Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Yes, thank you.” Finally! Information for the taking. “I’d argue that there’s no such thing as a necessary evil, but that’s a conversation for later.” As for his relationship, it was clear the Valkara intended to wed him, his firebrand or not. I figured the primordial of primordials was the strongest original, aka Vik, the last of them. Of course she wanted him.
So. If he wanted her too, as he claimed, why hadn’t he pulled the trigger already? “To me, you don’t exactly look helped by the fog,” I pointed out.
He inhaled with authority. “Enough about her.”
“No, not enough. As your definite firebrand, I demand answers.”
“Very well,” he replied without missing a beat. “I’ll answer your questions, but in return, you will answer mine.”
I noted the satisfaction in his voice and realized he’d herded me precisely where he’d wanted me. “Fine. Agreed.” It wasn’t like I hadn’t already told him all kinds of things, free of charge. “Who is the Valkara that she gets to wed the primordial of primordials?”
A muscle jumped in his jaw. “The guardian of Starfire.”
Oooh. “The glowing stone that crash-landed on Earth has a living, breathing otherworldly protector? I should have guessed.”
“Starfire wasn’t a stone but a collection of eggs encased inside a hard outer shell for travel through the galaxies. In blood and pain, those eggs were fertilized and birthed within us that day on the battlefield.”
That made an awful, terrible sense. “So the Valkara is your protector, too.” A woman who wielded more power over him than I’d realized.
Clipped nod. “Ja.” Frown. “Nem. I am her protector.” He thought for a moment, his frown deepening. “It’s complicated.”
Exactly what Ben had said about Kami. “What has Val–the Valkara told you about the future?”
He pursed his lips. “She has said there are certain things we must do for the greater good.”
Oh, yeah. There must be a connection between our fogs. No reason to mention it, though, and every reason not to. “I’d love to learn more about that.”
“It revolves around protecting our species, our homeland, and subduing the beasts within us.”
Admirable goals, honestly. “Does she say, I don’t know, just spit-balling here, something like find, destroy, happy?” I took a stab at decoding his meaning. “Find the key, destroy the shifters, and be happy.”
His stiff demeanor responded for him, telling me the topic had reached a dead end. But I couldn’t gauge whether I’d gotten it right or missed by miles.
I veered, attempting a smooth detour. “Do you trust the Valkara?” She had access to him in ways no one else did.
Silence stretched between us, a clear sign he was done with that line of questioning.
Very well. We’d go with a new new direction. “Mind telling me what set you off yesterday?”
A flash of glowing gold in his eyes. “The captured turul-shifters relayed a message from their leader. Deco vowed to take possession of my most valued treasure.”
“Meaning me,” I said, pressing my fingertips into my sternum. Okay, I got that I was his firebrand and all, but to be touted as his most valued treasure so soon after we’d met—
“Meaning the key,” he stated.
Right. Of course. That wasn’t upsetting at all. “Not to remind you of a sore spot, but, um, didn’t you lose it?”
“Nem. I did not.” Bitterness drenched his words.
So he didn’t, but someone else did. “What’s so special about this key?”
“What comes with it,” he replied.
More seconds ticked by as I waited for him to elaborate. Or finally ask a question of his own. Silence, only silence.
“We’d both have a much better conversational experience if you provided details in bulk,” I said, tossing my arms up. “What comes with the key?”
“Your questioning is done.” He stood, the trunk sliding behind him, the daggers falling to the floor. Unconcerned, he rolled his shoulders. “Eat your breakfast, use the facilities.” He motioned to the curtained off area. “In the coming days, you will answer ten of my questions.”
The exact number of questions he’d answered for me.
He exited the tent. Left to my own devices, I took care of first things first, collecting my daggers, then wolfing down the meal waiting on the desk. A veritable feast of eggs, fruits, juices, lángos and pogácsa. Delicious, but still not satisfying. A third and fourth helping wouldn’t have been amiss.
When not even crumbs remained, I checked out the curtained off area, pausing to admire the small, pearl-size stones sewn into the fabric. Sweeping past it, I entered what I believed to be the makeshift bathroom. Except, oh wow. How was this possible? My jaw dropped as I spun. An actual bathroom. Look at all this goodness. Walls covered in mother-of-pearl. A gold toilet. A marble floor with veins of gold. A massive shower stall with Swarovski crystal handles. A mirror surrounded with flowers made from rubies, black diamonds and emeralds. A gold-rimmed sink. Toiletries for every need lined shelves. There was also a stack of folded clothes. A pair of combat boots and ballet flats were tucked beneath the bottom rack, both in my size.