Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
I sigh. “When humanoid people end up in Threshold, they’re given the same choice we gave you. It doesn’t matter how they got here or what kind of person they are. They can join or die.”
Evelyn’s finger stills. “Yes?”
“Those we deem monsters don’t get a choice. Every time we’re called in, it’s after a death has occurred … or so I thought. What if we’ve been butchering them simply for the sin of wandering where they shouldn’t?”
She props her chin on my chest, her green eyes serious. “Would it matter?”
The question stings. “Of course it would matter.”
“But it doesn’t matter for the human-adjacent trespassers. Why would it matter for those you decide are monsters?”
She’s not doing anything but echoing my own thoughts, and I still have to fight the ingrained urge to argue. It was so easy to do when I thought my position was unassailable. When I thought I was right. “It matters.”
“Your laws have never been fair, Bowen.” She kisses my chest and gives me a sad smile. “I think I understand a little better where you’re coming from. Your ship was your family. They’re all you’ve ever known.”
Her sympathy grates. It feels too much like pity. “Ezra, the last captain, was essentially a father to me. But I’m too aware of the power imbalance between me and the crew. I don’t know if ‘family’ is the right term.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you had him. It’s awful to be lost and adrift in the world without someone to anchor you.” Her expression goes contemplative. “But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t perpetuating a corrupt system. In theory, laws are supposed to keep the peace and be fair, but I’ve never found either to be true. They tend to benefit the powerful and everyone else is left to drown.”
Again, I have to fight against the instinct to argue. “The Cŵn Annwn—the originals, the ancients—are gods. Or as close to gods as exists in reality.”
“And gods are immune from corruption? From being selfish and power hungry and trampling those weaker than themselves?” She smirks. “You must not have many myths here. In my realm, plenty of the prey the legendary Cŵn Annwn hunt are undeserving of that fate. Seems like it’s the same here.”
I feather my fingers through her hair, mostly because I can. Because she’s in bed with me and I’m allowed to touch her. Because this is only temporary and I want to soak up every detail I can in order to sustain myself for what comes next. “They’ll hunt you.”
“We’re not talking about me right now.”
No, we’re not, but I’d rather shift our discussion than keep digging into the foundations beneath my feet. I don’t know what to think of any of it. Or how to deal with the loss of my ship and crew. We didn’t always see eye to eye, but I thought even if I lost their vote, I’d earned more than being left on a random beach as they sailed away without saying goodbye. It stings. No, this clawing feeling in my chest cannot be described by a word as mundane as “sting.”
“Give a man some time to breathe.” I cup her jaw. “I know you’re going looking for your portal home. I wish you wouldn’t, but I won’t stop you.” I don’t have it in me to fight her, not anymore, not when she’s been right to question everything and I’ve been the fool being led around by my nose.
I’m still not prepared to admit that we haven’t done some good, though. Not every creature we’ve killed has been innocent, and there are plenty of people on my crew—not my crew anymore, damn it—who had nowhere else to go. People who were like me, without a past to mourn. They welcomed the fresh start and they’ve been happy on the Crimson Hag.
Or at least I thought they had.
Evelyn climbs up to straddle me. Gods, she’s a beautiful sight, her body soft and rounded and so fucking perfect I could worship her for the rest of my days. But I still see right through her. “While I’m not opposed to letting you distract me with sex, that won’t change the ultimate outcome.”
She drags her nails lightly down my chest. “What if you’re wrong?” She rolls her hips, rubbing her pussy against my rapidly hardening cock. “You were wrong about some things. What if you’re wrong about this, too? There are so many realms, Bowen. Even if they find me eventually, I’m very good at running. I can live out a long happy life in the meantime.”
I hook an arm around her waist and roll us. Evelyn’s laugh turns into a little moan as I settle between her thick thighs. I love that she doesn’t hesitate to dig her hands into my hair and tug me down for a kiss. It’s good. Too damned good. I want her forever, even though forever was never on the table for us.