Series: Lords of Rathe Series by Meagan Brandy
Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Midnight might seem like an odd time for a visit, but it’s not for us. Our parents prefer not to be seen outside of their domain when it’s not a pre-planned event with amped up security, and it’s probably for the best. Just because we’re the strongest of our kind, that doesn’t mean the ignorant don’t attempt an attack on my family every now and then. It’s the same cycle. They try, they fail, and then they die. Mom would eat them, but she’s off meat right now.
Like in the Giftless communities, there are dangers and crime in ours. You just don’t hear about it as much because the Ministry keeps everything under wraps. They act as a council, making sure the peace remains settled between not just the different faculties of Gifted, but also back in our home, Rathe, where our world is split in two. Where there’s Light magic, you’ll find Dark magic, and since my father is the King of the Night, or as we call the dark, Stygian, that puts us directly on the firing line. The Light, or as we call Argent, have their fair share of drama too. They like to blame us for the thick of it, but the truth is, just because they’re Light magic, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good. All that aside, The Ministry and the royal monarchy have gone back and forth for thousands of years to keep both sides safe, forming this bullshit Giftless style of a government after the King and Queen of the Argents were slaughtered by The Slasher, the one and only Gifted serial killer our world has ever known. The ins and outs of what followed their murders is a boring tale of one big fucking pissing contest where the worst man won.
And he is still winning.
My father is as savage as you would expect someone of his position, but he’s reasonable too. He doesn’t want to disrupt the dynamic between the Ministry, the Giftless, the Stygians, or even the Argents.
“They’re here,” Creed announces, pulling me from my thoughts. Fuck. What could possibly warrant them coming all the way to Rathe U? The last time they did, it was to give shit news. Hopefully, no one else has died.
The four of us climb to our feet, descending the spiral staircase that leads to the first floor of our condo. My bare feet pad along the thick red velvet carpet, and I know my lack of shoes won’t go unnoticed by my mother. In all her years, the woman has never been spotted with a single black hair out of place. She’s a firm believer in a pristine appearance and can’t be bothered with those who aren’t. She’s not a terrible woman, just a judgmental, stuck-up one. She’s a product of the job.
Legend opens the heavy iron door, revealing the thick cloud of protective smoke. We hear a gruff shout, followed by a low crackling sound, and then my father’s laughter reaches our ears like talons of a monster that’s on his one hundredth day fast.
Slowly, Father and his suited up guard break through the sable smoke, waving the scent of heavy metal away from my face.
Vicente snaps his head in my father’s direction, but my dad only laughs, clamping a hand on his shoulder as he looks our way. “Told him the smoke wouldn’t affect him if he entered with me. Fool believed it.” He grins, stepping up to Creed for a handshake. “Son.”
“Father.” He nods, looking at Vicente, Silver’s father. “Fear of fire, huh?”
The man confirms nothing, just straightens his tie and steps beyond us. Vicente is my father’s oldest friend and loyal companion. I think even if he and Silver didn’t live at the palace all their life, Silver would have still found us. He’s the brother we all needed and helps balance out the toxicity.
My mother strides through the doorway with a walk that would put a Victoria’s Secret model to shame. She pats down her silken crown of coal-colored hair, flashing me a wicked smirk. Mother, if anything, knows how to make an entrance. Her black gown is rimmed with blood red rubies and flows behind her as she lifts her chin on entrance, her guard following her every move but avoiding eye contact with the lot of us.
Shifters, one of the many monsters of our world, are naturally on edge around us since we’re at the top of the monster food chain. Of all the fucking chains really, but it’s worse since they’re linked to one of many others through a blood bond. Similar to my fuck-off brothers, or being mated, this allows them to telepathically communicate with other members of their pack. Basically, if someone were to say…peek into the mind of one—if powerful enough—they could essentially see into all.