Total pages in book: 197
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“How do you do it?” I asked instead. “Hold back the curse. None of the other faeriken do.”
“Because they can’t. It takes more strength, magic, and concentration than even the strongest among my people possess.”
“Why do you do it? Surely you don’t have to. None of your people would judge you,” I said. “Or is it vanity?”
“Do you think me handsome enough for vanity?”
The question quickened my pulse, because the immediate and only answer was yes.
“And that is why,” he continued, looking up to meet my eye. “I do it for you.”
I blinked, mind slowing down trying to process that. “Me? You use all your magic and strength to appear fae for me? Why?”
“Because I promised you that first day in the carriage that I would have you every night, four times a night,” he replied, tone matter-of-fact. “The least I could do was not put you through the indignity of being mounted by a hideous beast.”
My lips parted but nothing came out. Of all the reasons I considered for why Alisdair had to remain his coldly handsome self, that he was being considerate of me never made the list.
I asked something true about him, and this is what he tells me. He had to prove there was decency somewhere in his empty chest. Decency to make my own chest thump harder and faster.
“What are you working on?” I sharply changed the subject. “Your plans for the conquer of Elva?”
“I could be working on nothing else,” he replied, without looking up from the map. “There’s nothing more pressing.”
I sat up straighter. “We said we’d make a plan of attack together.”
“I welcome your opinion at any time, my queen.”
My brows furrowed, but I didn’t sense any mocking or sarcasm. “Well, if that’s true, I do have an idea, but there’s something I need to know first.”
“Such as?”
“You have spies in Lyrica, yes? And the other kingdoms too?”
“Yes,” he replied easily.
“For them to be effective spies, they can’t have undergone the change. How did you recruit them if they’re not from Wind and Wild? I’ve seen the babies and children here. The curse takes them young.”
“Most are enemies of your kings.” Alisdair crossed something out on his parchment. “They offer their services to the enemy of their enemy in exchange for equal compensation.”
“Paid informants.” I nodded, turning that over in my head. “But are any of them Lumenfellians? As in loyal to you and the kingdom?”
“Some.”
“Among those some, are any of them women? Unbound women,” I clarified.
“Fewer still.” Alisdair gave me his back, crossing to the bookshelf. “Even if their magic isn’t bound, they have to spend every day pretending it is. If they’re discovered, they’re forcibly bound, then imprisoned. It’s the choice between living free as a beast, or a secret in the shadows.”
Sighing, I deflated—flopping back in my chair. “Yeah, you’re right. It wasn’t a very good idea. I was thinking why go through the horror of slaughtering every man in Elva, when we could simply embed unchanged Lumenfell women in key places in the kingdoms, waiting for the perfect time to strike. But if—”
“Stop,” he sliced, making me jump. Alisdair spun and advanced on me so fast, I backed up against the wall. “Say that again.”
I blinked owlishly at him. “I... I said there’s no need for mass slaughter if we could surround our enemies with silent, innocent-looking assassins. No one would ever suspect a woman.” I scoffed. “Especially not a woman who still wields magic. They believe they ended that threat hundreds of years ago.”
I shrunk under his intense stare. “What? Why are you looking at me like that? If you think it’s a bad idea, just say so. I’ve had enough of your teasing for one day—”
“That’s brilliant,” he breathed. “Genius.”
What did he say?
“Fuck’s sake, why didn’t I think of that?” Alisdair crossed to the door and stuck his head out. “Foalan, get in here!
“Continue, Princess,” he said, turning back to me.
“You’re serious? You really think it’s a good idea?”
“I think words that I once said sarcastically were in actuality the truest thing I’ve ever said, or has ever been said,” Alisdair replied, tone serious. “Everyone in your life who dared underestimate you is a damn fool. Including me.”
Alisdair took my hand, drawing me away from my rune practice to the maps he was poring over. “Where?” He pierced the parchment tapping the map with his claws. “Where would you embed our assassins?”
I heard him say our, but the issue was, I heard myself say our too. I didn’t want war. I was sick to death of the pain and sorrow war had brought to Elva for longer than anyone’s living memory could recall. But what I did want... was to keep my promise to my faywens.
I told Meliora and Gisela they would grow to be anything they wanted to be. I swore to Mama I wouldn’t stop searching for a cure to ease her suffering, and give our mother back to us. I told my sweet, dreamy Jaclan that no one would ever steal his fanciful dreams, and shove a soldier’s armor in their place.