Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Zora didn’t argue. “Make your choice.”
Pushing aside any possibility that Amell loved me, and focusing on the pain, I gave her my answer.
So I have a lovely home, a great job, and I get to watch Nick thrive with a stable, loving family. It was more than I could’ve ever hoped for just to be able to see him once in a while and assure myself he was happy.
Grabbing my purse from a cabinet in the break room, I head out through the front of the shop and turn north. Edenton is an idyllic town of approximately three thousand residents, and the downtown area is filled with cute shops and small bungalows. I live a few blocks away and have yet to buy a car since I can walk wherever I need to go. Once winter comes, though, that might become a different priority.
Dale Idler is sweeping the sidewalk outside his hardware store. His son Roger is a year younger than Nick, and they’re close friends.
“Hi, Nyssa,” he says as I walk by. “Gorgeous day, isn’t it?”
“Sure is,” I say with a smile. “I’m assuming that new faucet handle hasn’t come in yet?”
He shakes his head. “I’ll call as soon as it does. Better yet, I’ll come over and install it for you.”
I shake my head, holding a hand out. “You don’t have to do that.”
Dale levels me with a stern look. “That’s what we do here in Edenton. I won’t hear any more about it.”
I flatten my hand over my heart in gratitude. “Thanks, Dale. That’s super nice.”
On the next block, I stop and talk to Karen Price outside the post office. She’s Tonya’s cousin and only a few years older than me. We’ve gone out for drinks a few times after work.
It’s a beautiful afternoon as I walk the last block to my house, the temperature hovering in the mid-seventies. The spring flowers are blooming, and I consider planting some myself. I’m only renting the small house I’m living in, but the landlord wouldn’t mind me sprucing up the front yard.
I check my mailbox, which is mostly junk mail, but I smile when I see a card from Will. I reached out to him when I arrived and we talk a few times a week by phone. He sends me quirky cards in the mail and it feels good to have a connection with someone that knows a little of what I’ve been through.
I wave to Jan next door sitting in her rocking chair. She’s a recent widow and spends her days watching the world go by.
“Good day at work?” she calls out.
“It’s always a good day when you’re surrounded by flowers,” I say.
“I’ve got a pie in the oven. You come have a slice with me after dinner.”
I step onto my porch and give her a dubious look. “I don’t know… what kind of pie?”
“Cherry.” Jan’s eyes sparkle because she’s gotten to know me pretty well the last few months we’ve been neighbors, so she knows cherry is my favorite. “And I even got some vanilla ice cream to go with.”
“Sold,” I exclaim. “About six thirty?”
“See you then.”
I beam a smile at her and unlock my door. Before I step in, I look around at my new little world.
A lovely small town, a great new job, sweet and helpful neighbors, and I get to watch my brother flourish.
Everything I could ever want.
I step inside, shut the door, and lean back against it. The smile I’ve been donning on and off all day vanishes.
Because none of this is the thing I want most.
CHAPTER 25
Amell
There’s no pomp and circumstance on the Bridge of Judgment anymore. I have my fae guards bring out those to be judged and set them up along the bridge. I walk down the line, inherently knowing each person’s sins because of my power. I look into their eyes for a flash of anything that might interest me before I give them a push. It takes only a few minutes each day, far more efficient than the old way when Calix ran the show.
Having pushed the last person off for this session, I head back to my suite, choosing to walk through the castle rather than bend distance.
Truett meets me just inside the massive double doors and updates me on his work. I put him in charge of traversing the Underworld looking for other supporters of Jago and his group that perished down by the river three months ago. A few have been rooted out and destroyed, hopefully clarifying the message that I am not to be trifled with.
We could find no proof that Ariman played any part in this failed escape attempt. Then again, Jago just wanted out, whereas Ariman wants to carry on Kymaris’s work to conquer the First Dimension.
Regardless, I’ll have to keep my eye on him as he remains a potential danger.