Page 130 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

FORTY-NINE

KIERA

“Good morning, gorgeous.” A strange voice reached me in my sleep, pulling me towards wakefulness.

I slowly blinked my eyes open, reaching for Jaxus to find the bed next to me empty. The voice nagged at me. Had I dreamed it?

“I’m way better than a dream.”

I forced my eyes open, finding Faolan sitting on the edge of my bed. I jumped, clutching my sheets to myself despite having a nightgown on. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

“I guessed.” Faolan laughed, holding up a hand, shielding me from his gaze. “I’m not here to gaze on you, my dear. I like someone who can match me. Be as ruthless as I am in and out of bed. Your mate is much more my type. I am here to escort youto my father.”

“Are there such females?” I let the blanket fall and stretched out, enjoying another few moments in comfort.

“You’d be surprised. I’ve met quite a few.” He shrugged. “I’m wholly attracted to personality. If they aren’t a challenge, I have no interest in bedding them.”

“I’ve always been the same, attracted purely to personality, and I thought that excluded dragons, but I was wrong. You may be surprised one day, too.”

He met my eyes with a grin. “I hope to be when we get out of here.”

“I think you will find a much better place for you out there.” I groaned, rubbing my face before forcing myself out of bed. “I thought your father didn’t go down to the village clinic until later? Why are we going so early?”

“No, he’s in the main wards today.” He turned away as I went to the wardrobe to get clothes. “As a healer I’m surprised you’re still abed.”

“I’ve grown lazy while having lax hours here.” I washed my face in the basin and stepped behind the screen to change. “Why is your father there? I thought he preferred the other clinic?”

“It’s all about perspective.” Faolan winked. “Before we meet him, I’m going to walk you through the heart of the city. This is your home now. You need to get to know it.”

I understood what he intended instantly. We were scouting in plain sight. Since our boating trip, he, Emrys, and Drystan had taken me all over the city in the guise of learning and getting to know Kerani and its way of life.

We walked through throngs of people, seemingly against the flow of the city. Like a tide, it poured one way, and we walked against the current. Or maybe it was how we stood out, fae turning to look at us. No matter where we went.

“Do you always draw such attention?” I asked, glancing over and sizing up what he wore. While the city felt like the mist andthe mountains. He felt like the storms breaking over the peaks. Lighting breaking through a dreary day.

“I do, but I suspect it’s you they stare at, gorgeous,” he said smoothly. “We’ve never had an outsider in our midst before.”

“What about Nyx and Zaria?”

“They kept to the fishing village as my father was healing Nyx and since their intention was not to stay, the elders kept them away from the rest of what we have here for security. They stayed at our family home by the lake. Word of outsiders got around, but few actually laid eyes on them. You are one of a kind to them.”

“Wonderful,” I grumbled, hating being the center of all the attention.

“No, it’s perfect. All eyes are on you. You can’t get away with anything. See, above reproach.”

“So, what are you showing me today?” He had a gleam in his eye that spoke of mischief.

“Being the academic you are, I thought you’d like to see the great library.”

I caught my gasp but eyed him with panic because I knew that the Amber Vessel was housed there. Was this his way of springing a surprise heist on me?

“Just a look. Nothing more,” he assured.

I relaxed slightly but was still nervous about walking right into where the very thing we planned to steal was kept.

The Great Library was all it proclaimed to be. Vast columns held up a proud facade, which presided over the whole city. I’d seen it from various viewpoints on our tours and expected it to be the main temple. But it seemed, in this place, knowledge was worshiped with equal reverence to the Goddess. I was rather envious of this aspect of the culture here.

We climbed the steps, and I marveled at how the building had the ability to make you feel truly small. Even the dragonsthat came and went were insignificant in the show of this temple of books.

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