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)
One minute, it had been empty, and the next, he was there. The crowd gasped and applauded. Kerrigan followed along, but she knew exactly what that trick was. Something to do with the Collector and nothing to do with the male standing before them.
More several long minutes, the Father said and did nothing. He looked down his nose at the crowd who had come for him. He stayed that way until the cheering subsided and deep silence settled into every crevice of the building.
“You have spread my word across this great land. You have recruited your brothers and sisters. You have prepared us for this very moment, where we will be victorious,” the Father said with no preamble. “Today, you have come here to witness a miracle.”
The crowd was awed at his words. There wasn’t even the normal roar of approval. Everyone stared, enraptured with him.
“And that miracle is the removal of magic from all human and half-Fae in the city. That is what we want. We want to put these mongrels back in their place. They have risen up too high, and we will no longer allow them to parade around with magic that does not belong in their veins. The gods bestowed magic only upon Fae.”
Kerrigan nearly rolled her eyes. It was the same reasoning she’d heard before. But if the gods had wanted only Fae to have magic, then it shouldn’t have transferred to their half-Fae offspring. No one wanted to talk about that though, did they?
“And you will see this,” the Father called. “Our world will be cleansed.”
The crowd cried out their approval at that statement. As if a cleansing didn’t mean likely killing anyone whose magic they stole. Though … maybe that was the real aim.
Her eyes darted to the doors and then to Wynter in the crowd. She shook her head once. He hadn’t used his magic yet. They were going to need to wait a little longer. She needed to get a reading on his aura so that he was recognizable to her later … if there was a later.
“But first, I want to address something just as important,” the Father said. He paced across the stage. “Loyalty.”
Fordham roughly put a hand to her shoulder. She glanced up at him in confusion and then to the stage. She gasped, barely stifling it with her hand as she witnessed a young figure being thrown down hard onto her side.
And Kerrigan knew that figure.
She had spoken to her minutes earlier.
Valia.
“No,” she whispered in horror.
Fordham grasped her around the middle and held her back, as if he knew that she was about to surge forward in the midst of all these Red Masks and try to save the day. She felt pressure down the bond. All the things he wanted to say and couldn’t.
“Loyalty is the most important quality. And I will show you exactly what I will do to anyone who dares to betray me.” He gestured to Valia, who was slowly rising to her feet. The Father kicked her roughly in the ribs, and she collapsed backward. No one uttered a word. “This is my daughter. Not of blood, but of purpose. She has been with me since nearly the beginning. My eyes and ears inside the mountain. This daughter of my heart has betrayed our mission.”
Now, the crowd was invested. Jeering at Valia and throwing curses for her betrayal.
“No one is above my justice,” the Father said as he reached down and lifted Valia to her knees. Valia glared up at him with open hate on her face. “She might be valuable and Fae and of my own heart, but she crossed me and will be dealt with accordingly.”
“You’re a monster,” Valia snarled. Then, she spat in his face.
He backhanded her so hard that her head snapped to the side and she crashed to the ground. Blood dribbled out of her nose and mouth. She reached up and touched a spot of blood.
The Father took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the spot where she’d spat. “Know this, if you betray me, I will know. If you go against our interests, I will know. If you work with the enemy, I will know. And I will not suffer you to live.”
The crowd backed up a step at the threat. What was happening to Valia could happen to anyone. It was a perfectly executed scare technique, and Kerrigan wanted nothing more than to rush up there and save Valia from this fate.
“Can you jump to her?” Kerrigan asked.
Fordham frowned. “I couldn’t bring you with me and get all three of us out.”
“I can get out on my own,” she hissed.
He shot her a disbelieving look. If it were Kerrigan or Valia, the answer was easy. He would always choose Kerrigan.
And then there was no time to act.