Page 126 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

None of it surprised me because Faolan had always been this way. He’d come out of his mother headstrong, knowing better than those around him, and he was charming and smart enough to persuade many to his cause. He’d only filled a place the elders had created themselves with their way of leading. They didn’t listen to anyone but each other, and a lot of the younger fae thought their ways were outdated.

“I’ve dreaded this day, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect it.” Sorrow dripped from Emrys. “I want to come too. There is nothing left here for me, either. Your siblings are settled, and with the disendowment?—”

“Aislinn left you?” I asked, cutting him off.

“Yes. She’d been waiting for our youngest to go to his temple training before she told me. I think she blames me for encouraging Faolan’s free thinking.” Emrys hung his head, the wound still fresh.

“It’s not your fault.” Faolan gripped his father’s arm.

“I know, but that doesn’t change how your mother will always see it.” Emrys put his hand over his son’s. “I love you for who you’ve always been. I’m sorry your mother never has.”

“She loves me in her own way. I’ve made my peace with it, but I need to leave.”

Emrys nodded. “I will go with you.”

Kiera frowned, distressed by what she heard.

“This place is far from perfect.” I took her hand.

She nodded. “No place is. I’m not sure if imprisonment is any better, but surely they can’t just kill dragons when they are so scarce.”

“But they aren’t scarce here. We have plenty. They don’t see it as the First Kingdom does.” It was an entirely different mindset.

“Still.” Kiera shook her head.

“We should take our places so we aren’t questioned.” Faolan passed baskets from the stack. “There shouldn’t be any more of us. The call was filled by us five.”

“Who’s on watch?” I asked, taking the basket he offered.

“Osiris and he’ll be asleep by now. As long as we continue to shield our conversations, we shouldn’t be overheard.” Faolan was an invaluable asset. He’d run secret groups for many years and developed many ways to keep his activities under the noseof the elders without getting caught, and he also had supporters and sympathizers in nearly every part of the city.

“What are we looking for?” Kiera asked, running her hand over the tall grass.

“Fungus. They are smaller than the pad of your thumb and only bloom in the full moon.”

“Your favorite,” I said to my mate.

“Not tiny mushrooms again,” Kiera groaned, and I laughed.

The others exchanged confused glances.

“Don’t ask,” I said, trying to contain myself. I hooked my arm in Kiera’s. “It’s a wonderful night for a moonlit walk.”

“That it is.” Faolan fell in step with me, sucking the air around us towards him.

The pressure popped my ears and raised the skin on the back of my neck. He pulled in and pinched the world around us, as if putting us in a bubble of our own. His magic was a mixture of air and sound, giving him an advantage in his proclivity for subverting authority.

It always made me wonder if the Goddess knew and gifted him those or if his magic affected his personality.

“Where do we begin?”

“We need to swear a blood oath of secrecy for what I’m about to tell you. If you wish to leave and not go through with it, tell me now.”

Faolan pulled out his knife while presenting a scarred palm. “If I could tell you the number of oaths I’ve sworn.”

“That doesn’t surprise me in the least.” I held out my hand, waiting to see who else would join us.

Kiera sealed the ritual between all of us.

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