Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Behind him was Hadrian, who was also very careful when he hugged me. “I am so very pleased to see you with your eyes open,” he murmured, and because it was Hadrian, and he was always genuine, I felt how much that meant. “We all kept vigil.”
I was thinking that there had been a lot of people standing around keeping watch over me at some point. Isabella told me they all took turns, only Varic being the constant.
“You must have been terrified for Tiago as well,” I said to Hadrian.
His brows furrowed. “Once the bolt was removed, and the poison left his system, Tiago was well. He is powerful and recovered quickly.”
Glancing over his shoulder, I saw Tiago make a quick cutting motion with his hand that told me to shut the hell up. Apparently, I was not allowed to bring up sore subjects.
“Of course he did,” I told Hadrian. “There was never any worry.”
Quick nod from him before he said, “Varic would have never left your side, but once we were assured that you would live, only needing to be rested enough to wake, then was he forced to see to pressing matters.”
I got the feeling he thought I doubted Varic’s devotion or worry. “I know he would have been here if he could,” I assured him.
Zev pushed Hadrian aside then, kneeling beside the bed, his face scrunched up, looking like he was going to cry. I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder. I checked the left one, and his arm looked the same to me.
“Tell me,” I prodded him.
He stood up and I saw the glove on his left hand. When he took it off, there was a robotic hand that turned back and forth, made a fist, and then opened.
“You’re bionic,” I said, smiling.
“I am learning to be. The technology is more than I imagined and the prince has spared no expense on my behalf.”
“Of course not. You’re family.”
“He did it because I saved you and the queen.”
“It’s not just because of that and you damn well know it.”
“I wish I could have remained at both your sides.”
“You were amazing.”
He glanced away and I took hold of his right hand, brushing over Gideon’s ring in the process, the one he was never without. It took a moment, but he looked back at me with swimming eyes. “I wish that for me to be standing here did not take Sibel’s life in exchange.”
“I know,” I choked out.
“She looked at me, before…” His voice went out.
“I knew her well, so did you. She would have given anything to save you.”
“And did,” he husked.
It took me a moment to swallow down the lump in my throat. “Both she and Eris fought bravely. They protected me and the queen and kept their vow.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “And I placed both of their wakizashis in a glass case that now sits against the wall where Varic’s wing begins in the palace.”
Which meant that every time someone passed from the main part of the palace into the prince’s wing, that they would pass the two short swords of my fallen guards. I found that to be a fitting tribute.
“I asked Varic if, when he was crowned, he would be moving quarters and he said no. He wants to stay in the part of the palace he considers home.”
“So everything’s as it should be,” I whispered.
“It is,” he replied, and I was rewarded with his usual smirk. “But why on earth did you have me made cadeyrn?”
“Best thing for you.” I chuckled.
“I was kidding that day, and you took me at my word. Why in the world would you think I wanted a position like that, where I will be worked to death instead of lying around on the couch in the loft and accompanying you to the farmers market?”
“Oh my God, that is not all we did,” I said, laughing. He was such an ass.
“No? Are you certain?”
I gestured him closer to me, and he leaned down. “Has it been hard for you, being here?”
“I have been able to see things as they are and not as I remembered. That has brought me both clarity and closure.”
“I’m glad,” I said with a sigh, making my voice louder. “And you’ll make a wonderful cadeyrn for Varic, now that His Majesty is stepping down, and you get to work with Tiago, so bonus for you.”
He groaned.
Tiago was quick with his retort. “I heard sarcasm from you, my consort, which I did not appreciate, and reticence from you, oh mighty cadeyrn, which you will come to regret.”
“You will,” Hadrian seconded, “regret being flippant.”
“I regret it now,” Zev grumbled, but then moved to hug me. “Thank you for first accepting me as your hendr, and then suggesting I be cadeyrn. Thank you for making me part of your house, forever, and for thinking of me as your friend, which I am now and will always be.”