Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
The green-eyed man knelt beside the girl—beside me—and sliced into my stomach, dipping his fingers into the bloody flesh before drawing them out and pressing them to his nose. “We’ll win her trust,” the male said with satisfaction in his eyes. “And when the time is right, we’ll bring her to you and, like a phoenix, you will rise again.”
“Good.” I heard myself chuckle and woke up with the sound in my head—Mordeus’s deep rattle that haunts me and reminds me of those sadistic silver eyes peering into my soul.
Last night’s dream felt so real that I woke feeling sick. What if these dreams are more than dreams? What if they’re memories? What if—
I slam a door on my thoughts before they can pull me too deep and head to the kitchen.
Natan, Remme, Kendrick, and Skylar are gathered at the table. Natan’s rolling my ring between his forefinger and thumb.
I stomp down the instinctive urge to snatch it from his hands.
Kendrick rises as soon as he sees me. “How did you sleep?” he asks, looking me over.
“Better than I expected,” I admit. I nod to Natan and the ring. “Did you find anything from your research?”
Natan and Kendrick exchange a look.
Natan clears his throat. “Your ring has markings similar to those rumored to be on a pair of ancient Eloran rings. It might even be an exact match—it’s hard to know, as drawing its likeness was forbidden.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because these rings were for royalty. In Eloran tradition, the king’s chosen to protect the queen. He commits his life to it and uses every tool at his disposal to fulfill his purpose.”
“How does the ring help him?”
“These ancient rings allowed him to pull strength from a devoted servant, one who would wear the ring’s twin. The ring makes the king more powerful.”
“So you think my ring might be part of a pair and I’m drawing power from someone when I wear it?” I ask.
Again, Natan looks to Kendrick before speaking. He draws in a breath. “Perhaps.”
I can almost hear the words they’re not saying. Or someone is drawing power from me.
Kendrick’s jaw ticks as he stares at the ring. “Are you sure the witch who gave you this didn’t say anything about another? Did she ask you to recite any words—to pledge yourself to something or someone?”
Frowning, I shake my head. “Nothing like that. She said it would give me the kiss of death and chase the fear from my heart. She didn’t say anything about a second ring.”
Natan studies me, brow furrowed. “I contacted a friend who studies Eloran artifacts and, with his help, created an echo of the ring’s magic. Like calls to like. If the ring has a match, the echo should point us to it.” He hesitates before offering the ring to me. “In the meantime, I suppose you want this back.”
“Yes.” I take it and quickly tuck it into a pocket. “Thank you.”
“I can’t believe you still want that thing,” Kendrick says, arms folded. “Please just tell me you don’t plan to use it without me there to keep an eye on you.”
I shrug. “I don’t plan to use it, but I don’t like being caught without it. As you keep pointing out, I don’t have any other magic to protect me.”
Kendrick grunts. “I don’t like it.”
“You just don’t like that you can’t remember anything that happens when she’s wearing it,” Remme says.
“Among other things,” Kendrick mutters.
I can’t resist looking up and find him watching my mouth.
He winks, and my stomach somersaults.
Among other things.
I haven’t worn a dress since I left the Midnight Palace, and while I didn’t much miss all the fussing over clothes and hair, I’m loving it tonight. I suspect I could walk outside in a pair of Kendrick’s riding breeches and a torn-up tunic, and he’d still have that look in his eyes that makes me feel like the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, but I want one night where I have a chance to put myself together for him.
Before my bath last night, my handmaid took my measurements, and when I woke up this morning, she had a dress waiting for me. “For tonight,” she told me.
It was perfectly fine—serviceable—and I felt a tinge guilty for wanting something lovelier, but I decided tonight was worth a little selfishness.
I requested scissors, a needle and thread, and while Kendrick and the others were off reuniting with old friends, I spent the day reworking the plain frock into something that my cousins would’ve fought over when I was a seamstress in Elora. I cut out the back to nearly my waist and made a slit up the side, the way Brie prefers her dresses—so she can move freely, she says, and it’s true, but I know she also loves that Finn can’t take his eyes off her. I altered the bodice into a deep V-neckline and added a strap behind my neck to secure it.