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)
You look as if you’re going to do something stupid, Tieran observed.
Kerrigan sighed. “I want to cast now.”
Cleora advised against that.
“I know, but all my other visions happened whenever they wanted.”
And you nearly died multiple times. Promise me you won’t do this until the next full moon, where we can do it safely together.
She huffed but knew Cleora’s safety precautions were right. She’d almost been hurt in Fordham’s dreams when she ignored Cleora’s previous warnings. She shouldn’t do it again. No matter how much she wanted to.
“All right. Next full moon.”
22
THE NAME DAY
Audria twirled in place in a pale pink dress. It flowed out around her, and she giggled. “This is perfection.”
“You look like a dream,” Kerrigan agreed.
She wished that she could wear any sort of dress that she wanted. A flowy pink dress or a sexy black dress or a devastating red dress. But no. Tonight was her official name day party, and she had to look the part. She had to show up in Bryonican navy—a color she was seriously starting to hate.
“Are you going to put your dress on?” Audria asked.
She trailed her hand down the front of the purple bag that Parris had sent that morning with a happy name day tag attached to it and a bouquet of sunflowers.
“Of course. Just … can’t believe I’m eighteen.”
Even though she’d already turned eighteen. It was easier than discussing the mix of feelings rolling through her. Plus, she was still groggy from the night prior.
“How are you still so chipper after being out all last night?”
Audria grinned. “Benefits of being in the healing program. Are you still hungover? I could make you a tonic.” She pursed her lips. “Or better yet, I can steal you one. Mine really aren’t that great.”
Kerrigan declined. She wasn’t hungover. She’d barely had anything to drink. Her exhaustion was purely due to being on March’s arm all night. Last night, March had thrown a party for her election nomination. She had tried to convince herself any which way to avoid the party, but she couldn’t see a real reason. She needed the votes. She needed his influence. She needed to be on that council.
Though the party was endless hours of introductions with stuffy Society nobility, the whole thing grated on her nerves. She’d had to stuff Kerrigan deep down inside of her. The person who wanted to make snide remarks and roll her eyes at the insipid conversations. The person who wanted to end debates with a fight. The rash girl who would rather speak plainly than talk in circles until her head ached to understand everyone’s motivations.
Felicity had had to come out. The person she would have been as a pretty Bryonican princess if Kivrin hadn’t taken her to the House of Dragons all those years before. She’d used Felicity to survive inside the House of Shadows. That backward court and the one she navigated with March felt utterly similar, except at least the House of Shadows had no pretenses of goodness. They knew precisely who they were.
And March was the worst of them all.
He kept her on his arm like an ornament. He spoke over her and for her. He charmed everyone in their orbit … but not her. Never her.
Though he gave no inkling that the old March had returned, she could feel it simmering right under the surface. He ate up the party as if the entire thing had been made for him and not her. In almost every sense, it was a way for him to show that he owned her—a pretty bobble on display.
“Are you certain? You look like you could use one,” Audria said.
“I just need some more rest,” Kerrigan said.
“Well, no luck tonight. It’s your name day. We’re going to party all night.”
Kerrigan grinned at her, faking enthusiasm. All she wanted was for Fordham to be in attendance, so she could actually enjoy the night and not have to fake it for someone she hated.
Audria slipped out, and Kerrigan turned, expecting Ben and Bay but found Valia instead. She’d entered so silently that Kerrigan would have never noticed her. How had Kerrigan ever believed her to be a regular girl?
“Happy name day.”
“Thank you. I haven’t seen much of you. Are you coming to my party?”
Valia toed the floor. “I don’t think so. It’s not where I belong, but I have some news.”
“You’ve located the Collector?”
“Not quite.”
“Ah. Would have been one hell of a name day gift.” Kerrigan shrugged. “We’ll find it. Meanwhile, I’m working on getting more information about it. Bastian is providing me a list of the artifacts they have.”
“I heard. Also that you’re going to start training against them.”
“Can’t beat them if I don’t practice. It would help to eliminate their advantage.”
Valia grinned. “Indeed.”
“But you said you had information?”
“Something is coming,” Valia warned. “I don’t know what or when. The Father has been saying for years that we’re leading up to a moment when the Red Masks won’t have to hide anymore.”