Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“But I’m half-Fae.”
He shrugged. “It will take time. And maybe a few visits from you to ease their nerves.”
“I would love to do that. Once the election is over, Fordham and I will fly over.”
“Ah, the king of their oppressors. Exactly who they want to see.”
“He is not his father. He will have to prove that to them. It will also be a process.” She sank gratefully into a bench in the gazebo.
Kivrin nodded and took a seat. “You are wise beyond your years. Though will you tell me where you actually went?”
Kerrigan glanced around the empty gazebo and then leaned forward, closing the space between her and her father. “We broke Fordham’s curse and met Titania.”
Kivrin jerked backward. “What? Titania? The Titania?”
She shushed him. “Yes, keep it down.”
“She lives in Alandria?”
“You can’t access it, except through extreme peril, but yes. She told me some interesting things.”
Kivrin suddenly look wary. “What things?”
“She told me that my mother is Keres of Andromadix for one.”
Kivrin wrenched back at that. The color drained out of his face. “How does she know that name?”
So … it was a name.
“I don’t know. I couldn’t exactly ask the mother of Fae these things. Which is why I’m asking you, Dad.”
“Did she say anything else?”
“That I was a descendent of He Who Reigns.”
Kivrin whipped his hand out, clapping it over her mouth. “Shh!”
Kerrigan looked at her father in alarm. “What?”
“Never, never say that name again.”
“What? Say what? Explain this to me.”
He shook his head. And she realized he was well and truly terrified. He had gone green at the edges, as if he might vomit any moment. His skin was clammy, and he was shaking. He looked around, as if someone might pop into existence and slaughter them. “Do not ever repeat that.”
“I don’t even know what it means. I don’t know what any of it means. Who is … that person?”
“Someone you never want to see, let alone meet.”
“And Andromadix?”
Kivrin breathed out slowly. “That is Vulsan’s surname. The man who came after you when you were born.”
“My mother’s husband.”
“Yes.”
“Dad,” she said, leaning in, “is my mother still alive?”
He closed his eyes and looked ready to weep. “As far as I know,” he gasped so softly that she almost didn’t hear him. “Yes, she’s alive.”
Kerrigan’s stomach dropped out. She had guessed, but she hadn’t known. A thousand questions rose at the same time, but all she could get out was, “Why?”
“I can’t explain. Every new piece of information you know puts you in more danger.”
“I’m not going to stop looking.”
“She’s not in Alandria,” he said at once. “And she’s nowhere that you can access, Kerrigan. It’s better if you forget everything. It will only cause you pain in the long run.”
Then, he rose to his feet and left her sitting alone in the gazebo. She wanted to chase after him and demand answers, but she could tell it was futile. He was terrified like she’d never seen him. Even when he had discussed Vulsan for the first time, it was nothing like his reaction to He Who Reigns, whoever that was. She was sure that she could never know. Not unless she went back up the mountain and demanded answers from the first Fae. And she doubted that would work out well for her either.
But her mother was alive. She was alive.
Somewhere out there, living her own life without Kerrigan. She had abandoned her just as readily as Kivrin had. Both supposedly for her own protection.
“Kerrigan?” Fordham said, jarring her from her deep thoughts. “Is everything all right? I saw Kivrin run off.”
She shrugged. “I asked him about … those things from the cottage.” Fordham knew instantly what she meant. “My mother lives, but not in Alandria, and asking more questions will get me killed.” He held a hand out to her. She let him lift her into his arms as tears marred her cheeks. “I just want answers, and I feel as if I’ll never get them all.”
“We’ll find them,” he assured her. “We’ll find them together.”
As much as she wanted to believe him, she had no idea how that was going to be possible. The only people who knew refused to speak on the subject. But she knew she had to face one problem at a time.
“Come with me,” Fordham said. “I have something to show you.”
“What?”
He grinned. “A surprise.”
Kerrigan let him guide her out of the arena. The party would be going on well into the night, but her part in it was over. She was grateful to be away from the watchful eyes and out in her city.
Kinkadia had been her home for so long. Hundreds of people were out on the streets, celebrating after the nominee introduction. Bars and taverns were full. Dancers and musicians played in the inns and spilled out onto the streets. It was a joyous night. Walking among them, arm in arm with Fordham, Kerrigan felt more a part of her city than ever.