Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“I’ll convene the Council and let them know,” I say, not sure what else I can do. “Is there any other information?”
“I’ve been watching Ariman. He was close to Jago, but I couldn’t tie him to the uprising. He still rules over the city of Llandam and attends all my meetings. If he’s doing anything to aid in this rumor, I have not yet uncovered his involvement.”
“But he’s wicked and crafty,” Nyssa adds. “Our gut says if there’s any plot against Amell, the Underworld, or to free Rune, Ariman’s hands are in it.”
“He bears too great a magic,” Amell says. “Give me leave to destroy him, and that worry will be put to rest.”
I’m no stranger to Ariman. He’s the dark priest who helped funnel black magic into me at Kymaris’s command. I never had any direct interaction with him, as I was only a vessel and not worth his time to converse with.
I shake my head, unwilling to mar Amell’s benevolent rule. “It’s better to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I only want you to watch him.”
“At your command,” Amell acknowledges.
My smile is wan. “Well, I wanted to tell you that you’re free to leave the Underworld at your whim.”
Amell pulls away from Nyssa, his expression darkening. “What’s wrong?”
I blink at him in surprise. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“You’re lying,” he replies in a dulcet tone. My eyes flare with affront. “I’ve known you longer than anyone by a long shot, and I know you’re lying, and I know something’s wrong.”
That’s all truth. Amell oversaw my entire upbringing in the Underworld, protected me from harm, and eventually became my lover. While I never fully opened up to him because I was always aware of his danger, I know he’s far too perceptive for me to argue with him.
“It’s nothing.” I lift my chin, a silent gesture that I’m not discussing it.
Amell’s face reddens with anger. “If that asshole hurt you, I will rip him to pieces.”
Nyssa moves, putting her hand on Amell’s arm. She looks concerned, not for him, but for me.
“He didn’t hurt me. It’s the other way around.”
Amell blinks, his face going slack. “Oh… well…” He looks at his wife helplessly, then back to me again. “I don’t… I mean…”
Nyssa steps forward, nudging Amell back from us. “Do you need to talk about it with someone?”
I shake my head, giving her a grateful smile. “I appreciate it, but no. It’s done and now I’m off to the Council to tell them about the rumors regarding Rune.”
Nyssa gives me a quick hug, followed by a squeeze to my shoulder from Amell, and I return to our godly realm.
Appearing on the gazebo-covered dais, I wait for the others to appear.
CHAPTER 12
Maddox
Faere is the fucking pits. It’s so disingenuous as a land that I find it hard to tolerate. There’s nothing natural about it.
Faere was created through the power of stone magic by Nimeyah, one of the original fallen angels cast out from Heaven. Perhaps feeling the keen loss of her prior home, she set out to make a realm far more beautiful than where she’d come from.
In my opinion, she didn’t succeed. First, she raised her massive castle of crystal which sits on the horizon amid rolling hills and a lazy river of teal blue. The green of the grass is bright, all the blades of perfect height and symmetry, and they sparkle as if coated in diamond dust. The trees are identical without character and produce no fruit to enjoy.
It’s the sky I hate the most. It’s a champagne color, devoid of sun or clouds. Just an endless golden glow that makes the entire environment shimmer to the point everything looks distorted.
I thought Deandra might change things up when she became queen, but apparently, she has the same lack of taste her mother did.
Truett and I are working together at Amell’s order. We inspect the new rip in the veil found this morning by one of the Light Fae who lives close to it. A farmer who raises livestock was out shepherding when one of his sheep disappeared into thin air. Upon closer examination, he discovered the tear but dared not go into whatever realm it disappeared into.
Word was sent to the castle, the castle sent word to Amell in the Underworld, and here I am with Amell’s best friend who I happen to like a lot.
We confirmed pretty quickly that the tear connected Faere to the Underworld, same as the others, and the poor sheep met its demise by a band of hungry fae.
I turn to Rebsha, a huge Light Fae and Deandra’s most trusted advisor, who has been awaiting word. “Let the queen know it leads to the Underworld.”
Rebsha nods and disappears, bending distance to the crystal castle on the horizon where Deandra is supposedly in residence.