Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
With a quick bow, Sylvie takes off and disappears around a corner.
“Please,” Callista says, swaying her hand and guiding two empty chairs backwards. “Join us. The feast will be lovely tonight.”
Of course, the chairs she’s pulled out for us are directly across from them. I would’ve preferred to sit at the end of the table, huddled with the only person in this castle I can trust.
Killian moves first. I follow his lead. When he sits, I lower into my chair, avoiding all their eyes. Their gazes are heavy. I swear it feels like they’re touching me with looks alone.
“You look beautiful, Willow,” Callista croons.
I shift my gaze up to her.
She’s smiling, the red on her lips looking more like blood.
“Thank you,” I return. I was hoping not to look beautiful. Sylvie even picked out a colorless dress with a half turtleneck. I guess it doesn’t matter though because Vassilis isn’t around. With him not around, it’s the first time I’ve felt true relief since waking up in this damn castle.
“Why are you offering us dinner?” Killian asks, folding his arms.
“Well, you have to eat, don’t you?” Callista responds, looking from Killian to Arie. “We’re not monsters.”
“So you keep telling yourselves,” Killian mutters.
“Can we please just have a cordial dinner?” Callista glares at Killian with mildly flared nostrils.
“Nothing about this is cordial,” I say, eyeing the only other woman in the room.
“I concur.” Arie smirks as he inspects one of the rings on his fingers.
“We guarantee you the food is safe to consume. You should be allowed to eat in peace, so long as you don’t continue causing a ruckus.” Callista’s eyes flicker to Killian. “Is that understood?”
Killian responds with a grunt.
“Great.” Callista snaps her fingers. Two doors on opposite sides of the room fly open.
A line of servants flood through the doors, carrying trays of all sizes.
They place the food on the table diligently, making sure not to bump into any of us. They top off drinks, remove lids from the food, and bow before exiting.
My stomach growls when I see it all laid out before me. The glazed meat is steaming, the vegetables and potatoes too. There’s fruit, rolls of ivory bread, and even miniature cakes.
There’s so much to choose from, and I’m damn near salivating.
I don’t dare show it though. Considering it’s been two days since I last ate, yes, I am starving, but I don’t want them thinking they can hold any more over us than they already do now.
“Dig in.” Arie gestures to the food.
Callista sips wine but doesn’t pull her eyes away from us.
“You first.” Killian leans back, folding his arms.
Arie blinks, an amused smile riding his lips. “Very well.” He wastes no time topping his plate with everything available. Callista does as well, and they begin to eat.
Killian gives me a careful side-eye, one that tells me to proceed with caution. He collects some food and bites into a piece of meat. The juices spill from it and he groans, only a little. I can imagine he’s just as hungry as I am, if not more.
“See?” Arie smiles. “Go on, Willow. Eat. I assure you it’s safe.”
I pile food onto my plate and dive in. I hate that all of it is so damn good. Everything is bursting with flavor, the wine is strong, and suddenly all that emotion I’d carried drips away.
“Just so you know, Caspian has made it to Inferno Isle.” When Callista mentions my mate’s name, I pause.
“How do you know?” I ask.
“We’re tracking him.”
I sit back in my chair, chewing on a piece of bread. “What happens if he doesn’t make it far enough to give Selah his blood?”
Callista eyes me, looking me from my face to my chest, then up again. “He’ll make it.”
I think about Caz going to that island of death. A bad feeling swirls in my gut, strong enough to make me queasy. I feel the food rising in my stomach and cup my hand over my mouth.
Oh, God. Did they poison me?
I bat my eyes, fighting off nauseated tears as I ask, “Can I be excused?”
Callista’s eyes narrow at me.
“I’ll just be in my room,” I say. “I think I’m full.”
“You’ve hardly eaten,” she returns.
Killian stands too. “She said she’s full. I’ll walk her back.”
“Guide them.” Callista points her attention to Arie.
Arie rises with reluctance, licking his fingers as he follows us out of the dining hall.
I don’t wait for him to walk around and guide us. I’m already marching through the corridor.
My stomach bubbles, and bile creeps up my throat. I heave, my mouth coating with sick heat.
“You all right, Willow?” Killian asks.
“No.” I press a hand to my mouth again. “I think they did something to the food.”
“We did no such thing!” Arie declares, stepping around me.
“I feel sick,” I whispered. “Do you, Killian?”