Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
I was going to have to go into the belly of the beast. I would have to get into that apartment and find a way to follow the Days to their refuge.
It looked like I would have to go to a place I’d never thought to see. Heaven.
“I will seek Mia Day as soon as I can,” I vowed. “I think I know a couple of young men she needs to meet.” I frowned as I thought about the whole “priming” situation. “Does Heaven take a stand on the whole one man, one woman thing?”
The gnome laughed, a surprisingly booming sound that filled the sad place with joy. “Ah, no, lass, and thank the goddess for it. That’s a human thing. On the plane I spent my mortal life on, it was quite normal to form triads. My own brothers shared a wife.” His smile became bittersweet. “I only wanted one woman. The most beautiful woman in all the lands. I get to watch over her though, and she’s happy. So no, don’t think there’s some punishment for loving more than one person. I have to go. The Sword of Light is ready for her fight. She’s angry about being touched by Myrddin, enraged about what he planned to do with her. But don’t forget—you count, too, Hunter. She does nothing without your good hand to guide her.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I was ready to fight. “She’ll show me how to counter Liv’s spells?”
His lips kicked up. “All you have to do is follow her lead. You’ve got Myrddin’s power, and she’s been soaked in it. She’s figured out a thing or two and is ready to show off.” He turned Evan’s way and went somber. “Don’t forget what I said, Princess. Your light cannot be dimmed by anyone but you. Remember. This was the only way. When the consequences come, you can find joy in them or allow them to turn you bitter.”
“Consequences?” Evan asked.
“Aye.” He hefted his axe, leaning it on his shoulder. “There are always consequences. Some seem hard, but when they’re accepted we can find beauty in them. Are you ready?”
I steeled myself. “Yes.”
“No,” Evan said at the same time.
I turned to her, raising my brows.
She shrugged. “Well, you’re not the one bisected by a sentient sword and about to face some kind of weird consequences.”
There was truth to that. “It’s going to be okay.”
“That it will, Hunter. Remember that when you want to kill the queen,” he said with a grin and turned.
Wow. I wanted to ask about that but I got the feeling I would only get one more question, and I had to know. “Hey, what can I call you? Did you take Jude’s name?”
He turned and the lamp behind him made the sweetest halo around his helmet. “Bah, as though I would take that name. No. I like the one me mum gave me all those years ago. You can call me Duffy. And I’ll be around, Hunter.”
He lifted the axe and brought it back down, tapping the floor, and then we were back in the real world once more.
Chapter Twenty-One
The world came back and I knew what I had to do. The thought of the pain I was about to cause made me sick, but she’d been right. Now that I was here and Gladys was pulsing insistently against my palm, I knew Evan had been right. This was the only way. I pulled the sword from Evan’s chest, her eyes going wide. She stepped back and then her body started to fall to the floor.
The world seemed to have gone oddly quiet. All the witches had turned, watching the daughter of the royal house sacrifice her life rather than allow herself to be taken.
“Stupid girl,” Liv hissed.
Evangeline Donovan-Quinn wasn’t stupid. She knew what they were capable of. She’d lived her whole life in utter terror of being caught by them. Used by them. She’d known what these women would do. They would kill her, but not before they’d used her to torture her parents. They had no souls.
“Evan?” Fen was suddenly in his human form, his eyes on the love of his life as she lay bleeding on the floor.
He started running toward her, completely heedless of the fact that he was surrounded by witches.
They did not forget him.
I watched as one of the witches held out her hands and started to send a spell toward Fenrir.
It was odd, but I didn’t feel a sense of panic, not even a fear that my son could be hurt. That emotion seemed a distant thing now. I knew I could save him, but the revelation was an academic thing. It was there in the cool sensation that came off Gladys and fed through my skin and into my veins.