Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
She began ambling up the lane, and I jogged out of my hiding spot to catch up to her again, glancing back to make sure no one had come outside to check out the disturbance. I mean, I was with the queen, so it wasn’t like I could get into trouble, but still.
She lifted her hands and twirled, and the emberflies scattered away from her reaching fingers. She dropped her arms again and watched them for a moment, and it occurred to me that she was stalling going back. Her duty was over for the night. She clearly wasn’t in a hurry to rush back to it. She probably didn’t get much time for herself where she could truly let go.
“I can’t get enough of the light bugs,” she said, her voice hushed.
I walked over to a shop, lowering myself onto the little two-seater bench out front. “Emberflies.”
“Right, emberflies. I’ve never known the name. I’ve seen a few here and there within the wood, but this . . . They are so beautiful. It’s like walking within a tranquil sea, slowly floating and swaying and drifting. Do they follow you everywhere?”
“They don’t follow me. They just kinda . . . congregate.”
“Around you.” She wandered over to me slowly.
“No, around peaceful places.”
“There is nothing peaceful about dragons. We had almost none of them before you came. Now we get to exist in a fairytale.”
I scoffed. “A dark fairytale, maybe.”
She laughed and took a seat next to me. “Is there any other kind? Mine was dark as fuck. Worth it, though.” She was quiet for a moment, watching the glowing lights. “Listen. I’m going to be brutally honest with you. Magically speaking, you don’t only need training as a wolf. You also need training in that other type of magic you have—the emoting thing. It’s fairy magic, and we simply can’t help you with that. As much as it pains me to admit it, you are going to need them. We can train your wolf, but they need to train the fairy part of you.” She held out a finger. “Neither camp owns you. Okay? Weston is your true mate, and I know you love him, but he—and this pack—aren’t entitled to you. They don’t dictate your life. The fairies don’t either. If help comes with strings attached, that’s not help, that’s a contract. Don’t enter into anything you can’t easily walk away from unless it is your choice. Remember what I said? Don’t allow anyone to push you around.”
I nodded as the emberflies shifted and moved. Loud talking approached from around the corner.
“If you get stuck,” she went on, “Hannon can get you free, even just for some space in which to think. He has a soft spot for you, and you two are very alike. If you need to get out, ask him. He can leave at a moment’s notice, and he will, to help someone in distress. He’ll get you out.”
“I don’t think—”
“That’s not to say I don’t think Weston will do right by you. I know for a fact he will. You’ve made him question the rightness of the orders he follows. Given his past, that is a very good thing. It’s annoying Nyfain right now, but he’ll come to appreciate it in the long run. It’s just one more guarantee that this kingdom will do right by the people it governs. And I’m sure Weston is making plans of his own.”
“Plans for what? Why are you telling me all of this?”
“I am not telling you any of this. We are talking about plants and improvements and things we need to look into. This whole outing has been to get information from the people. I’ve said absolutely nothing about anything outside of that. I haven’t even sworn. I’ve been distant and aloof and royal, as I am expected to be until things are decided.”
“What things are decided?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss. Neither is Weston, so don’t ask. Just remember this: you are in charge of your destiny. You make the decisions. The days of people pushing you around are over.”
She patted my shoulder and moved to get up, but paused.
“One last thing,” she said. “Weston is a damn fine alpha, but he’s an even better human. You got lucky with him. Whatever you need, whatever you want to do, he’ll stand by your side. I hate telling you that, but sometimes doing the right thing is sticking to your roots. My roots, not yours. Yours are fucking depressing.”
I huffed out a laugh. “That sounded like something Hadriel would say—compassion steeped in crass humor.”
She nodded, then paused, looking at the emberflies.
“Maybe just sit here for a moment,” I murmured, taking a deep breath to lead the way.
She laughed softly. “You’re going to be a damn fine alpha someday, too.” She leaned back, her muscles loosening. “You’re doing the emoting thing to force me to relax.”