Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 147649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“No.” I hold up my finger with the ring. “This one. The too-small one. But obviously, it’s still on my finger, so I didn’t give it away. But there was a crown. I’m not sure where it came from, but there it was. Poof. On top of his head.”
“I’m not a hundred percent sure what’s happening here. And I’m not pretending to be any kind of expert on magic, or spellings, or rings. But—but—I’m pretty sure there is some kind of royal beast agreement between Tarq and me. And I’m starting to get the feeling that this is some kind of done deal.”
“I get what you’re saying. And…” I don’t want to admit this, but Pie is way beyond soothing with half-truths or even lies. “And I do agree that there is most likely some kind of royal decree about you and Tarq. But that doesn’t mean it has to happen.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
“Why?”
“Because the devil, Pell—the devil sent me on a mission to bring Tarq back to him. Something about Tarq not being king.”
“See?” I smile at her. “His power is just… pretend.”
“No. I mean, probably, yeah. But that’s not the point. The point is that the devil wants Tarq and me together with him. I think this decree—whatever it is—comes from the devil. Callistina is no one. She’s definitely not as powerful as me or how could I just put her in prison? It’s the devil, Pell. I think he took me from my family and my world back when I was six because…”
She pauses and just looks at me, the end of her sentence hanging in the air between us.
When she doesn’t finish, I say it for her. Because I already know what she’s thinking.
“Because you belong to him.”
She nods. “I think he’s being truthful about that. He controls me, Pell.”
“Yeah, but he’s an eros. He’s got that power over everyone.”
“Does he have that power over you?”
“No, but—”
“He has some claim on me, Pell. And I think he has some claim on Tarq too. And I also think that he’s the one who wants the godling prince.”
“Godling.” I whisper the word. Because I remember this now. Tarq and I were having this same conversation in his office that night everything went to shit for the second time. And he was so… I don’t know. Pissed is a strong word. I don’t think he was pissed off at me, but he was frustrated with me. Because I didn’t understand what was happening. He said, You were there.
But I don’t remember it.
And isn’t this the problem?
I don’t remember things. Everyone seems to know more about me than I do.
I don’t remember things.
“The devil made a bargain with someone. Maybe my parents, maybe Tarq’s parents—who knows? But he made a deal and Tarq and I are part of this deal, Pell. This is where it’s all heading.”
“Well, then the solution is simple. We can’t go back. We’ll just… go to the doors in my tomb, pick one, and use the ring to take us somewhere safe.”
“Yeah. I’d agree with you. If my best friend wasn’t being held prisoner by the devil.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Well, she’s missing. We left her in Granite Springs. Two blocks down from the fuckin’ devil’s bar. And now the town is gone and he’s in charge of my future.”
I sigh and walk over to a fallen tree and take a seat, putting my head in my hands because I have a thumping headache.
Pie comes and sits down next to me. She puts a hand on my furry leg and leans her head on my shoulder.
“OK,” I say, dropping my hands and looking over at her. “I see the logic. But you’re missing a big piece of this puzzle.”
“Which is?”
“Me.” We stare at each other for a moment, our eyes dancing back and forth as we search the windows to our souls. “You haven’t taken me into account yet.”
“So where do you fit in?”
“I don’t know.”
She scoffs. But it’s kind of a laugh. And then she wraps her hands around my upper arm and sighs into my chest. “You were the best prom date ever.”
“Shit.” I pat myself down. “Did we lose our photobooth pics?”
“Well, we’re naked. So… yeah. That fuckin’ sucks. I liked those pics. I planned on staring at them for centuries, at least. They were gonna get me through all the hard times.”
“There aren’t gonna be any hard times.”
“Please, Pell. This is the story of my life. It’s just… crap. Bad things happen to me.”
“Well, not all things were bad. I get that being a slave caretaker to a satyr chimera isn’t exactly your dream life, but we’ve made it work.”
“Speaking of slave caretaker”—she sits up straighter and looks me in the eyes—“when I was talking to Tomas earlier he said I was the caretaker of slaves.”