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)
His eyes practically glow as he contemplates his plans. “Yes, that is the deal I’ve made with the Hell plane. And there is a unique energy formed when souls cross the barrier. I can use it. I will feast when I close those gates. You think I’m naïve and will allow the demons to overrun the planes, but here’s what you don’t understand. I don’t intend to allow the demons to take the Earth plane. By the time I’m done, I’ll take over Hell, too. I’ll be more powerful than the Morningstar, and I’ll pick my teeth with his bones.”
I feel a chill go over my skin. So many souls. Practically endless.
He might be able to do it.
“Now, it appears your vampire husband has fled the grounds so we can have some dinner. I’ll have the hounds escorted back to the royal kennels. They’ve done their jobs,” the king says, walking back in. “Teacher, if you don’t mind. I would like some time alone with my…with Zoey. We will talk about the mountain in the morning.”
The mountain. Shy wanted to go to the mountain. She was drawn to it. I stand and allow Devilshea to lead me away.
The whole time I feel Myrddin’s eyes on me and know this is far from over.
Chapter Seventeen
Shy
My slippered feet pound against the soft grass as Lee takes the lead and we race away from the west side of the palace.
Leaving the queen…leaving Zoey behind. And Daniel. And…sweet goddess…we’re leaving Devinshea in the hands of the man who killed my family.
It’s going to be okay. Lee will make sure of it. You know it’s nice in here. I thought it would be a tight fit, but it’s roomy.
And I’ve got someone new in my head now. Or my chest. I don’t really know where my soul space lies. I only know that it’s full again.
Rhys’s hand has a death grip on mine, and the only reason he isn’t still carrying me is he’s worried about arrows. So he’s in front of me and Sasha is protecting my back. The quiet of the night is shattered by gunfire because while Sasha is excellent at all weapons, he really prefers his SIG Sauer. Loaded with cold iron bullets.
Lee races ahead, and I see the temple in the distance.
An arrow thuds into the ground at my feet.
Rhys turns, holds up his hand, and suddenly there’s screaming behind us.
Sasha hurries me along. “Don’t look.”
But I do. I get a glimpse of Rhys’s magic. All I’ve seen my love do is grow things. His magic always seems so protective and soft. But those trees leaning down and skewering soldiers, hauling them back into the sky to hold them there, chests bleeding out…it’s not soft nor is this light magic.
Because no magic is inherently evil. Because the darkness is not evil and the light is not necessarily good. Because we are all somewhere in between.
I wish I could say I’m repulsed by his power.
You so are not repulsed. You are totally turned on. Say, I don’t know if I can handle that. He looks far too much like my nephew. It would be weird. But you could do the big hot vampire. I would enjoy that.
I have to figure out how to shield.
We make it to the temple without much contest. There’s no guard around the temple. No lights or grand gardens. Everything around it feels dead and lifeless.
Until Rhys makes it to the grounds.
Lee tries to shove me through the door, but I get a glimpse of Rhys, his hair mussed and blood on his shirt. As he moves onto the temple grounds, the whole place comes back to life.
Grass that was dull and brown is suddenly a vibrant green. The oaks and willows and rowan trees that appear to be stuck in winter are green and alive again. Flowers blossom in his wake, and the shrubs burst with life.
The door Lee had only managed to partially open swings fully for the god walking toward it. As if the temple knows who and what he is and welcomes him once more.
Lee and Sasha force me inside, and that’s when I realize we’re not alone. Cassie peels away from the shadows she clings to, and her brother growls her way.
“I’m going,” she says with a huff as she walks in beside me. “It’s just really cool.”
It is really cool. As Rhys jogs up the steps, the torches light themselves and behind us I hear water running where it was not before.
The temple was dead, and it is alive again.
Rhys rushes up the steps, not looking back. His focus is wholly and completely on me.
Well, if you ever worried about whether he cares, the man didn’t even notice the world just woke up around him.
It’s weird. I had Harry in my head for a long time, but this version of Neil feels different. Like he’s slightly too big. My body feels uncomfortable, and I try to remember if I felt this with Harry.