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)
The fury that flashed on his face was replaced immediately by calculation and then covered over by false enthusiasm. The same mask she’d worn with him the night before that he’d never guessed she was wearing. She could recognize it for what it was. And she had no interest in dealing with him.
So, when Arbor and Prescott appeared at the base of the stairs, dressed in House of Shadows black and silver, she leaped at the opportunity to avoid March.
“You made it!” she said cheerfully, pulling Arbor into a hug.
“We did,” Arbor said with a laugh.
Prescott flashed her a bright smile after she released his sister. For a moment, she was stunned at the likeness between him and his cousin. If she hadn’t just had Fordham’s lips on her in a delirious dream, she might have taken them as closer to twins. Especially with Prescott in the all-black silk that Fordham favored. But she had seen Fordham too recently, and the similarities just made her ache for the one person who wasn’t here.
“You’re not exactly under the radar,” Kerrigan said, putting a step between her and Pres. “You might as well have your insignia emblazoned on your clothes.”
Arbor waved her hand. “No one is going to suspect that we are who we truly are even if we’ve dressed the part. Don’t worry about it.”
“Yes, don’t worry about us,” Prescott said, taking her hand and planting a kiss on it.
Kerrigan swallowed hard at the gesture. She pitched her voice lower. “Any word?”
Arbor shook her head. “I had my first message returned to me, unanswered. I sent two other falcons to search farther out, but I’ve had no luck yet. I’m sorry.”
Kerrigan nodded. “That’s all right. We’ll find him.”
“If I know my cousin, he won’t be found until he’s ready to be,” Arbor said. “Why don’t we focus on what we do have? It’s your name day. We should celebrate.”
Prescott bowed. “I would be honored to have the next dance.”
“I’ll get us some punch. I know you are fond of the red faerie punch,” Arbor said a wink and then disappeared.
There was nothing Kerrigan could do but put her hand in Prescott’s and let him lead her back onto the dance floor. Whispers followed them. She couldn’t be the only one who saw the similarities between him and her missing prince. She hadn’t thought he would dress just like Ford when she invited them to her party.
“You look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” Prescott said, low and smooth.
It was harder to reach for a joke when those blue eyes were staring down at her. She could see the shape of Fordham in him, as if they had been cast from the same mold but stretched and reshaped after. Prescott wasn’t Fordham. He was nothing like him. And still, looking at him hurt.
“Of course not,” she said with a forced smile. “I appreciate you helping me, and I am glad that you decided to attend the party.”
“Are you truly going to admit all the refugees into your tribe?”
Kerrigan hadn’t considered what that would mean for Arbor and Prescott. They were technically refugees. Though she didn’t know if that would circumvent Society laws. Arbor and Pres were supposed to endure another year of isolation within their mountain. Until then, it wouldn’t be smart for either of them to try to expose who they actually were.
“Yes. That is my plan. I’ll accept any who wish to join. Though I don’t know that everyone will want to.”
“Will you take Fae too?”
Kerrigan nodded slowly. “I was thinking the humans and half-Fae first. I know, technically, humans can’t join a Fae tribe, but they would still be welcome to be a part of my house. Since the rest of the Fae are in the mountain for the next year, it’s not something I’ve had to consider.”
Prescott’s eyes shuttered, as if he realized precisely what she had just said. Then, his bright, bouncing energy returned. He twirled her out and then back into him tightly. “I find what you’re doing admirable.”
“Thank you.” She stepped out of the embrace and continued with the dance.
Prescott’s eyes remained on her the entire time. Unlike in the House of Shadows, when he’d been looking out for her for his cousin, she felt a different current run through him now, and it made her entirely uncomfortable.
She was saved from having to do anything about it by Clover appearing at her elbow and stealing her out of the dance. Prescott’s face went blank with shock, but Kerrigan didn’t think twice, and Clover wove her out of the ballroom and down an empty hallway.
“Thank the gods for you, Clover.”
Clover laughed. “Yeah. Who the hell is that male? Another suitor? And why does he look like Fordham?”
She had so many secrets that she couldn’t even keep them all straight. “I don’t want to talk about it.”