Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
For a few precious moments, the cold dungeon and everything beyond it ceased to matter. Only Kaelan mattered, only them.
He pulled his lips away from hers reluctantly, then rested his brow against hers as he fought to steady his breathing.
“Too soon,” she said, breathless herself.
A low groan escaped him. “Wife, if we continue kissing, and believe me when I say I very much wish to continue kissing you, there is a strong chance we will repeat the events of a few hours ago.”
Heat rushed to Bria’s cheeks, and the wicked smile that touched his mouth told her he enjoyed that reaction far too much.
Then a familiar sound echoed faintly through the corridor beyond the cell, heavy footfalls that grew steadily closer.
Kaelan closed his eyes briefly and shook his head.
“The troll,” Bria said, the kiss allowing her, if only briefly, to forget where they were.
“Aye,” Kaelan agreed. “And I suspect he has not come to bring us breakfast.”
Bria got to her feet with a little help from her husband and as soon as he stood, he took hold of her hand.
“I will get us out of here,” he said with such determination and confidence that Bria believed him.
The troll arrived and without ceremony unlocked the cell door and motioned for them to follow. He led them through a maze of stone corridors and winding staircases that seemed to climb endlessly upward from the depths beneath the fortress.
By the time they reached the upper levels, Bria no longer knew which direction they traveled. The fortress itself felt much like Driochmor. Nothing seemed quite as it should.
At last, the troll pushed open a pair of enormous wooden doors. A Great Hall stretched beyond. Long tables occupied the center of the room while a massive hearth burned brightly at the far end. Tall windows allowed gray daylight to spill across the stone floor. Most surprising of all was the food. Platters of roasted meat, fresh bread, fruit, and cheeses covered one of the tables.
Bria stared bewildered.
The troll grunted. “You eat.” Then he turned and lumbered away.
Bria looked to Kaelan. “Do we trust the generous offer?”
“Let’s find out.”
Kaelan leaned over the table and sniffed the meat, the bread, the cider, absolutely everything there.
He finally nodded. “No poison.”
Her brow wrinkled in surprise. “You can truly smell poison?”
A faint smile touched his mouth. “The beast has advantages.” His smile faded quickly. “Eat but remain cautious.”
He slid onto the bench after he helped her sit, keeping close.
“Any idea of what Ogga intends to do with us?” Bria asked, reaching for a slice of bread, the delicious scents far too tempting to ignore.
His gaze swept the hall, ever watchful as he spoke. “It depends on what she wants from us. Some witches can be vengeful.”
Bria stared at him, looking as if she was ready to speak yet remaining silent.
“You wonder how I know about witches,” he said.
“And Driochmor,” Bria added. “You walk its paths as if familiar with it.”
Kaelan stabbed a piece of meat with one of the knives on the table. “I did, many years ago, when I was a young lad, before magic was banished.”
Once again, her thoughts turned deep as she calculated in her mind, finally asking, “How old are you?”
“That’s a discussion for another time,” he said and took a bite of the meat.
It wasn’t long before the great doors opened, conversation dying instantly between them.
Ogga entered the hall. She moved with calm confidence, dressed in deep green robes embroidered with silver thread that shimmered when she walked. She looked more regal now than last night, her silver hair neatly braided.
She did not enter alone. A young man accompanied her. There was a youthfulness to his features, so she doubted he was close in age to Kaelan. He was broad-shouldered and powerfully built. Dark hair brushed his shoulders while confidence radiated from him as naturally as breathing.
Something about him made Kaelan go utterly still.
The young man’s gaze settled on Kaelan and for one moment neither moved. Then the young man’s eyes flashed gold.
Kaelan’s did as well.
The man was Thornek and judging by the look that passed between them… they knew each other.
It was then Bria realized who the man must be, the beast that Kaelan hunted.
The young man seemed entirely unconcerned by the revelation. He stood comfortably beside Ogga, his arms folded across his broad chest while he regarded Kaelan with open amusement.
“You are surprised to see me here?”
Kaelan’s expression remained hard. “I am disappointed, Braden.”
Braden’s smile faded slightly.
Bria looked between them. “So, you know each other.”
“Aye,” Kaelan said.
The answer carried enough weight to tell her there was far more to the story.
Braden gave a careless shrug. “We were raised in neighboring villages.”
That did not surprise her, but to confirm, she asked, “You are Thornek?”
The man inclined his head. “As is your husband.”
The word husband seemed to amuse him.