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)
“He is angry with everyone,” Bibi explains in her quiet tone, looking at the servants as though they will tell on her. “I know a few things. You should understand that even when his mother was queen, there were tensions, though Miria was fair enough. As a prince he fell in love with a commoner. Have you noticed the courtiers staring at you, Zoey?”
“I have,” I acknowledge, though I thought it was simply prurient interest. Now I wonder. “She looked like me, didn’t she?”
Bibi nods. “She was a woman who lived in a far-off village. At the time the king was the second son. He was free to pursue his education as he would. They had a son. One who looks very much like your own.”
“Lee. In this timeline he doesn’t have a twin brother,” I surmise.
Rhys snorts. “I’m sure that’s made him so much better.”
Shy sends him a shut-the-hell-up look and he does. Rhys had not been surprised to hear his brother was causing trouble in another timeline.
“No, there is only the one, and he is not considered proper for the line of succession since his mother was a commoner.”
“I can tell you the rest of the story. I know what went wrong. He was not allowed to marry her.” Dev sighs. “My brother did not think my goddess was a proper one. He attempted to strong-arm me out of the marriage, but I had been on my own for years. I was strong and held up by my goddess and my partner. So in this timeline, my brother got his way. Likely because I stayed here instead of moving my whole life to the Earth plane. So this me has a bastard son and a version of Zoey who likely loathes me. I would like to avoid an angry alternate of you, my goddess. You can do a lot of damage when you’ve been wronged. Although…”
I frown my husband’s way because I know exactly what he’s thinking. “Not happening.”
He’s got visions of two Zoeys in bed. It would not go well.
“Oh, she is dead,” Bibi replies, cutting us off at the pass. “She was killed by a group of ogres, and that is when the prince began spending much time with the royals who prefer the company of only sidhe.”
Dev looks my way. “So you die and I fall under the influence of the Duke of Ain. That is horrible and makes sense.”
The Duke of Ain. In our time, he wanted a sithein free of lesser Fae. Devinshea had called the Wild Hunt down on him. But in this timeline, he listened. In this life, he got inside Devinshea’s head and corrupted him. I didn’t like the idea of the duke hanging around. I might have hated the duke, but he was clever and he didn’t mind getting his hands bloody. “Is the duke around? Or is he off plane with the king?”
“The king took most of his retinue,” Ostara explains. “It is why the palace guard is so confused. You came back with people they don’t know and without any of your normal security. But they also aren’t creative thinkers. Eoin asked if I thought something was wrong and I told him you simply found some friends you wanted to impress.”
“Everyone is used to the king’s mercurial moods,” Bibi adds. “And everyone knows he is looking for his lost love. Her name was Zandra. I’ve heard it said the wizard has promised to find her for him so he can have another chance.”
“Well, that makes some sense,” Dev admits quietly, his eyes finding mine. “I think we often seek out our soulmates. I have two, and it seems without them I am nothing.”
I reach out and hold his hand before turning back to our guest, who brushes away a tear. “Are you all right? I’m sorry to put you in this position. I don’t think this Devinshea is capable of truly helping you.”
“I fear he is planning something far darker.” Dev’s accent turns very Irish, and Bris is here. He brings my hand to his lips, kissing it before he stands. “Ostara of the Wind and Rains, I am Bris. I was an agricultural deity on the Earth plane in a place called Ireland.”
Ostara smiles, a genuinely delighted expression. “It is lovely to meet you. It’s been so long since I met an ancient one.” Ostara seems to think, but I believe she’s having one of those inner conversations. It’s obvious to me these two are not as well integrated as Devinshea and Bris. “My goddess is excited to see you, but she is asking questions. Is the vampire truly your soul’s mate?”
Bris frowns but his tone is gentle. “He is Devinshea’s. There is no question about it. I worry that is why the Devinshea of this timeline has chosen an evil path. He requires Daniel and Zoey to be complete.”