Page 30 of Birthright

Abbey finally chimed in. “Keena, he’s right. There are only very old rumors about Coyle, and even if he has managed to stay alive in that place, he’ll be…well, not a very sane man if he were to return.”

“I give you my word,” Manus said, taking me more gently by the shoulders this time. “Once you have succeeded Doran, I will help you negotiate for the return of your father, if he is still alive. Bran will want to be in your favor.” He tried to smile. “If Coyle has made it this long, a little longer won’t make a great deal of difference.”

“I don’t fight Feldema until the Autumn Equinox. That’s months.”

“He has been with the Slaugh for twenty-eight years. Six more months…that’s all I ask, Keena. You must promise me.”

“You need that time to get better with your spells for Feldema,” Abbey said quietly. “She’s had many years to practice and study. You’re gifted, but your spells will be unpredictable. You need all the time you have. She’s very dangerous to you still.”

I sat back on the stool. There was too much to think about, too much to worry about at once. Tynan being bound to me, Dema, my father, the prophecy… “Maybe I do want that whiskey.”

CHAPTER 13

The pile of books in front of me was enormous. I’d been studying and practicing spells for weeks and was getting tired of the little library at the edge of the village. The open windows looked out over the forest and the smells and colors of late June crept in and distracted me, the spells and incantations I was supposed to be learning blurring on the pages.

Bevin was coming to collect me shortly to prepare for the latest council meet. Most were somewhat boring and tedious, much like a human city council meeting. Only occasionally was there a problem concerning the misuse of magic rather than a civic concern. I made myself listen intently and saw how Doran handled each piece of business with the care and concern of a parent. She was a benevolent and strong leader, showing grace when needed and, on occasion, letting her ferocious side show through. Most of those occasions concerned the Slaugh or the Gremlins.

Tynan had been away on business with Cliona, his second, for three days. The two of them were responsible for keeping rogue Vamps from deciding it was okay to terrorize and hurt humans, the ramifications of which endangered Vamps and humans alike. No one wanted Vampire hunters running around with wooden stakes and hatchets. It also seemed that the Slaugh were creating new Vamps, something they had not done in a very long time.

I missed him and spoke to him through the amulet a few times each day. During our last brief chat, he’d assured me he’d be back this afternoon.

A little black book dropped in front of me, taking my gaze away from the forest outside the window. “Check this out.” Abbey climbed up the chair and onto the table. She shook, and a cloud of dust floated in the sunbeams. “Found it under the shelves in the back.”

“What were you doing under the shelves?” I gave her an accusing glare. Something like that usually meant she was spying or prying. Over the last several weeks, we had become the best of friends. The smart little woman helped me spar with spells, and though she was better at defensive craft, it was still fun for both of us.

“Hogan and that sweet librarian are making eyes at each other in the stacks.” One large blob of dirt was clinging to her knee. She swiped at it several times. “He’s almost babbling. It’s cute.”

The librarian was a very pretty little Gnome, and I knew Hogan only came with me here to get a chance to talk to her. I got up and peeked around the shelves Abbey had been hiding under. Hogan was dressed in a tunic that showed off the marks I had given him. He said something and the little Gnome batted her ungodly long eyelashes at him and giggled.

I returned to the table. “It’s a shame he’s not getting married this afternoon.” Today’s meet would actually be a ceremony to marry several Gnome couples. Gnomes were one of the few Kith species that took a single mate for life. The ceremonies were held only once a year, and it was supposed to be a good party. “June weddings are always so pretty.”

“Forget the weddings and Hogan.” She kicked the book she had dropped on the table. “You’ll be far more interested in this.”

I turned it over and read the title on the front. The Host. It was a book about the Slaugh. There were others in the library, but they hadn’t told us much more about the creatures than we already knew. Abbey and I had been looking for clues about the island. Of course, Manus knew nothing of it.

I opened the cover, and there was an ink rendering of the actual island across the inside cover and the first page. My jaw dropped.

“Must have been down there for decades, if not longer,” Abbey said, leaning over the book. “I’ve never even heard of a map of Thule.”

I ran my hand over the book. The cover felt gross, slimy, but the pages were just parchment.

“What island?” Hogan said. I slammed the book shut and put my arm over it, trying not to be too obvious. “WildLand,” I said with a smile to the librarian and all her eyelashes.

“My lady, there are many different maps of the island in our collection. I’ll get as many of them as you like.” She started to leave Hogan’s side to start gathering maps I had no need of.

“That’s not necessary. Abbey was just thinking out loud.” We smiled at Hogan and his friend. Abbey started to play with her hair.

“Keena,” he said, intentionally using my given name instead of the title he usually used in public to impress his pretty friend. “I am taking Miss Laurel for a walk in the gardens.” She blushed—or at least I think she blushed, it was hard to tell through the feathery scales and blue skin beneath. He went on, “That is, if you do not need me for the afternoon.”

“I think I can manage for a few hours without you. Run along. Have fun.” I shooed them with the hand that wasn’t covering the book and winked at her, making her blush come on full and bright pink under the scales. Hogan led her away gracefully.

“What do you think of that?” Abbey said once they were out of earshot. “I always thought Hogan would be an eternal bachelor. Maybe he’ll wed her next June.”

“Why do they only marry in June?”

She plopped down on the table next to the book. “I think it’s got something to do with their fertility cycles. Most of the weddings today will produce children in a matter of months. They must only be fertile in the summer.” She scooted herself closer. “Forget about Hogan’s libido. Let’s take a look at that map.”

I’d been so taken with Hogan’s public display of something close to affection that I had almost forgotten about the book. I started to open it and heard more footfalls behind me. “Bevin,” Abbey whispered. I closed the book and tucked it inside the much bigger spell book I would be taking back to my chambers.