Total pages in book: 401
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Their source.
My head lifted, and through strands of hair, my eyes locked with crimson orbs as the Primal mist coiled around his legs.
He knelt before me, his fingers brushing the hair back from my face in a gentle sweep that ended sharply. He fisted the strands, jerking my head back and forcing my spine to arch.
The cold darkness took the remaining golden bars, erasing the cage. The bed collapsed, taking the chains with it.
He leaned in, his breath cool against my ear. “I didn’t need your permission.”
Cold realization slammed into me, and that revelation echoed back through time. Death never did. I should’ve known.
“And you, so’lis,”—his other hand flattened against my breastbone, sending a wave of revulsion through me—“you still haven’t learned that.”
Searing agony erupted from the center of my chest, igniting icy flames that engulfed my entire body. The pain was ungodly in its intensity, robbing me of the ability to even scream as the darkness rushed forward, reached for me.
For us.
CASTEEL
Walking out of the bathing chamber, I saw Kieran sitting at Poppy’s hip, one of his hands hanging limply between his knees while the other rested on her arm.
I dragged a smaller towel over my chest and headed to the wardrobe, watching him from the corner of my eye. His head was drooped forward, chin nearly touching his chest. Weariness clung to him like a second skin.
“You need to sleep,” I said, roughly running the towel through my wet hair as I glanced at the window. “There’s a couple of hours until dawn.”
“That’s my line.” He lifted his head and smothered a yawn. “I’m good.”
I grabbed a pair of breeches from the wardrobe and dropped them on a nearby chest. “You sure about that?”
“Yeah.”
“Bullshit.”
“Glass houses, man.” Kieran twisted at the waist, looking back at Poppy. “Every time I look at her, I think this will be it. The moment she opens her eyes.”
Rubbing the heel of my palm over my chest, right next to the bone-dagger scar, I glanced over my shoulder at him. Worry carved deep lines across his forehead and pooled like too-thick custard in my throat.
I tugged the towel from my waist and tossed it and the smaller one into the bathing chamber. Since I began to sense emotions, I’d learned that Kieran was particularly good at shielding his. Not that I hadn’t already known that. His composed and calm demeanor was a mask at times. Not often. Not as much as it once was for me, but it was rare to hear uncertainty in his words and not only feel his distress but also see it etched into his features.
He was going through the same turmoil I was. But I didn’t want my emotions to add to his already heavy load. It was difficult to push my concerns down when I was so worried, but Kieran had always been there for me. And right now, he needed me. So, I got myself together for Kieran’s sake.
“She’ll wake up. I know she will,” I said, grabbing the breeches.
“I know.” He turned his head to me. “It’s just that… Her skin, Cas. It’s so damn cold.”
I didn’t let myself think about that as I stepped into the breeches. Yanking them up, I turned to him. “She’ll need to feed. A lot.”
“Emil is on standby for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m curious why it has to be him when others are available.”
“Because it amuses me.”
“Asshole,” I muttered.
Kieran flashed a grin, but it faded quickly. His attention shifted back to Poppy. I walked to the other side of the bed and sat, brushing a wayward strand of hair off her cheek. I lifted my gaze to Kieran and could tell he was lost somewhere in his head.
“What if…?” Clearing his throat, he closed his eyes. “What if she doesn’t remember?”
Fuck. Hearing him ask the question on repeat in my mind was like taking a punch to the chest.
“If she doesn’t, then we’ll help her remember.” Leaning across Poppy, I clasped the back of his neck. “It’ll be hard on both of us. Harder on you, I think.”
He raised his head. “That’s not true. I know it would nearly kill you, Cas.”
“And that’s why it would be harder on you.” I squeezed his nape. “Because you won’t only be thinking about Poppy. You’ll be worried about me and how I’ll handle it.”
Kieran couldn’t deny that.
“Here’s the thing, Kieran. It would feel like I was dying, but I won’t lose my shit. Not when I need to be there for her.” I dropped my hand to his shoulder. “And we’ll both be there for her. Together. We’ll help her remember.”
He inhaled slowly and then nodded. “Yeah, we will.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “So, have you found quarters that will be a good fit for us to move to?” I asked, seeking to distract him.