Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 136009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“A summons,” Kerrigan said.
“From the mother of the Fae,” Fordham added.
Dozan narrowed his eyes. “Like Titania?”
“The one and only,” Kerrigan said.
“She’s real?” Dozan asked skeptically.
“We’ve had an encounter with her before,” Fordham said.
“Why would she summon you now?”
Kerrigan shrugged. “I have no idea, but she asked for both of us.”
“We don’t have time for this,” Fordham said. “The Society forum is in a matter of days. If we wait, we’ll miss our opportunity for Bastian to be out of the mountain. Alura’s information was crystal clear.”
“We can’t ignore her,” Kerrigan said. She held her hands up when he looked at her suspiciously. “And I don’t say that like I want to run away from the fight. I’m here. I’ve been here since we…we put my father’s ashes in the crypt. I’m going to face Bastian in his fake forum for peace.” She swallowed hard. “But it would be reckless to ignore Titania.”
“Days,” Fordham repeated, turning away from them with a shake of his head. “We have days.”
“We can make it,” Kerrigan argued.
“I agree with Kerrigan,” Dozan said.
Fordham jerked around. “You were supposed to be the voice of reason.”
“If this is the strongest of all the Fae, you’re not ignoring her,” Dozan said. “Maybe she joins our side. Maybe she kills Bastian for us. Who knows?”
“She’s not on anyone’s side,” Fordham argued. “We had to go through trials the last time we saw her to get a boon. A summons…I don’t even know what that could mean.”
“Well, it’s not going to be rainbows and sunshine,” Kerrigan said. “But it’s going to be worse if we don’t go.”
Fordham pinched the bridge of his nose. “The timing is terrible.”
“We’re ready anyway,” Kerrigan said. She jangled her bracelet. “We can make it back in time.”
“We’ll fly,” Fordham said on a sigh. “I don’t want to use up your magic before we see her. She’s a wild card, and we have to be cautious. She could just as likely be on Bastian’s side.”
Kerrigan wrinkled her nose. “Don’t even put that energy out there.”
Dozan dusted his hands off. “Guess you can leave the war council in my hands.”
Fordham shot him a look and then laughed, a real belly-deep laugh. “Sure, Dozan. Take the war council.”
“Really?” Dozan asked skeptically.
“Let’s stop pretending like you aren’t going to be my brother-in-law by war’s end,” Fordham said as he held his hand out. Dozan eyed it and then put his hand in it. “You should probably ask her first though.”
“Who says I haven’t already?”
“Well then, do it with a ring,” Kerrigan said, pushing Dozan backward with a smile.
“Fuck off,” Dozan said, running a hand through his auburn hair. But he couldn’t deny the wild smile on his face. “Just don’t die. All right?”
“Noted,” Kerrigan said.
***
Aurelie led the way the next morning. The wind was bitingly cold when they finally landed in Erewan territory. The three of them stomped through the ankle-deep snow to an enormous hidden cave system. Mendy and the rest of her crew launched to their feet at the sight of Fordham. They drew him into a hug and patted his back and said all the right formalities, including being surprised that Kerrigan still lived, which was fair.
“You’re all riders now?” Fordham said. “Aurelie filled me in.”
“We’ve already sent our largest contingent of dragons to the House of Shadows. We were going to follow them when Aurelie got that note. Then we thought you might need help up the mountain to see the witch.”
Fordham clasped her forearm. “Thank you, Mendy.”
“Warm fires,” Mendy told him.
With the pleasantries done, the Erewans handed out snowshoes and began the arduous climb up the mountain. Aurelie stayed behind to tend the fires and wait for their return. Thankfully, it wasn’t as bitterly cold as the last time Kerrigan had done this, but it was just as biting. She didn’t know how they could live in this perpetually snowy climate. It was awful.
The final sheer cliff climb was the worst part, but they managed with some help from the Erewans, and then they were facing the entrance to Titania’s lands. For years, the Erewans had believed that any who crossed the invisible boundary were lost forever to the witch of the mountain. Only Fordham and Kerrigan had come out alive.
“Wish us luck,” Kerrigan said.
Mendy patted Kerrigan’s back. Kerrigan stumbled forward a step. “Only you two could make it out alive a second time.”
Fordham clasped Mendy’s arm, and then, as one, Kerrigan and Fordham turned to face the mother of the Fae.
They hadn’t discussed what they might find when they crossed the barrier that led to her hidden lands, but Kerrigan couldn’t help but ruminate on it. The last time, they had been trapped in an old faerie tale—facing their fears, eating the cursed food, dancing until her feed bled, and resisting the temptation of her lover. It was the trials that had led them to Titania, who had deemed them pure of heart and worthy of her boon. What would they endure now with a summons from her?