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)
I’m not certain that was death magic. It felt so lovely, so simple and pure. It felt like home. “All I’m saying is what if death magic or something like it works to close the door from the Earth plane’s side. What if he realized closing it from the celestial side means he can’t control the lock?”
“He would need so many souls.” There’s no lack of horror in Cassie’s tone.
“He would have to hoard them. I don’t know that he can do that on the Earth plane. Too many supernatural creatures, and even the humans would notice if he had millions of souls hanging around waiting to be used,” Rhys says with a shake of his head. “It would cause all kinds of trouble. Human souls don’t cling together. They prefer to be solitary.”
“But the sluagh don’t.” I know why I am here.
Rhys’s eyes close, and he pales. “There would have to be millions.”
“He keeps them in the mountains. No one is allowed to go there,” Lee explains. “The mountains themselves are considered sacred to the Quinn family. No one can go there, but recently even the villages around them were evacuated. They told us it’s because it’s dangerous. Right before the last harvest, the king moved them all out. Simply took his soldiers through with the help of the duke and tossed them all into the forest. They weren’t even allowed to pack.”
“Was that around the time Myrddin began showing up?” Sasha asks.
Lee nods. “That was when the dead began to disappear. I have a friend with a bit of medium in her magic. She was worried when she could no longer hear their whispers, and she definitely believes there are more sluagh in those mountains than our sithein has ever held. There was always a small colony of them, but she fears they have grown in a way that is not natural. She has been worried because at some point they will not be contained. Now I know why the king thinks he can handle it.”
Because he intends to give them to Myrddin, who will take all that energy and close the Earth plane off.
Rhys nods Lee’s way, and suddenly his hand is in mine. “When can we leave? You said there was a way out? How do we know your father doesn’t have troops waiting for us?”
“Because they’ve never found the tunnels we dug to get here,” Lee replies with an arrogant grin. “The gnomes who used to serve the temple helped us. When we realized the king isn’t allowed in his own temple, we knew we had a way in.”
“And how did you get the chimera in?” Sasha asks with a frown. “I do not believe the chimera is native to a Seelie sithein.”
He frowns. “Damn it. I didn’t even think about that. I sicced the chimera on you when I thought you were coming back with my dad. He was brought in by the Unseelie from an outer plane. I have been working with them not only to get certain Fae creatures to safety, but also as a part of the rebellion. They would prefer I was on the throne. I planned on telling them no, but now I have a promise to my uncle. I’m sorry about the chimera.”
Cassie waves him off. “The chimera was no big deal. I took him out midair with a machete.”
“Really? He was kind of my friend,” Lee says.
Cassie winces. “Uh, sorry?”
“How many more assassins do you have hiding? Will they mistake Rhys for your father? He looks much like him. Like you,” Sasha points out.
“But our soul scents are different. I had to go with that for our beast friends because they aren’t good with faces,” Lee admits. “I guess your father and mine share a soul scent.”
“I will not even ask how one trains on a soul scent,” Cassie says with a grimace.
Lee eyes her. “It’s a spell.” He turns back to Rhys and me. “We can’t leave until morning. The forest the tunnels dump into is full of predators. They’re nocturnal, and it’s only a half day’s hike to my village, and from there we will march to the mountains. At least Shy and I will. I know Rhys must help rescue his parents. I promise, I will take care of her.”
I feel my love go stiff and know there’s about to be some plants up in here. Probably with vicious thorns he intends to shove up his brother’s backside. “Rhys will escort me. I would not go without him. His dad will take care of his mother and Papa, along with Neil and Sasha. I’m afraid our missions have become separate things.”
“He won’t kill your mother.” Lee resettles his pack over his shoulder. “If it helps, I believe he will try to seduce her. Bibi has been watching him. He still talks about her, and when he does it’s always about making things right this time.”