Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“But she doesn’t understand her own power.” It was the reason he’d jumped out of bed, though he wanted to stay with his wife. Shy was in danger, and Shy was a danger. If what Ostara said was true, she had immense power and no ability to use it. “If Myrddin knows what she is, he could potentially use her to send Bris where he wants him to go. I don’t know how it works, but I have to think Bris might not have a choice if Myrddin can tap into Shy’s power. Or he’s going to do exactly what Neil said and use her against Arawn.”
“I have to find Zoey.” While Daniel looked better, there was still a slump to his shoulders.
“Myrddin will need the king,” Meadow pointed out. “From what I understand, the mountains where he’s holding the souls is keyed to the king’s family. They keep certain treasures there and have for centuries. It’s a sacred mountain, and the entrance is guarded by wards that can only be opened with the king’s blood.”
“Would Dev’s work?” Daniel asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. While they might look exactly alike, the king is fully Fae and your Devinshea is not. I think one of the reasons the mountain worked for the wizard as a holding place is the fact that those wards are keyed to only one man. The only other with a possible chance of opening it is his son. Lee might be able to because he is a son of the royal family, but I cannot be sure.”
“So he will have to get the king to open the mountains to him,” Sasha mused. “I doubt this version of Devinshea does anything he doesn’t want to.” He winced as he realized what was going to happen, might be happening right now. “Zoey will work as leverage to make the king do his will. She works for both Devinsheas. Damn it. Do we know where she is? Is she still in the palace?”
Neil stretched, his eyes dark as he looked around the room and then took a deep breath through his nose. “She hasn’t been down here. I need to change and then I’ll be able to track her.”
“She was in her room when I left her.” Daniel looked sick again. “I shouldn’t have left her. I shouldn’t have fucking allowed Myrddin to have Dev. I shouldn’t…”
The king was normally a calm presence, but Sasha understood. His partner was injured—possibly irrevocably—and in the hands of their greatest enemy, and his wife could be next. He couldn’t think like a king at this point. He was a terrified husband, and he wasn’t anywhere close to full power. He hadn’t been since they walked through the doors to this plane. There was something about the sun on this plane that took more out of Daniel. Sasha felt it, too. But he spent less time outside, and he had a full dose of companion blood and Ostara’s magic. “Neil, change and help us find the queen. Can you track the other Devinshea?”
Neil nodded, getting to his feet. “I can track anyone, and if you get me close to the wizard, I promise I’ll kill him this time.”
Daniel’s head shook. “No, you won’t. You’ll get Z and Shy out of there, and I’ll save Devinshea. You know the prophecy. I want to kill him, too, but the dark prophet is never wrong. Our only goal at this point has to be to get our people out of here and stop whatever Myrddin plans. You taking a shot at him likely means we lose you.”
Neil nodded tightly. “I’ll get her out. I’ll get Shy out. We’ll run for the door. It doesn’t matter where we go. We’ll find a way.”
“You leave us if you have to,” Daniel insisted.
“Or I can lead you to my home plane,” Meadow offered. “The safest way off this plane is a door not far from the mountains. You cannot use the door you took without access to the blue dolerite, but my plane is accessible through a stable door. We have to pass through the Earth plane, but the door to mine is in a city called Los Angeles. My timeline’s Earth plane is a place of peace and harmony. It is not dangerous to travel through.”
“Well, that’s a change from ours,” Daniel said with a touch of bitterness. “We will need to hide our powers.”
Ostara’s head shook. “Not at all. The Earth plane residents know about the other planes and are very accepting. Like President Taggart says, horns and tails don’t make you an asshole. Your attitude does. He encourages tourism, too.”
Daniel ran a hand over his hair, pushing it back. His claws were out. “We start in the palace. Sasha, kill anyone who tries to stop us.”