Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Even though it was years ago, I still get a little jealous of the easy thing they shared. It’s a reminder of the fun tumble in my bed on Halloween. Just two people excited for each other, without any of the worries that now occupy my heart.
The pizza is actually good, and unlike most vegan cheeses, this one forms gooey strings, which I enjoy more than I thought I would. The ingredients are very well-seasoned, the base is crisp, and by the time our plates are empty, I feel nourished—both in body and soul.
Am I being silly?
Hopelessly romantic?
Maybe my grandfather was right when he joked that I read too many books.
There’s not a moment of uncomfortable silence, and while Tristan is charming, it doesn’t feel fake, as if he’s pandering to me, or treating me like a porcelain doll about to break.
It’s nice to feel… normal.
Once we finish and go back into the frozen garden, Tristan takes me to an area with a little ice rink where he shows me another of Lady’s tricks. He’s getting her to fetch on the ice, and it looks like she has by now developed a technique for it.
She lies down her front, and with her butt up, and propels herself over the ice with her back legs toward the ball.
I end up laughing so hard I slip, but Tristan is, of course, there to catch me.
He has more planned for us and we head for the stables. A few people peek our way, so I pull my hat farther down my face, but the area where the kelpie live is available only to royals, so we are once again not bothered by anyone.
I didn’t pay attention to it the first time, but it smells really nice in here, of fresh hay and herbs, and as Tristan leads me past the arched entryway, I admire the horse skulls arranged within a carved frieze running along the whole inner yard.
“How many kelpie are kept here?” I ask, stopping by a picture-perfect well that would surely make my wishes come true.
“There’s four—wait. Five, if you include the stablemaster. And I have heard something about another possibly arriving soon. I’ll let you know if it happens. They are very cute babies and can’t always hold their form well while growing up, so they sometimes end up with their fish tail on land. It’s hilarious.”
As soon as we reach Stone’s stall, he stomps his hoof as if in protest at what he’s hearing. My mind is spinning with all this new information about animals that work in such new, magical ways.
I stand closer to Tristan when I hear quick footsteps, but the man who approaches us holds out a letter for Tristan. He has a mop of blond hair, and he’s dressed in a worn leather outfit padded to keep him warm. What catches my attention are his red, but most definitely human ears. The night we arrived at the castle is a blur, but now I vaguely remember Tristan mentioning a human who works in the stables.
Tristan glances at the letter then groans. “Will you be fine here with Kurt and the kelpie for a few minutes? I will be back shortly.”
I take a deep breath, but when the guy who looks about my age and has an X-men tattoo peeking out from under his outfit offers me a friendly smile, I nod, because what better way is there to find out the truth about my position here than by chatting to another human, without anyone overseeing our conversation?
So I nod and face the young man, offering him my hand. “I’m Nate.”
Tristan walks off quickly, muttering something, and I can only hope he’s not dealing with a serious issue.
“Hey, I’m Kurt. It’s been a while since I got to meet a new human. And you’re one of the special ones, too, right?” He rolls his eyes when one of the other kelpie whinnies.
“‘Special’?” I ask with a frown and take him in with more attention. He seems… very relaxed, as if he hasn’t just interacted with a royal.
He puts on a pair of the octopus leather gloves and strokes the kelpie’s neck. “You know, the ones they can make a Dark Companion. The shadow wielders can’t do that with just anyone.”
“Oh…” My gaze swipes up and down his body, and now I start wondering how much about me he already found out from gossip. “So how did you get here?”
“It’s a funny story. I used to work at this burger joint with Luke, you know, the Lord’s Dark Companion, and he was visiting after I got fired. We ran into each other, and he offered to help me get a job here. It was supposed to just be for the summer, to tide me over, but it all grew on me, and since I was allowed to stay, I did. Sure beats flipping burgers. And you get to live forever? Win-win really.” My head is still spinning with all this information as I watch him give the kelpie some kind of snack out of his pocket.