Page 74 of The Sorcerer's Thief
One shock after another. “The same uncle who kicked you out at nine years old?”
“The very same, yes.”
“And your parents?”
“My mother is the Gatekeeper’s mad sister. She’s been dormant since my birth and unfit to rule since long before that, which is why the task fell to my uncle. No one knows who my father is, and there’s none left of the bloodline.”
“Except you.”
“Right.”
“Because the Gatekeeper has produced no heirs.”
“Ah, I see you’ve grasped my predicament.”
“Is that why the guild was after you? To force you north?”
“Maybe. That’s part of it. I don’t know. The previous queen?—”
“Aurielle,” I say needlessly.
“Yes, Aurielle. She’d been on the hunt for a sorcerer for decades. When the rumors made it to Lemossin that the Gatekeeper might have an heir, the search for me was begun.Not public, clandestine, through dark channels. She wanted me for herself. But when Tauren found me, so did he.”
My mind is reeling, learning this. I have so many questions, but I stay quiet and listen. It can’t be easy for him to share this story.
“I didn’t know, mind you. I thought meeting Tauren was random. Luck. Fate. No one had ever paid me attention like he did. No one wanted me the way he did. No one had cared one way or another before Tauren. I was alone. No friends, no family. His attention was intoxicating. Like a drug. And before I knew it, I was addicted.”
“My poor Jules. Ripe for the plucking, weren’t you? I’m glad I killed him.”
“Technically, Slinger killed him.”
“Yes, but I would have.”
“Thank you. It’s good he’s dead. Now he can never hurt anyone else.”
“He never told Aurielle about you?”
“I don’t know. I doubt it. She’d have wanted an heir to the Gatekeeper’s bloodline that she could control. And a female at that. I’d have been no more than a breeding stud in her eyes.”
“And the new queen?”
“Is content to have the Gatekeeper in the north as he’s always been. I don’t think she knows of me, and if she did, I don’t think she’d seek me out. She has freed the gargoyles and the incubi, empowered humans, and distributed fae wealth across the lands. A woman like that cares not to make a slave of one man.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.” A thought occurs. “But the Gatekeeper, what if he wants you back?”
“Trust me. He doesn’t.”
“His loss. I shall keep you for myself.” I kiss him again. His lips are irresistible. Midkiss, I gasp. “You’re a prince. I’m sleeping with a prince.”
“Ssh. Let’s not tell everyone in the house, please.”
“Fae royalty. You’re one of them. This whole time. Does that make me a consort? Am I royal consort?”
“You’re Cricket, as you’ve always been. And I’m your Jules. Go to sleep.”
A royal consort…the old me would probably have tried to steal something from the new me.
Good thing I’m not a thief anymore.
