Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
A gold chain hung around his neck, an oval locket resting on his breast. Eight gold earrings pierced each lobe of very large, pointed ears that stuck far out from his head. Eyes so pale they almost looked white surveyed her. He continued to slow in his walk until he stopped altogether, noticing her shoes and then her clothes, her hair and then her face, studying her like she was a fascinating book. Or scroll, in his case.
The fae escorting her passed him without so much as a glance. Nor did they put their heads down in respect. He could’ve been a ghost despite his obvious wealth. His gaze stuck to her, though. Her eyes. He’d finished looking her over and was imploring her to glance in his direction.
She had no idea if he was a mindgazer, or if the magic supposedly employed to protect her thoughts was working. Just in case, she started mentally singing her favorite song, imagining the musical instruments and focusing on the lyrics. She finally met his eyes, ready to drop her gaze if he took offense. Almost immediately, she felt a strange tickle in her mind, like a feather stroking the surface. Yeah, definitely a mindgazer.
She thought of her favorite bird as he watched her, his gaze delving into hers. His pale peepers, a very pretty color when up close, with dark blue speckles and a hazel ring around the pupils, glimmered with knowledge. With a question.
She had no answers. Not for him, or any of them. But goodness, weren’t the feathers of a flamingo so lovely and pink? They got that coloring from their food. And the ostriches, with their plume of— Actually, llamas were cool, weren’t they? Some could be very surly, though—
Her mental babble was cut short when the fae who held her arm jerked in surprise. She whipped her head around to see Tarian stopped at the mouth of the hallway, his body pointed to the right but his head turned her way. It looked as though he’d been passing by when he glanced this way, then stopped.
The image of him took her breath away.
His clothing was made of material as fine as the male with the scrolls, but the cut was so much more interesting. A high collar on his tunic jutted close to his jaw and cinched in at the base of his neck. Silver designs entwined within, sparkling and shining in the hallway lighting. Another collar nearer his shoulder looked like hardened leather, or rubber, even, sitting atop a flat piece that curved slightly at the edge of his shoulders. Another piece of the same material covered his upper arm, all of this swirled in golden braids, lines, and accents. It made his already broad shoulders seem that much bigger and looked like armor. Sleek, gorgeous armor.
The material hugged him down his front and around his waist, the design just as extraordinary and interesting. His sleeves were loose fabric that flowed under bracers fashioned after the shoulder plates. The same material covered his shins, the rest of his leg in something like leggings. The ensemble called for the velvet shoes Mr. Scrolls wore, but instead, Tarian sported leather boots polished to a high gloss.
His loose curls hung around his face, and it was the only part of him that wasn’t pristinely tailored. On anyone else, it wouldn’t have fit. It would’ve distracted from the overall look, but for him, it seemed purposeful, like a rebellion against authority. It made him that much hotter. Her heart sped up.
“Keep going,” the fae in front murmured furiously, a nervous waver in his voice.
The fae who held her stutter-stepped, jerking her to a stop one moment and lurching forward the next. His hand tightened in an unconscious reaction. Nerves, probably. Whoever had sent them to fetch her didn’t stop them from worrying what would happen when Tarian found out.
A strange excitement simmered in her middle, as though she were headed toward battle.
Tarian turned toward them slowly, purposefully, his eyes feral. Darkness saturated the space around him, boosting his dangerous energy. It was impossible to know which side he inhabited, good or evil. Angel or devil. He probably didn’t even know himself. Right now, it was both. Her savior, and her captors’ damnation.
His gaze fell over her, making her body tingle all over. He started forward. Toward her.
The fae that held her slowed dramatically, as though fighting to keep walking through a windstorm. The other wasn’t much better, both of his fists clenched at his sides as he trudged farther.
“What are you doing with that slave?” Tarian asked as he neared, his voice like dark satin, his approach terrifyingly beautiful.
The two fae stopped. The leader lifted his chin in defiance, but he couldn’t hide his full-body tremors.
“The king has requested the human female for his amusement,” the leader said, and cold washed down Daisy’s spine.