Total pages in book: 197
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“Feed her.” He pulled back so suddenly, I stumbled. “And make sure she eats.”
Of course he knew.
“Bring mine to the tower.”
“Oh, are you certain, my lord?” Aeris asked. “I thought you’d like to enjoy a meal with your new—”
He swept out the door, slamming it in both our faces.
Aeris smiled at my pinched, wane face. “No matter. Lunch is ready on the terrace, Lady Ana, and you’ll find it a treat. We made all your favorites.”
“How do you know my favorites?” I muttered distractedly. I rubbed my thigh, and the rune hiding beneath the cloth.
“Our spies.”
How casually she spoke of the people who’d be executed the minute King Salman learned of their existence.
“Ooh, how pretty.” Aeris drifted off my face, making me turn my head. “Did our lord give that to you? I worried you both weren’t getting along. Happy I was wrong.”
I didn’t know what she was talking about, until I remembered the starflower. I snatched it, threw it on the floor, and ground it to paste.
“Or not,” she mumbled. “This way, my—”
“What’s the range on these runes?” I burst out. “How far from him can I be before it punishes me?”
“What? Oh, Meya, no.” Taking my hand, she led me out much more gently than Shadowsoul. “It’s not like that. You can’t read runes, but I can. Yours are very clear in that you need to participate in the ruling of the kingdom. Lunch is hardly such.
“You’re free to wander as far from our lord as you wish when—”
I broke free, racing to the doors that let the villagers in. Throwing myself against them, they pushed right back—zinging pain up my shoulder.
Locked.
“My lady? Queen Ana!”
I tore off back the way I came. Aeris made a grab for me, and I whipped off my shawl and tossed it over her head.
“Awk!” she squawked, flailing under the fabric.
Sorry, Aeris. You’re nice, but I did learn from my previous escape attempts. If I can’t climb higher or run faster, I have to be smarter.
I ran into the throne room and out through the other door, taking the steps two at a time. I came out into a gilded hallway. Two bird faeriken with bright blue plumage came down the hall in uniforms and swords on their hips.
Oh, no.
They lit on me.
“Good morning, Lady Ana,” one said. “What are—?”
“Ahh!” I blared. Wildly waving my hands and head, I charged them—screeching my lungs out.
“What the fuck!?”
They sprung apart and out of the way, one of them colliding with the wall.
I hoofed it past them, gaining speed. It wasn’t pretty, but one thing I learned after years of dodging torment was that people ran in the other direction of crazy.
Rounding a corner, I found myself in the grand hall, and oh, Meya, was it.
A grand staircase led to halls and rooms unknown. Torches burned in golden holders, chasing away chill and darkness. Over a dozen stands lined the walls, each weighted down with an expensive bust, painted vase, breathtaking jewelry, and riches I’d only dreamt of.
Directly beside me, smirking down at me even then, was a large, silver statue of Alisdair.
I looked at him, then kept looking—fixed on something just above his shoulder.
A window.
If I could climb up him and get to that window, I’d make it outside, then on to the village. I knew exactly what I needed, and who. I just had to get to them and set my plan into motion before I had six feet worth of fangs and evil chasing me down.
“Okay, okay,” I breathed, rolling my neck.
This was a soft, dewy body that didn’t do much—any—climbing. I was already wheezing harder than I should’ve been after my sprint through the halls. This wouldn’t be as easy as if I was my true self.
If I was my true self, I’d be home with Mama and my faywens. Home, I thought as the pain of missing them settled into my bones. I’m going home.
Backing up, I sent a prayer to Meya, then jumped.
The ever-present sword on his hip was a fixture of his statue too. I grabbed hold of the sheath, vaulted up, slipped, and—
“Ugh.” I crashed flat on my back. “Don’t give up,” I rasped. “You can’t give up.”
I repeated that over and over, eventually getting back on my feet. I jumped and grabbed the scabbard again.
Left, right, left, right. I monkey-climbed up the weapon to his elbow. Reaching for it, my fingers closed on—
“Ahh!” Down I went, landing hard on my ankle. Pain lanced through my leg, ripping a hiss through my teeth.
I forced it down and tried again.
Each try taught me the limits of my new, unwanted body. Scampering up the formed folds in his robe, I slapped my arms around Shadowsoul’s neck, heaving myself up.
My legs took my arms’ place. Hanging on tight, that smart, smirking mouth pressed against my rib cage while I considered my new problem.