Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Ian wore a stern look.
“I’m our only option.”
“I would rather go and leave you behind to rule than let that happen.”
“Queen Rolfe appointed you—not me.”
“And I can decide who to leave in my stead.”
“People are already on edge with Queen Rolfe, Commander Dawson, and Huntley being gone. The last thing they need is another switch. Besides, people don’t respect me as much as they respect you.”
“That’s bullshit, Elora.”
“Look, I don’t take it personally, alright? You’re from the royal family. I’m…I don’t even know.”
His eyes dropped like it was too hard to look at me.
“I need to do this.”
“He could not only kill you, but claim your soul and take your key to the Undying Kingdom.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“He said himself that when he gets hungry, he can’t control it.”
“Well, he’s not hungry right now. And he still wouldn’t let that happen.”
“Why do you trust him so much?” He stepped toward me. “Because he’s good-looking?”
“You think he’s good-looking?”
His stare hardened. “I’m not in the mood for this, Elora.”
“If you swing both ways, that’s totally fine—”
“Knock it off.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and sighed. “I never said I trusted him—”
“You’re willing to travel with him alone into Necrosis territory. If that doesn’t mean you trust him, then I don’t know what does. He’s stronger than you, faster than you—”
“I deserve more credit than that.”
“I never said you were weak, and the fact that you refuse to acknowledge him as a serious opponent only makes me more concerned.”
“Ian, if I don’t do this, I put all of HeartHolme in jeopardy.”
“I care a lot more about you than HeartHolme, Elora.”
My arms tightened over my chest. “You don’t mean that…”
“Damn right, I do. Kingdoms rise and fall. Family is forever.”
I gave a subtle shake of my head. “You’re king, Ian. That means you put HeartHolme first, above all else, exactly as I’m doing.”
My brother looked away and headed toward the window. His heavy cape hung over his massive shoulders and down his back, reaching the floor behind him.
“You know I’m right.”
He ignored me.
“I didn’t come here to ask your permission. I came here to tell you that’s what’s happening.”
“You’ve always been stubborn and stupid.”
“I prefer selfless and heroic, but whatever.”
He slowly turned back to me. “I really don’t like this, Elora.”
“I’ll be fine, Ian. I have my Ice sword.”
“If Huntley were here, he would never allow this.”
“Then good thing he’s not here because he’s dramatic as hell.”
Victor appeared out of nowhere, intercepting me on my route back home.
I gave a dramatic roll of my eyes when he came to my side. “What do you want?”
“To finish our conversation.” He grabbed me by the arm and halted me.
I flipped my arm over his and evaded his hold, then I gave him a shove in the chest for good measure. “Don’t fuck with me, Victor.”
He raised his hand in a gesture of surrender. “Just want to talk to you.”
“About?”
“Come on, Elora. Everything was fine between us until this pretty boy showed up.”
“You know, you aren’t the first guy to say Bastian is hot.”
His eyes narrowed.
“We agreed this was casual, alright? I’m sorry if I hurt you because that wasn’t my intention, but I’m not sorry for walking away because there was never a commitment between us. It’s over—so take it like a man.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Then let’s discuss a commitment.”
“Victor, I’m just not in that place.”
“Give it time, and you will be.”
“Look, we barely survived the Necrosis attack, and we just plunged into a war that will probably kill us all. There’s no time for this.”
“Really? Because it’s made me realize what’s important.”
My heart deflated. “You deserve to be with someone who feels the same way, Victor. Look at you.” I gestured to his body, from head to toe. “You’re hot. You’ve got nice eyes. You come from a good family. Are a great provider. You could have anyone you want. Don’t waste your time on me.”
His eyes dropped down for a moment. “I feel like everything changed when that guy walked in here.” He looked at me again, the accusation in his eyes. “If that’s true, I’d like a chance to earn you.”
“Victor…” I shook my head. “Even if that were true, why would you want to be with me? Why would you want to be with a woman who wants someone else?”
“So, it is true.”
“That’s not what I said—”
“You got a thing for him or not?”
“Why does everyone keep assuming that—”
“Just answer the question.”
“I’m not going to lie and act like he’s not hot, because he is. But that’s it.”
His eyes gauged me, shifting back and forth as he stared.
“Victor, it’s been a long day, and I’m pretty tired.” A part of me felt cold for ending things so callously, but if I gave him any leeway, I was afraid it would just make it harder. There was never a time in this relationship when I thought about him when we weren’t together. When Necrosis attacked, I’d hoped he was okay, but I was far more worried about my own family than I ever was about him.