Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“It wasn’t simply one color. It was everything associated with fire. Red and orange and that blue that shades around a flame.” Rhys sat back on the sofa, a weariness to his expression. “It definitely felt like dark magic. Have you consulted with the other witches we know?”
Lily nodded. “Of course. I had some of the smartest I know on the mirror network while I was examining Dean. It’s how we got him stabilized, but if I’m right, I’ve only postponed the inevitable. At some point the spell will flare again and he will be torched from the inside. All I can do for now is keep him sedated so he doesn’t feel any pain.”
Shy gasped, and there were tears in her eyes as Rhys wrapped her up in his arms.
Dean had been here a short time, but he’d made an impression on these young people. He’d become one of them.
“And if there is a witch we could call on? Someone who might know what spell was used?” It made my gut clench, but I didn’t know what else to suggest.
Donovan’s arms crossed over his chest. “We cannot allow Olivia her freedom. She knows too much about us.”
“And if Dean dies, then we lose our best chance at beating Myrddin. Maybe our only chance,” I pointed out. “He’s one of two.”
“According to prophecy,” Donovan countered. “And sometimes we don’t understand those. I’ve learned that pretty much any way I go, if I’m fucked I’m fucked. I know damn well if Olivia gets out of here, she’ll find a way back. She’s likely heard about our plans to move to the southern sanctuary. If she gets out, we’ll have to spread to the four corners of the Earth plane, and years of mobilization will be down the drain. No.”
“Dad, he’s dying.” There was desperation in Lee’s voice.
“And we will find another way,” the king promised. “He’s stable for now. Honestly, we can’t trust a thing Liv says anyway. She could kill him simply because she knows it would hurt us.”
“I want to talk to her.” I wasn’t willing to let this go, and the situation had far more nuance than Donovan was giving it. “You try to find your experts, and I’ll work on her.”
“You don’t have much time,” Donovan advised. “This attack pushes our timeline up. I want everyone out of Frelsi by the end of tomorrow. We can’t know how close he’s getting, and no one leaves the village via portal until we’re all ready to go. Kelsey, call Gray. I want you and your crew, including Olivia, out of here tonight, if possible. If you don’t want to take her…”
“I’ll take her.” I didn’t want to know what the king would do if I didn’t. My bestie was on a knife’s edge, and I needed to find a way to get her off.
“Your Highness, I can’t move Dean,” Lily said.
“I’ll find a way,” I promised.
It looked like it was time for another talk with my best friend.
* * * *
Liv
I wished the one fucking window in this prison of mine was facing the other direction.
I didn’t know much about this village since it was hard to take in the sights from an extra-large dog crate. Yeah, I was going to pay Kelsey back for that one. I stared out the window I did have, hoping and praying to see fire begin to ravage the stupidly charming land around me. I guess it’s not hard to keep the place green and bountiful when there are two Green Men running around.
My own garden at the Coven House looked limp and lifeless compared to the abundance here. Well, some things grow better than others. I could grow belladonna without a thought, but my basil struggled. If I needed marigold for a spell, I had to haul myself to a nursery and buy some.
It even smelled nice here. Like lavender and baking bread and freshly tilled earth.
I’d gone a bit nose blind to sulfur.
As though being around a portal to the Hell plane had an effect.
Not that we have a Coven House anymore, if what Kelsey told me was true.
Yes, and if you’d been there you would likely be dead, so you should probably thank her for bringing you someplace nice.
I wasn’t sure what that voice was trying to do, but I intended to shut it the fuck up the minute my sisters freed me.
I was sure that was exactly what they were going to do as that awful clanging surrounded me and I watched all the Fae creatures rushing toward a place I couldn’t see.
My sisters would come for me. Oh, Kelsey had killed the two closest to me, but more would be brought in. Myrddin wouldn’t have replaced me, but he would absolutely raise up another two worthy witches to take their places beside me. Those sisters would be here, fighting against my captors.