Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
“I didn’t mean to,” Theodor admitted. “You know I would never bring intentional harm to my people.”
“I told you that spell was for dire circumstances only. You shook the ground for hundreds of miles, Theo,” Mozraath scolded. “I’ve warned you before that your wind combined with hell’s fire is a force too lethal to control, even for you. Too lethal for this world. I gave you that spell for life-or-death situations.”
“It was,” Theodor insisted. “Boraleashe would’ve killed Biorn if—”
Mozraath scoffed. “Who the fuck cares about him. His floral arrangement was worth a death.”
Theodor shrugged. Well, that was true.
“I meant that spell for your life, Theo. Hades’ fire can corrupt the soul. Please don’t go around using it to save randoms.”
That got a chuckle from him, despite his horrible mood. His friend’s demon side lacked all morals, and it never failed to amuse him.
Theodor’s father’s frantic voice could be heard just outside his door.
Fuckin’ great.
He wanted to escape the same way Boraleashe had. Anything to avoid having to explain what had happened between him and Boraleashe again. He didn’t need to see his father’s displeasure in him right now. Theodor could only deal with one crushing disappointment at a time.
“I’ll handle it.” Mozraath hurried toward the door before his father and husband could burst inside.
Mozraath cleared the guards from the room, then did a quick spell to reverse the damage. He extinguished the lanterns, sheathing Theodor’s room in darkness. Once he was satisfied everything was to his liking, he gestured to the four-poster bed.
“Get some rest, my king. I fear you will have another trying day on the morrow.”
I’m sure.
Good luck with him getting any rest tonight. Not after all of that. His body was still pulsing with energy after that display of force, his mind still plagued by the look of anguish in Boraleashe’s eyes. Theodor turned on his side, gazed out the open doors toward the heavens, and prayed to the gods. Because no peace would come for him tonight, not when the object of his desire was somewhere lost in his kingdom, hurting… dying.
Theodor jolted awake. He didn’t know what time it was when he’d fallen asleep, but he remembered the sun was beginning to rise. Instead of lying there, he should’ve gotten up, and he could’ve avoided the heavy, drowsy feeling he had now. Theodor scrubbed his dry eyes, then threw his legs over the side of the bed. His robe and slippers were near the footboard like always, but he was surprised to see Mozraath standing a few feet away.
Theodor groaned, standing and reaching his arms high over his head, releasing a long, lazy stretch before Mozraath’s silence put him on high alert. He dropped his hands to his side, narrowing his eyes at his friend. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Mozraath didn’t speak, which only served to make him more impatient.
“Does my father wish to speak to me?” Theodor asked, but he already had a sinking suspicion of what Mozraath had been waiting to tell him.
“I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but Lord Boraleashe—”
Theodor was already shaking his head because he didn’t want to hear this, but Mozraath kept talking at his back as Theodor ran toward his washroom to get dressed.
“Boraleashe and his court left before dawn.”
Theodor clenched the sides of the washbasin so hard it cracked in two. He grabbed the glass pitcher beside it and hurled it against the wall, gratified when it shattered into hundreds of pieces with a loud crash.
“That fuckin’ coward!” Theodor bellowed, not caring who heard him. Maybe everyone needed to hear just that. That behind all the beauty and fancy white furs, Boraleashe was nothing but a scared piece of a man who was too spineless to go seize what he wanted. To fight for his life.
Unworthy of the titan title!
Theodor had too many feelings orbiting his chest, but the most prominent was anguish. He rounded on his friend, towering over him. “Why didn’t you come get me, Moz?”
Like always, Mozraath was unfazed by the intimidation when he answered, “And what would you have done if I had? Raced out into the courtyard in your undergarments and begged him to stay?”
Yes! “No! Of course not.”
“Boraleashe must choose you, you already know this. The curse won’t break if you’re still chasing and he’s still running from love.” Mozraath’s glare softened. “I’m sorry, Theo. But I thought it’d be easier not to have to watch him leave.”
Theodor nodded, his throat too tight to speak. His friend went to sit in one of the chairs outside his chambers to give him a minute alone.
As much as Theodor didn’t want to admit it, Mozraath had been right not to wake him. It was best he slept through it because he couldn’t have watched Boraleashe leave him again and not say a word and not beg for just one more chance, knowing this was the end.