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)
But, of course, our happiness never lasts.
Not right now.
Not until Selah is defeated.
I break the kiss first because I know Caz won’t walk away until I do. With one last peck on his cheek, I step back with a lengthy exhale.
“I love you, Caspian Edgar Harlow.”
A smile adorns his beautiful face as a gleam appears in his eyes. “My love for you is infinite, Willow Austin.” He strokes my chin, lingering, not wanting to walk away. “You’re more than worth fighting for.”
I fight the urge to cry, but the heat builds behind my eyes anyway. I blink quickly to fan the oncoming tears away, forcing a smile instead.
I have to be strong for him.
“All right, go,” I laugh. “Show them why you’re the chosen one.”
FIFTY-THREE
WILLOW
“Hassha, can I talk to you for a second?” I stand between the frames of one of the openings to the grand room as she faces me.
Caz has already gone to the artillery room to retrieve more guns with Rowan, Killian, and Juniper before they leave for Vanora. Maeve is in the kitchen with Makoto, deciding on dinner. The only people left in this room are Hassha and Korah.
Hassha’s chin rises as she pins her focus on me. The look on her face tells me she knows what I’m about to ask and doesn’t like it. I’m surprised she doesn’t try to read my mind. With a quick glance at Korah, she nods and marches my way.
I lead the way to one of the decks. She shuts the door behind her without a single touch, and I drag in a breath, preparing myself.
“You know what I’m going to ask, don’t you?” I throw up my mind’s wall so Caz won’t hear.
Hassha steps sideways, pursing her lips. “I do.”
“Before you deny me, I did some studying the other night. If I can learn to fight like your warriors and tap into Mythic power, I can protect Caz and the baby, just like Caz’s mother did. She was only a hybrid, but she was strong, right? I could be stronger, then no one will have to worry about our safety because I can handle it.”
“Have you discussed this with Caspian?” she asks.
“Not yet, but I think he’ll agree it’s the right thing to do,” I say. “Look, I’m tired of being the damsel in distress. I have nothing to offer anyone. I’m just a casualty here, a pawn for Selah to taunt you all with, but if you grace me with power to become a Mythic, I can be strong on my own. Hell, I’ll even take being like Minka and Maia if that’s what I need. Your daughters are ten times stronger than I am.”
“Willow…” Hassha sighs with a shake of her head. I was hoping she’d laugh at the mention of her daughters. “You do realize the unborn child inside you is a combination of many things. Cold Tethered, descendent of the Seed of Yuri, and descendent of a powerful line of monarchs. Mythic energy is already inside the child too from Caz’s mother, like you said. If I give you the energy I’ve given my daughters and my soldiers, your child will be born a weapon. Giving birth to a being that powerful could weaken you, Willow. It could sever the bond you have with Caspian. It could kill you.”
Hearing that makes me pause.
I blink up at her, swallowing thickly. “But will it protect the baby from Selah? She said she wouldn’t come for Caz, but we know what she’s like. And she’s been in my head—in my dreams. She’s twisting them into nightmares like she did to Warren.”
“She won’t do the same to you as she did to Warren. I guarantee it,” Hassha assures me as she steps forward with meaning. “I’m much closer to you so my and Korah’s walls will be much stronger.”
“But if you give me something to protect myself and the baby—something that will make us untouchable to her—I don’t care what happens to me,” I go on.
“Willow—”
“No, Hassha.” I raise a hand, and she focuses on it, mildly taken aback by the gesture. And maybe I’m stupid for interrupting a Regal, but this is important to me. I need her to grasp that. “I won’t let Selah have me or my baby. You said you’d owe me, and I’m telling you now, this is what I want.”
“What about what your mate wants?” she asks in a softer voice. “He plans to marry you soon, correct? If anything were to happen to you, Willow, he’d never forgive me. With your baby alive or not, he won’t accept your loss.”
I lower my gaze, fighting the tremble in my bottom lip. “I’ll talk to him.”
Hassha is quiet a moment, contemplating. Then she places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I don’t want you making hasty decisions out of fear, so when I return from Vanora, we’ll discuss this again to see if it’s what you truly want. This will give you a chance to think it over and to discuss it with Caspian upon his return. I will not stand in the way of you and your bond. It is not my place.”