Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
But it was all a lie.
He used my vulnerability like a cloth and expected it to wipe away all the mess he’s created. He knew during every single second of our journey that the stones weren’t there. All the opportunities he had to tell me, and he didn’t bother sparing me the heartache once.
Yes, maybe I’m the fool for believing that the stones could still be around after so long, but I would rather he crush my hope with the truth than lie and use me every step of the way.
Analla is going to die, and I just risked my life over and over again, all to wind up back where I started. It’s an awful feeling, sitting with this.
He may as well have taken a dagger and stabbed me in the chest. Perhaps that would’ve been less painful.
With a grunt, Thane gets up and brushes the sand off of his clothes. I step closer to him with a trembling bottom lip, looking deep into his eyes. I want him to take it all back. To apologize. To say he regrets it. I want him to say everything he feels all so I can tell him that I will never, ever forgive him for this. I want him to understand my hurt so he can hurt, too.
“I’m really sorry, Zaira,” he whispers. His eyes are wet. His voice defeated.
Hearing those words come out of his mouth reminds me of the same ones he uttered in Gadonia.
Mea trelanak.
So that’s what he meant.
Sorry for lying to you.
Sorry for wasting your time.
Sorry for breaking your heart before you even realized it.
I shove the tome into his chest so hard he grunts again. That doesn’t stop him from wrapping his arms around it. He cradles it, as if this book is more important than anything else in his life.
Perhaps it is.
We all board our rowboat after pushing it into the water. Algar offers to help row, but his overuse of magic has left him weak. Thane is also drained after bringing Algar back to life and fighting off the assassins.
Rynthea gives me a little wink as she hands me the second oar. “We can handle it from here.”
I force a smile her way, dropping the flat blade into the water.
Chapter 58
We arrive at the Emellie just before sunset, and Algar gives his horn a blow to alert the crew.
Captain Solyen and the crew are shocked to see that we’ve made it out alive, and when we board, they bombard us with questions.
After we settle their curiosity by answering a few of their questions, the ship sets sail.
The ship ride is…quiet, to say the least. Despite Algar and Rynthea having treasure and bright futures ahead, their spirits are far from joyous.
As night falls, it’s time to tuck away in the cabins. I stare at the bedding on the floor where Thane slept only last night. He opted to stay on the deck for the night. He probably won’t even sleep.
I roll over, waiting for Rynthea and Algar to fall asleep before crying quietly into my pillow.
…
Once we make it to the docks of Gadonia, Rynthea, Algar, and I decide to return to Irina’s inn, but not without Thane calling for me to wait.
I ignore him, pressing on, but he catches up with me.
“Zaira, will you please let me explain myself?” he asks, stepping in front of me and cutting me off mid-stride. “I studied the tome all night, and—”
“Did you find a spell to break Analla’s curse?” I demand, finally looking at him.
“Not yet, but if I can combine two of the spells, I might be able to—”
“Might?” I repeat, cutting him off. “Might isn’t good enough, Thane. I need you to be certain.”
“I know this can work. I just need time to go over the spells and to find the right materials.”
Rynthea steps between us to get in Thane’s face. “She doesn’t want your help. Take your book of spells and fuck off.”
Thane’s jaw locks as they glower at each other. Rynthea doesn’t dare back down. After a few seconds, he turns his gaze to me, then shakes his head and walks away.
Rynthea proceeds to Irina’s inn once Thane is a good distance away. I follow her lead, but I can’t help looking over my shoulder to see him walking with his head down. It hurts my heart to see him this way, but I don’t have it in me to forgive him right now.
…
After we’ve freshened up at the inn, we decide to head to a tavern in the heart of the city where the music is lively and the Gadonians are cheerful.
“What are you going to do now?” Algar asks as he sits on the stool next to me.
It’s strange to see how people can just live normal, exciting lives after everything I’ve gone through. Truthfully, I don’t think I’m ever going to be the same. The excited, bright-eyed Zaira has been washed away, now replaced by a sad, empty version with a broken heart.