Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
On the third day, we departed and headed for the secret tunnel. We took the canteens we’d found in the crates and grabbed a sack and stuffed it with dried fruits and nuts. We were much better prepared for travel now, so the three-day trek through the tunnel should be a slice of cake.
Ooh…cake.
When Effie stepped through the entrance to the cavern, she let out a shaky breath. “We’re going to climb all the way to the top?”
“It’s not that bad,” Ryker said. “It’s mostly a lot of walking. But there’s a long ladder at the end…”
That ladder had been a bitch to climb when gravity was on my side. Going in the opposite direction…it was totally going to suck. “It’ll be over before you know it.”
16
HUNTLEY
When the gates opened to allow the riders entry, I moved forward to get a better look.
She wasn’t with them.
Weeks had passed and there’d been no sign of her—not here at the outpost or HeartHolme. The disappointment was too much, made me taste acid in my mouth.
The riders hopped down and handed their reins to the stablemaster.
“What did you see?” I immediately asked.
The man removed his gloves. “No signs of anyone anywhere.”
Fuck.
Ian walked up to me, coming from the stone keep. In his hand was a scroll that he had already read. “She hasn’t returned to HeartHolme.”
If my wife could escape the Teeth, she could navigate her way to the outpost or HeartHolme. I’d seen her in action and knew she was too smart to get captured by the Plunderers or cross paths with a yeti. She was out there somewhere. “Let’s send a search party.”
“Huntley.” Ian released a frustrated sigh. “It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. She could literally be anywhere. It’s a waste of manpower.”
I gazed through the open gates, as if she would pop out of the snow.
Ian stared at the side of my face. “She must have gone to the tunnel—”
“She would come to me first.” She would want me to know that she was alright. She would want to know that I was alright too. “She would never betray me.” I regarded my brother, warning him to tread carefully.
Ian didn’t speak, but his stony expression said it all.
Weeks had come and gone, so she had either returned to Delacroix…or she was dead.
17
IVORY
After what felt like a lifetime, we finally made it.
The castle shone brightly in the sun at the top of the hill, the flags at the keep flying in the wind. It was a clear day, warm, peaceful. My heart gave a squeeze when I saw it, because I still had affection for this place despite its gory history.
We were just outside the city, on foot because we didn’t cross paths with other travelers with horses. I had to be at least ten pounds lighter since I’d started my journey, with all the goddamn walking and no eating.
“I hope my family made it…” The wetness in Effie’s eyes reflected the sun as well as her emotion.
Ryker looked at her. “I’m sure they did. We’ll find them.”
I lagged behind, because this was the moment I had to confess everything to Ryker. A part of me wanted to walk into that castle with him at my side, to see Commander Burke, the maids, my father. I wanted to smell the jasmine outside my window. I wanted to see Quinn, just to assure him I was alright since he was probably worried sick. But I couldn’t do any of that. “Ryker?”
He looked at me over his shoulder.
“Hold on a sec…”
We were close to the city, so close that I could hear the hammer in the forge, hear a horse neigh from the stables, hear one citizen shout to another. I was right on the doorstep—but I couldn’t cross the threshold.
Effie lingered behind because she knew what was coming.
Ryker walked up to me, his irritated eyes focused on my face. “What is it, Ivory?”
“I…I need your help with something.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “What is it?”
“I need to get into the library…unseen.”
He’d never looked so confused in his life. “Unseen? You’ve been away from home for months, and all you care about is going to the library?” The lightness in his eyes was suddenly heavy, and he looked angry like my father. “Walk through the front door and grab whatever you want.”
“It’s not that simple, okay? There’s something I need to tell you.”
“I’m not going to like this, am I?”
Nope. “I need you to promise this stays between us.”
He gave a shake of his head. “Depends on what it is.”
“Promise me first.”
His nostrils flared when he pushed the air out of his lungs. “You’re going back down there, aren’t you?”
“I made a promise to someone, and I have to keep it.”
“To whom?” he demanded. “The Runes? Fuck the Runes—”
“Just listen to me, okay?”