Mortal Heir (The Thief's Talisman Book 1) by Emma L. Adams

Author:Emma L. Adams
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2017-07-30T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

I ran ahead, readying my sceptre. If one of Cedar’s friends had come to rescue him, then I’d have another prisoner and a means of getting answers. If it was an assassin, they shouldn’t have been able to get through the gate, but I wouldn’t rule anything out.

There was another knock on the door as I approached it, Viola at my side.

“Yes?” I asked sharply. “Who is it?”

“Are you Raine Whitefall?” called a male voice from outside.

“Yes.” I opened the door, revealing the same sprite wearing the tuxedo who’d come to my flat. At least, it appeared to be the same one.

“The other border families would like to invite you to attend their Gathering, traditionally held to welcome a new family’s leader. I trust you’ve already completed the necessary procedures.”

I lowered the sceptre. “What?”

He arched a brow at my impolite mortal exclamation. I should have probably prepared a verse or something. “Have you claimed your talisman?”

“Yes, not that it’s any of your business.”

“Then you’re leader of your family, and you’re invited to the Gathering. It takes place at sundown tonight, at the clearing where the territories meet.”

“Yeah, I don’t know about—”

“Tonight,” he said, and vanished. Glitter fell where he’d disappeared, forming a piece of paper on the doorstep. Another invitation.

I closed the door on it, turning to Viola. “What’s this Gathering?”

“An informal… well, gathering. Of all the families in the borderlands.”

“Sounds delightful. By any chance, might it be a setup for someone to find a creative way to assassinate me?”

“The seal looks official.” She picked up the invitation. “Don’t forget none of them want the other families to get hold of the sceptre. They’ll hide their hands until it’s convenient. They wouldn’t dare openly attack you at a Gathering, because it’d expose their strategies to the other families. Half of their games are head games.”

“And I’ll look weak if I don’t show up?” If the rest of Faerie was anything to go by, I’d say yes. But if all the families were present, maybe I’d be able to figure out who was responsible for sending a legion of assassins after me. And which family Cedar belonged to, assuming it wasn’t the same one.

Viola turned over the invitation in her hands. “Yes, unfortunately. I won’t lie, going to the Gathering might put a stop to the rumours that we’re an easy target.”

My hands curled into fists. “Every family will be there, right? So is it on Summer or Winter territory?”

“The Gathering will take place in a neutral area that belongs to nobody in either Court.”

Then I’d be able to openly confront the person responsible for screwing with me without trespassing on their own territory—but still be able to use magic. Opportunities like this one probably didn’t come along very often.

“All right.” I glared down at the invitation. “Fine. If they won’t take no for an answer, maybe they’ll listen with an audience. Will the Unseelie Queen or anyone be there?”

“Oh, no,” said Viola. “Just the border families. We’re not exactly friendly with the main Courts.

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