, he was stunning. And he was looking at me in the same way. The mad fluttering in my chest moved to my stomach and lower as he prowled toward me.
An image of the gold-spotted cave cat flashed in my mind as his dark-spice-and-pine scent enveloped me.
He stopped and cupped my cheek. My breath hitched again at how the aura of eather pulsed in his eyes, and the energy danced from his flesh to mine. “You look so incredibly beautiful,” he said, his tone low and thick as he lowered his head. He kissed me then, causing a slow burn to unfurl under my skin and heat to ripple through my body. His mouth moved hungrily against mine, likely undoing all Tawny and Vonetta’s hard work. “And so exquisitely powerful.”
I leaned into him, my hands settling on his sides. Hearing him call me beautiful would never get old. But the last part? Exquisitely powerful? That nearly stole every ounce of reason I possessed, leaving me aching for more than just the feel of his lips. I wanted to feel him inside me, thick and hard, stretching me. I thought of how he’d seemed to swell while inside me in the tub, remembering the bite of pain and razor-sharp pleasure. My inhale was shaky as a pulse of desire darted to my core.
A low, rough sound rumbled from him as he snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me to his chest. “My Queen,” he murmured. “Behave.”