Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
“He never said …”
She shook her head. “He wouldn’t. It wasn’t … it wasn’t a good time for him. Not until we fell in love. That was the best year of my life. I don’t know how it took Vulsan so long to figure it out, but when he did, he meant to kill your father. I couldn’t let him do that. So, I released his Daijan bond, sent him home through a portal, and told him to never come back.
“Nine months later, I was on the coast, giving birth to you with nothing but a midwife.” Keres touched Kerrigan’s cheek. “I don’t know how Vulsan found out. No one else knew what had happened. No one else had ever seen my expanding stomach. But once again, I knew what I had to do. It nearly killed me, having only just recovered from labor and needing you so desperately. Still, I left you with your father without a word and returned to Vulsan’s wrath.”
Kerrigan met her mother’s face, wet with tears, and found that she was crying too.
“He went looking for you. No matter that I denied it to my last breath. I’ve learned to twist around his commands to keep you safe. That’s why I came to the tournament. I didn’t know if he’d recognize you, if he’d kill you all these years later. I had to do something to save you even if it put me in danger.” Keres’s tear-filled eyes went to her trembling hands. “I know it isn’t enough. I should have been there all those years.”
Kerrigan put her hand on her mother. “I understand. You did the best you could.”
“I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
“We’re here now. Let’s appreciate the time we have together while it lasts.”
“I love you,” Keres whispered. “I have always loved you. As the little baby I held in my arms after birthing you and the beautiful young woman you have grown into. I love you and always will.”
“I love you too,” Kerrigan said.
And then they embraced. Mother and daughter for the first time.
42
The Book
No word came from Cleora for two weeks. Keres sent missives down to the academy to see if there was any news. While she and Vera sat up late into the evening, discussing solutions. Neither had ever heard of magic being stolen before. Vera had heard of there being a mental block on powers, but that definitely wasn’t what Kerrigan was experiencing. She couldn’t even feel her powers, and she’d always had perfect control before.
Throughout the day, Kerrigan tried various techniques that they considered, but to no avail. Eventually, they agreed that if they didn’t hear from Cleora in another couple of days, they would go down to the academy themselves to see what they could find.
The worst of it all was Fordham. He left before she woke up in the morning to hike through the hills. He came back with game for dinner and an even broodier expression on his face. By the time her trials with Keres and Vera were completed, he had gone off to bed alone.
No one had specifically said that they shouldn’t share a room together. Though Vera had a look of disapproval on her face. Kerrigan couldn’t force herself past the closed door when he’d already shut it in her face and shut her out. He needed time to process, but she wanted to be there to help him get through it. This was the same male who had gone off to break his curse alone for months rather than confide in her. She knew how his mind worked, but it didn’t make it any easier.
It was the middle of the third week when a clatter of horses sounded up the long trail to Vera’s house. Keres paled and came immediately to her feet.
“I’m going to check to see who it is,” she said and then disappeared.
A looming unease settled over the whole house, as if they were waiting for Vulsan to appear and exact revenge for their disappearance. Keres had assured them that she’d taken every precaution in getting them out. It didn’t mean that he wouldn’t still discover their destination. Considering the blood bind he had on Keres … the last thing they wanted was for him to show up.
“Someone is here,” Fordham said, appearing in the center of the living room and making Vera jump.
“I will never get used to that,” she said with a hand on her heart.
“I saw the dust trail when I was scavenging,” Fordham continued. His shadows curled around him, retreating into him slower and slower with each new jump.
“How far away were you?” Kerrigan asked with alarm.
He’d been testing out his jumping each day. Sometimes, Keres went off with him. Kerrigan hadn’t learned what exactly these lessons entailed, but she couldn’t help but be jealous that Fordham wanted to spend time with her mother and not her.