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)
He hadn’t said a single word all morning.
I didn’t regret what I’d said, but I feared I’d come on too strong. It was one of my faults. I spoke my mind right in the moment, oblivious to any ramifications from my spontaneity. But that was who I was. You had never had to wonder what I was thinking because I would give it to you straight. “I’m not sorry about what I said, but I’m sorry if I made you feel weird.”
His eyes lifted from his coffee and locked on mine. “I don’t feel weird.”
“You’re quiet.”
“I’m always quiet.” He held my gaze, the confidence in his stare.
I chose to accept his words as fact. “Well, I’m glad it didn’t bother you.”
“Why would it bother me?”
“You were the one trying to ditch me, remember?”
One side of his mouth quirked up in a smile. “Not because I wanted to.”
“Still…”
“I tried to be a gentleman, but I quickly realized that’s not what you’re looking for.”
“You’re catching on.” I took a drink of my coffee.
Now the other side of his mouth quirked up. “I want you the way you want me. You can tell me that a million times, and I’ll treasure every single time you say it. I’ve felt this way since the moment I saw you, and I think you felt the same way.”
I did.
“But before this goes any further, there’s something we should talk about.”
“I thought you were quiet?” I teased.
His eyes remained intense like the quip had never happened. “I can’t have children.” He just came right out and said it, straight to the point. “It’s impossible for Necrosis to sire children, as I mentioned before. If having a family is important to you, then I’m not the right guy for you.”
“You won’t always be Necrosis.”
His stare hardened. “There’s a very real chance that we’ll defeat Necrosis and the Three Kings without breaking the spell. Even if your family allows my existence, I’ll be unable to put a child in your belly. That’s a reality you’ll need to consider.”
“I’m not going to let that happen, Bastian.”
“I don’t question your determination, Elora. But the Three Kings are different from me and the other Necrosis. One Necrosis is the equivalent of five men. A king is the equivalent of twenty.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I said. “I know we will.”
“When this is all over, we can revisit this conversation. You can make your decision then.”
“Even if you remain Necrosis, it’s not going to change the way I feel. If we can’t have children, we’ll still have each other. We’ll still have nieces and nephews from my brothers. It’ll be alright.”
He stared for a long time, his expression so hard it was impossible to know his thoughts. “As much as I want you, you shouldn’t have to settle.”
“Being with you is not settling.”
His eyes dropped.
“I don’t want to waste my time talking about a future that may not even happen. We stay together, no matter the outcome of this war. But I believe we’ll accomplish everything we hope to. The Runes are the mightiest people on this continent. We have two dragons. And we have Ice—something they don’t know about. The odds are in our favor.”
I walked with Bastian down to the gate, and somehow, Ian was aware of his impending departure. Queen Rolfe had been reinstated as the ruler of HeartHolme, so Ian had returned to his former post. The gates remained closed, and I knew that was his doing.
Bastian was dressed in his travel gear, his horse at his side. He gave me a heavy look, like this separation would be as challenging for him as it would be for me. He didn’t extend any affection, as if he knew my brother was watching us like a hawk.
Ian approached us, his stare cold and hard. “What’s happening?”
Bastian faced him head on. “I’m traveling to Necrosis to grab the twelve allies we discussed before. While I’m there, I’ll also collect as much information about their plans as possible. After I leave, they’ll quickly realize that my allegiance has changed, and you can expect a much swifter attack.”
“Then you should stay.” Ian was back in his old uniform, but he still had the presence of a king. The garment fit his muscular arms well, and the fancy hilt of his blade showed his royal status.
“I have to evacuate my people,” Bastian said. “And I figure I can still get information you’ll need.”
“What if they already know of your betrayal and kill you?”
My heart did a somersault.
“Then you don’t have to see my face ever again.” Bastian said it simply, as if he didn’t care if that was his fate. “Elora and I checked on the Ice this morning. The roots have dug into the ground, and the wilted leaves have stiffened. Within a couple weeks, there will be a harvest.”