Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
His chin jutted in that painfully familiar stubborn way. “Or?”
I let some of the essence swirling in me hit the air. The flames roared from the torches, casting his cell in bright, orange light. “Or you won’t be alive for him to return for you.”
Callum’s gaze shot between the torches and me, brows drawing tight. “Have you forgotten that threats of death are just that? Threats.”
I huffed out a low laugh as the flames settled to a slow roll. “We’ll see about that.” My head cocked. “Tell me, Callum, while you were running through the kingdom like a frightened babe, were you aware of what was happening here?”
His answer was silence.
“Do you know what he did? Do you know what I did to him?” I questioned. “I made him bleed.”
“Lies,” he said with a short laugh.
My lip curved up. “I heard I did more than that. Heard I put him in stasis.”
He sneered. “As if you could do such a thing.”
“Oh, I did.” I paused. “Do you know what he did to her?”
There was a flicker of something in his stare, perhaps unease.
“Your sister,” I bit out, the words tasting like ash.
That got a response from him. The chain dragged along the stone as he leaned forward. “Where is she?”
It was my turn to be silent.
His chest rose with a deep but short breath. “I figured she’d be with you.”
I gave him nothing.
“For some reason, she…loves you,” he spat. “Then again, I’ve never known her to make the wisest choices.”
“Like accepting Kolis’s advances?”
“You mean welcoming his love and devotion?” he challenged.
Acid pooled in my mouth. “Is that what you think he offered her?”
“I know that is what he offered.”
I eyed him. He didn’t just speak those words. He swore them without hesitation and with reverence. There was a good chance he believed them, which was all the more disturbing because, with what little I knew of Sotoria and Kolis, I couldn’t comprehend how he could believe what Kolis had felt—had done—was remotely acceptable.
But that was neither here nor there.
“You know Kolis better than anyone,” I stated.
Something akin to pride sparked in the fuck’s stare.
“So, even if you were busy getting your ass kicked by Millicent,” I continued, and the pride in his stare quickly vanished, “I’m sure you were aware of his whereabouts.”
He was back to playing the quiet game.
“I know you were trying to get to Pensdurth,” I said, remembering what Kieran had said. “Do you know that Pensdurth is no more?”
His fingers curled inward again.
“I know you were told.”
“What I was told is irrelevant,” he said through gritted teeth. “And I know what I felt. A Primal fell.”
“A Primal did, including your precious Kolis.”
He chuckled coldly as he looked away. “You’re more delusional than I realized.”
“And you’re more of an imbecile than I realized, so I guess we’re even.”
His glare returned to me.
I winked. “I suspect you know exactly where Kolis would go next.”
He raised his brows at me.
“And you may not have been willing to tell the others this,” I continued, “but you should be more forthcoming with me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because they wouldn’t and couldn’t kill you,” I stated. “But I can.”
He sighed. “Once again, we’re back to your paltry threats. They’re giving me secondhand embarrassment.”
I smiled at him.
Then I summoned the essence.
Shadows thickened and swelled around me, slipping over the bars. And then I was inside the cell.
Callum jerked back, slamming against the wall.
I could’ve just left it at that. The ability to shadowstep alone would’ve sufficed, but I wanted him to understand exactly who was giving him secondhand embarrassment.
I willed the essence forward. My flesh thinned until silver bone gleamed. The weight of the crown settled on my head as the skin between my shoulder blades tensed. I felt the slow, steady drag along both sides of my spine as those deep muscles contracted. The thin slits of skin tingled as they opened, much like an eyelid, allowing the wings to slip free and unfurl.
“What the—?” Callum pressed against the wall, eyes going wide as he drew his legs up.
My smile remained as I stepped forward, lifting the wings until the shadow of them fell across his face. “What were you saying about secondhand embarrassment?”
His stark gaze traveled to the silver feathers, his mouth opening wordlessly.
“I don’t recall,” I added. “But I can tell you that the way you’re looking at me now is giving me that same feeling.”
Callum’s head snapped back, and then he clamored to his feet, rattling the chains. “What the fuck are you?”
I took another step toward him. “Something that can make Kolis do more than just bleed. Something that can kill you.”
His throat bobbed.
“So, again, I suggest you be more forthcoming with me,” I advised, tone almost gentle as the flames flickered. “Where can I find Kolis?”
He stared, going still.