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)
Clover put her hand in his uncertainly. “I still can’t believe that Kerrigan managed it, but I should cease thinking that she won’t do the impossible.”
“More dragons,” Fallon said with a shake of his head. “I thought that my time in the tournament was over. To think that I could still get on one… Well, it’s unexpected.”
“You think you’ll bond?” Hadrian asked.
Fallon shrugged. “Kerrigan says it’s the dragon’s choice, but I’ll certainly try. What about you?”
Hadrian laughed. “Uh, I don’t hate flying, but I’m not sure I’m strong enough.”
“Well, we’ll see.” Fallon patted Hadrian on the back. “We’ll see.” He tipped his head at Clover. “I’ll leave you to the rest of your meetings. Don’t be long though. It’s your last night together for a while.”
“Don’t remind me,” Hadrian said on a sigh as Fallon disappeared.
Hadrian and Fallon had been trying to raise House Galanthea to their cause since they arrived. While some of the Fae in the war houses agreed with Kerrigan, more didn’t see the point in arguing with the Society. Status quo was preferable.
They hoped now that Kerrigan was offering up dragons to the houses who joined her cause that it would turn the tide. They were bringing the news to the head of the house in the south in person.
“You’re magnificent,” Hadrian said as he drew Clover into him.
“And you’re leaving me.”
“It’s just a few weeks.” He pressed a kiss to her brow. “Not that long.”
“Without Darby.”
Hadrian sighed. “I know. Did Kerrigan say anything about her?”
Clover shrugged. “She’s been training with Amond, which is keeping her busy. We’re no closer to getting us all back together. I don’t want to bring her to Kinkadia where it isn’t safe, but I hate that we’re apart.”
“We’ll get her back,” he said with confidence. “We will.”
She believed him. There was no other option. “Come on. Let’s get the rest of this over with so that we can enjoy our last night together.”
Hadrian laughed. “Meetings wasn’t how I planned to spend our last night together.”
“Oh?”
He grinned as his hands slid down her sides. “I had other ideas.”
“I’m all ears,” she teased as she pressed her lips to his.
“They might involve a bedroom.”
She grabbed his hand and drew him down the hall. “I think we’ll have to wait,” she said with a wink. “Work first.”
He sighed. “You’re so cool now that you have magic, barely have time for your boyfriend.”
Clover scoffed. “Are you saying you’re not cool enough for me?”
“Obviously.”
She laughed. “Oh, sweetheart.”
Then they were out on the darkened streets, heading away from Fallon’s family home. Their first stop was a town house off the Row. Clover had been here several times since returning to the city. She still worried about being recognized by the Red Masks, but she’d gotten better at dodging patrols.
She knocked twice and then a third time on the back door of the town house, and a harried half-Fae woman opened the door, ushering them inside with a wary backward glance. “Come quickly. Master Gerrond will see you now.”
Clover and Hadrian followed the stout woman to a small study. The curtains were drawn shut, and they could only make out the Sayair Fae male from the candles burning around the room.
“Clover, I got your note,” Gerrond said, coming to his feet with a jovial smile.
“I got word from Kerrigan. She did it.”
“Dragons?” he asked, amazed.
She nodded. “She said she has a contingent for Sayair as well.”
“My cousin lives on the outside of Devinwell,” Gerrond said, scribbling into a notebook. He tore the paper out and offered it to Clover. “He’d be the best first contact. Is she planning to give some to the drifters as well?”
“I’m meeting Islay and Ruen after this to see if they’re interested.”
A light shone in Gerrond’s eyes. “This is beyond my wildest dreams. When I thought the drifters would be a part of the Society, I didn’t ever think they’d have dragons. Thank you, Clover.”
“Well, thank Kerrigan,” Clover said with a shrug. “She’s the one who works miracles.”
“When I next see her, I’ll tell her exactly what I think of her.”
Hadrian cleared his throat. “Did you have any news for us?”
“Oh, yes. Bastian is throwing the Society Ball. I have an invitation.”
“A ball?” Hadrian asked in confusion. “Why is that of consequence?”
“The last time he got everyone together, he killed half of the arena,” Gerrond deadpanned. “Seems important.”
Clover took the invite. “I’ll let her know. Thanks.”
“Stay safe out there, and give Islay and Ruen my love.”
“We will,” Clover said.
Hadrian put an arm around her shoulders as they went back out the way they had come. Clover fiddled with the invitation.
“This is not good news,” she muttered.
“No,” Hadrian agreed, glancing at the town house over his shoulder. “It feels like a trap from Bastian.”
“We’ll see what Kerrigan says.”
Clover didn’t relax again until they were in the Dregs, at the edges of the city. While the whole city had a stronger guard presence, the Dregs were the hotbed of human and half-Fae living quarters. The guards here were particularly violent, and it was best to avoid them at all costs.