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)
Kerrigan forced a calm. She wanted to rush the stage and put her fist through this woman’s mouth. Releasing slaves was a good thing. But she hadn’t been the one to bring the refugees into the city or to isolate the House of Shadows. In fact, she’d argued against the forced isolation. Not that anyone would believe her.
“It’s nearly time to show them that we will not be held down. We will not fall to the human and half-Fae scourge. We will rise above.”
A cheer erupted from the crowd.
“And without further ado, the Father!”
6
THE FATHER
As the crowd went wild, Kerrigan held her breath. This was what she had been waiting for. All these years of her fear over the Red Masks came down to this moment.
Red Masks had almost killed her in the streets. They had protested her presentation in the House of Dragons. Valia had been sent to kill her. Isa had tried to kill her. Basem Nix had tried to kill her. Each and every moment had been traumatic, and yet nothing could have prepared her to finally see the man responsible for it all.
From her vantage point, he looked ten feet tall. His features completely obscured by a lush black cloak that fell to his feet. Underneath was a fitted black suit that Parris could have designed with its sharp lines and perfect fit. The cravat at his throat marked him of the nobility. And if that wasn’t enough, thick dragon leather gloves covered his hands. They made her skin crawl. Hunting dragons was illegal, punishable by death. It didn’t stop the worst of the lot from going after them, but wearing their skin was beyond disturbing.
Her eyes finally raked up to the red mask covering his face. It was unlike any of the other masks in the room. Clearly well made by a powerful blacksmith and out of a thick magic-resilient metal. She could see the faint magic lines threaded through the working, likely to hide his identity, and all she wanted to do was rip it off and reveal the person underneath.
The Father held his hand up, and the crowd instantly went silent.
“Welcome,” he said in a booming voice that echoed throughout the room.
Kerrigan felt as if it was vaguely familiar. She felt like she should be able to recognize it, but it had been distorted, as if the magic in the mask altered his voice.
While everyone else was captivated by the Father, a figure shifted in the shadowed rafters overhead. Kerrigan’s gaze swept upward in surprise to find Isa with one foot dangling down toward the room. Her ice-white hair cut short and her stunning features not covered by a mask, like the rest of the crowd.
Kerrigan slunk deeper into her hood. If there was one person who could sniff her out, it was the trained assassin at the top of the room. She did not want to gain her notice.
The Father took another step forward, ignoring the podium as he paced the stage, prowling like a predator. “You have been told a fiction. It has been repeated many times. So many times that others are beginning to believe it. Do you know what that fiction is?”
The crowd was silent, captivated.
“Humans and half-Fae are just like us.”
The audience leaned forward in anticipation. Kerrigan could feel the calm before the storm. The way the Father spoke drew them in, preparing them to crash down all their bigoted beliefs in an unsuspecting wave.
“The problem began long before we allowed two humans into our dragon tournament. Before they stole those dragons and took them to distant shores. They happened long before a half-Fae joined the Society. The human insects have become a plague. They breed like rabbits, flooding our most sacred city, and the half-Fae are worse. At least most of the humans have no magic. The half-Fae are closer to humans in every way, but with the burden of magic.
“Each of you was asked to touch the Collector before you could be admitted to this meeting. And each of you who was admitted has proven yourself of magical purity. The Collector would never have admitted you if you were not Fae. As it should be.”
The crowd finally cheered at that. He had called them all special. Just what they all wanted to believe.
“The human and half-Fae insects have weakened the entire structure of our vast magical system. They have weakened our power. We can all see it crumbling. And it comes from one place—hope.” He raised his hands. “They have been given hope that they can reach the top because others have done so. But I offer you a new future.”
A new future that Kerrigan could only guess didn’t include her. Or anyone like her.
“Allow me a demonstration.”
The Father made a beckoning gesture, and a young man was brought onto the stage. Based on his slightly rounded ears, he was half-Fae and trembling before the audience and the imposing figure of the Father.