Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
I turned back to the queen. “I have to get you out of here.” I was panicking, unable to see a way that I could get her free of the crowd. It was like a wall moving closer by the second.
“Jason!”
Looking for the voice, I saw Tiago at the edge of the closing circle and darted toward him with Isabella in tow. He used his katana like a machete, hacking people down, stepping over them until there was no one in his way and we broke free of the press of bodies.
In the open space, I had a moment to look at him before he was struck in the side of the neck with a bolt and crumpled to the floor.
Isabella screamed as I went down on my knees beside him, watching him clutch at the wound, the blood running through his fingers.
No, no, no, I couldn’t lose Tiago.
I’d lost Sibel, who chose me, who left Varic’s dreki to stand at my side, and Eris who’d been with me in New Orleans, from the beginning, who’d helped Dae-Jung settle in, who was always worried about me and stood between me and the world.
The roar of the beast lifted my eyes from my friend and I saw that Decimus had carved his way through the mass of people and was heading toward us.
“No!” Isabella screamed, shoving in front of me. I saw him then, Balon, coming from the left, walking with a crossbow in hand, and saw too that it was loaded and he had it lifted, ready to fire.
Moving fast, I grabbed Isabella, flipped us around and drove her down under me onto the hard granite floor.
“Jason,” she gasped, sounding stunned, confused, her hands on my face, on my back, and then there was blood, so much blood, and she started to scream.
Something hit my side, and when I turned, there was Tiago, who had pulled the bolt from his neck. I was so happy to see it out even though he was still bleeding. I said, “I didn’t know you were here,” but my voice came out in a whisper and was drowned in Isabella’s shrieking.
He reached out but there were suddenly men there, dragging him back, away from me. I wanted to yell for help, but I had no voice anymore, and the pain was taking every last drop of energy I had.
“No!” Isabella howled and I saw Balon then, coming closer.
“Wait,” I heard Decimus order, and when I turned my head, he was there having turned back to a man from the wolf, stumbling forward, weak but still on his feet, grasping his son’s shoulder as they moved forward.
Crouching down together, one rotting, one naked and covered in gore, I saw them both leering, mad with power and bloodlust.
“Far better than I dreamed, Isabella,” Decimus choked out the words to her, grating and hoarse. “You die knowing I have taken the love of your son just as you took mine.”
He had brutalized Leda, while Varic treasured me. There was a big difference. I wanted to say that to him, to tell him that maybe if he’d treated Leda well, courted her, never taken her from the palace, that perhaps he would have found in her the home he always yearned for and she would have truly been his love. But it was too late, and that was so very sad.
Decimus’s hand was in my hair, lifting my head, wrenching it back, and I realized Isabella couldn’t move because Balon was holding her shoulders, pinning her down, a smiling skull next to his father.
“Get ready to drink, my son.”
I saw the blade because Decimus lifted it in front of my face, probably to terrify me but I was beyond that. I wouldn’t beg, I was only frightened for the queen and the scream that came out of her tore at my heart as blood rained down over her face.
Decimus laughed and laughed as my vision grew dark.
“No!” The cry rose above the din and suddenly I saw Decimus’s head, and his son’s, were on the floor.
That was good, I thought. Now they could rest. It was the best thing for all of us.
TWELVE
The courtyard was beautiful, with an enormous patio of brown-and-ivory checkered marble, columns with arches connecting them above, and below, a high carved-stone balustrade. When I crossed the floor, I saw stairs leading down into clear, placid water. I wanted to swim there. It would be so soothing.
“Why are you here?” came an irritated voice I knew well.
Turning, I saw Nerilla, and I couldn’t breathe. The same short hair, flashing eyes, and flawless tan skin. The lavender gown she was wearing was long, hugging her curves and puddling to the floor. She was a vision.
She scowled at me. “Answer.”
I could only stare. I was so happy to see her.