Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
“I travel with my version of Trusted, Mars,” True replied.
This was all that needed to be said for Mars had no reply.
Thus, True reminded them all, “Birds. Frequently. If we do not hear from one or the other for two full days, the others ride to their last known location.”
Cassius and Mars agreed to what they’d already agreed with dips of their chin.
But after Mars righted his, his expression softened when his eyes caught on something beyond them and his tone was distracted when he said, “Safe journeys to you both. We shall meet again in the Thicket.”
He then cut between the two men as if they were branches to brush through.
Cassius and True turned to watch him stride to Silence, who was hurrying toward him, her cloak billowing behind her in the wind, her hands juggling her active pet monkey.
The King of Firenze arrived at his queen, took the monkey, set it on his shoulder, then swept his bride in one arm, bending her over it with great flair, even if he did it only to touch his lips to hers, lift away and smile in her face.
A blush stole into her cheeks, but she smiled back.
Well, it appeared whatever was keeping king and queen apart, Mars had made great inroads in sweeping away.
“And a stunning blow has been dealt to Johan,” True murmured.
At his words, Cassius found the party that would ride to the Arbor and saw Silence’s father scowling at his daughter with her husband.
“I do not think that is why he makes that show,” Cassius murmured in return. “That is but Mars, the Firenz are flamboyant. And he’s falling in love with her.”
“I do not think that either,” True replied. “I still like to see Johan back on a foot when he’s been peacocking around with glee even when it’s clear his daughter carries heavy burdens.”
“On that, we agree.”
As Mars strode off with his wife in the curve of his arm and a monkey on his shoulder, True went alert at Cassius’s side.
“And there is my future bride…and yours,” True said, and Cass’s attention turned to Farah and Elena walking their way, arm in arm. “Thus, I shall be away. Safe journey, Cassius.”
“And the same for you, True.”
Cassius watched as True walked to Farah, who disengaged from Elena to meet him.
An Elena who did naught but glance at True with a small smile while continuing on her way to Cass.
He ignored that and noted True had utterly no flamboyance whatsoever, but no one witnessing the look on his face as he gazed upon Farah would miss there was no other person on Triton he would rather have close than her.
So Elena had realized it had never been True.
And for True, it might have been Elena, but he now realized he’d found the woman who was his destiny.
Thus, that band around Cassius’s chest tightened.
He turned his gaze with effort to his future bride.
Tunic. Moccasins. Casings bound with crisscross straps up her thighs. Her heavy purple cloak billowing behind her in the stiff wind. Her glorious honey hair wisping across her face and catching on her full, rosy lips.
He could fuck her where he stood.
Hell, he wanted to fuck her where he stood.
“Are you ready?” she asked, stopping in front of him.
“Yes,” he answered.
Her head tipped to the side and her gaze grew acute.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Yes,” he lied.
Her head righted, and she declared, “I’m going to make you commune with pixies tonight.”
And again, she was on about the pixies.
And…
Fuck.
Fuck.
Now he understood this feeling that plagued him.
He could fall in love with her.
“Cassius?” she called.
“Let us go,” he muttered, moving to round her.
But he stopped when her hand fell on the center of his chest.
The touch was light, but it burned through him like a brand.
She could stop him from a charge with a touch of her hand.
She could control his mood with the tone of her voice.
She was warrior and he could not strip her of that. It was not what she was, it was who she was born to be.
It was also magnificent.
But there was a very real chance he could lose her.
In the battle with the Beast.
In the battle for Airen.
In the giving to him of children.
Fuck, she could walk down the steps of the Citadel on her way to dinner, fall and break her neck.
Danger swirled around her and would for the rest of her days.
Her hair whipped his neck and he realized she’d come closer.
He tipped his eyes down to her.
And yes, bloody hell, she was closer.
He could take her mouth simply bending his neck.
“You’re not all right,” she whispered. “What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing. We must be away.”
He made to move again, but this time, she shifted so she bodily barred his path and he had to stop, or he’d come up against her.