Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
More applause filled the airwaves. An older woman jumped up and down, clapping. Kitty, I presumed.
Other winners were chosen. But the more names that were called, the less enthusiastic the crowd became.
“Only one number remains.” Leona raised her hands and wriggled her fingers, then reached inside the black bowl to pull a name. When she squealed with happiness, any lingering excitement turned to frothing irritation. “Leona Narwood, cage eight!”
Silence. Then, “Cheater!” someone cried. “You won Drogan in the last lottery.”
“Now, ladies,” the mayor admonished, a teacher with unruly students. “You watched me make the draw. The odds of a back-to-back win aren’t great, but they aren’t impossible, either. You all saw me draw. How could I possibly con you?”
“You cheated,” someone insisted. “I demand a redraw!”
All hint of civility wiped from the mayor’s features. “You are maligning my character.” Fury crackled from her every pore. “That is a crime punishable by banishment. I suggest you tread carefully.”
When spectators stormed from the building, Jasher snaked an arm around my waist and tugged me in front of him, out of their path. He maintained his hold, as if I might bolt. Ha! I leaned into him, my will to resist clearly damaged. Perhaps beyond repair.
As we stood together, the most sublime heat enveloped me, bringing another hit of his incredible scent. My pulse fluttered. We waited, silent, time suspended, until the doorway cleared. As he led me out, I missed our closeness.
Once outside, we crossed the street to enter the only four story structure in the area. His boots thumped against the wooden floor as we approached a counter manned by a lovely woman with pale hair anchored in a bun. Liquor bottles filled the display shelves behind her. Lively piano music played, the perfect accompaniment to the wanted posters that decorated the walls. The same women who’d attended the lottery now occupied round tables spread out throughout the room. Some played cards, but all were tossing back drinks and laughing, even those not chosen in the lottery.
The wild west theme continued. Hello, saloon.
The moment the bartender noticed Jasher, she paled and looked down. “We’ve paid our taxes.”
What did royal guards do when people didn’t pay their taxes, hmm?
“I’m not here for that,” he responded.
Her lips slowly parted. “Jasher?”
Again with the uncertainty.
He gave a clipped nod. “Has Anders come through?”
“Not for about a month.”
His muscles bunched with disappointment. “Give me two rooms.”
The gal winced. “My rooms got snapped up earlier today so revenge lottery attendees could remain close to the jail.” She rested her elbows on the counter in a relaxed pose, and yet she remained tense. “There’s only one room available. It’s the honeymoon suite, so it’s triple the normal rate.”
One room, and the honeymoon suite, no less. “Told you,” I muttered.
Jasher worked his jaw, very careful not to glance my way as I smirked at him. “We’ll take it.” He threw a gold coin the blonde’s way, and she caught it.
“Is your gold known as silver?” I asked, confused.
He ignored me. “We’ll also take two baths, clothes for my companion, two meals, three pounds of raw meat, and a skin of whatever milk you have on hand.”
Had he ordered the raw meat for Nugget, just in case? I fought to curb the urge to wrap my arms around him and hug him tight.
“Plus a notepad and pencil, if you have them,” I rushed to add.
He gave a stiff nod, accepted the key the blonde slid his way, then stalked off. Head high, I trailed him. The crowd watched us with unabashed curiosity as we scaled a flight of stairs. Did they think we were lovers? I was his prisoner? Bodyguard? The moment we were out of sight, whispers wafted to my ears. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I couldn’t make out the individual words.
We bypassed the second and third floors. By the time we reached the fourth story, the music had started up again, drowning out all other sounds.
Only one door waited at the top. He opened up and motioned me inside. I entered a spacious chamber with more creature comforts than expected and smiled. Forget the sole bed with a gorgeous red comforter positioned upon a round dais in the center of the room. Forget the open balcony and full-length mirrors stationed in different corners, gifting anyone on the bed with a view of the entire space. A small, square dining table offered two cushioned chairs. The sitting area boasted a purple velvet couch and shiny coffee table, with two pink and blue recliners. In front of a crackling hearth waited a large tub forged from copper. Off to the side, an open door revealed a closet-size room with a toilet.
My knees quaked with excitement. “This is heaven on earth. Well, not earth, but whatever planet, solar system, dimension or realm this is.”