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 curses under his breath and walks to the massive doors that demark his wing of the palace.
We stood here mere hours before, all of us, and now I feel so damn alone.
So stupid. How could we end up here, tricked by Myrddin again?
I feel the brush of fur against my palm and look down. The Cŵn Annwn are here. All three dogs, looking up at me like they don’t understand what’s happening.
I wonder where they got the dogs from. Wonder if they’re spelled. If they’re dogs at all. Myrddin can work some crazy transmutations. The biggest one looks up at me with flaming red eyes that somehow seem to plead with me for affection.
I’m not in the mood.
Devilshea steps back into the outer room. “Well, I think it will please you to know your son got away with his goddess. I believe that asshole I sired is trying to get them to the temple where they’ll likely head to wherever the rebels go after they’re done fucking up my life.”
A bit of relief flows through me. Only a little. “But the guards will be after them? They aren’t safe?”
He reaches a hand out, brushing back a strand of my hair, and leans in. “I gave the order to allow them to make it to the temple. I will send word that if they leave quietly, I will not assign guards to follow. Will that do, my love?”
If I can trust him, it will. Not that Rhys will leave his parents behind, but this will buy him time. I sniffle and nod, going into a deep curtsey. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
He takes my hand to lift me back. His lips curl up like he knows he has me now. “You’re welcome, Zand…” He sighs. “Zoey. I was arrogant earlier and for that I apologize. You are Zoey but you are her as well. If there is one thing I’ve learned in my search for you it’s that these different versions of ourselves are all the same. Your Devinshea could have been me if not for a few factors. The same way I could be him if not for…
“My death.” I don’t say what I really mean. My Dev picked me. My Dev stood strong on his own and told his brother he could bite his ass when he refused to give us permission to marry. He married me anyway. But I have to play to this side of Dev.
And suddenly I know I can. Because he’s right. He is the same man. My Devinshea can be selfish. He can be egotistical. He can be brutally stubborn.
Once Marcus and I sat in a park in Fort Worth and he told me I was the only reason Danny and Dev didn’t follow their darker impulses. At least with this version, he appears to be right.
Devilshea closes his eyes and takes in a long breath. “I will never forget finding the grave Deinny put you in. Finding the pieces of you they left behind. Monsters. My brother being the worst of them. I knew that day that I could kill or be killed. I could let the monsters take me down or I could become the biggest one of all.”
This Dev cares more about his station than mine.
When his eyes open and he offers me a hand, I take it. The Cŵn Annwn follow me to the plush sofa. “I have tea and wine being brought in. Your favorite. From the vineyards of your father. Well, the vineyards of her father. I hope it will please you.”
I settle myself in, fighting the deep urge to run as fast as I can. I sit down like it’s perfectly normal to relax while my children and friends are on the run. I don’t see any sign of Neil or Brendan or Cassie, so I have to believe they got out. Daniel will bide his time.
Devinshea will be tortured.
“How did you steal the Cŵn Annwn?” I ask the question as though it doesn’t really make a difference. I idly pet them. “From what I understand they only live in Arawn’s domain.”
He shrugs. “They are native to here in this time. And the crone as well. She chose to live here when Arawn took on non-corporeal form. Our sithein is close to the death god’s domain. I suspect that is why. Though he does not visit here often. Myrddin claims it is because he prefers another timeline. I personally am fine with less gods walking my realm.”
“So Myrddin came here because he could set us up easily?” I ask, hoping to find some reason for this. I know we are hard to catch, but it seems like a lot of work to go through.
“He wants something else of me,” the king replies. “It is none of your concern. He has paid his debt and I will pay mine. I will have all the power I need to protect us. I will ensure you are happy and satisfied, Zoey. We will have the life we should have had. Now, I want to talk about you. Our wine should be here momentarily.”