Queens of Moirai (Descendants of The Fates Book 1) by Rhiannon Hargadon

Author:Rhiannon Hargadon [Hargadon, Rhiannon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HRS Books
Published: 2023-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

“It’s not every day you can kiss Death and live to talk about it,” a male voice quipped in my ear.

Turning, I found myself looking at Nico. A noblewoman and a long-nosed Fae with pickled skin distracted Vitess by asking about the Cullen attack, so she left his side, and we were alone.

“You hungry?” he asked. “Let’s find seats and eat something.”

I hadn’t noticed, but I’d gone all day without a meal. All the stress and work of preparing, then meeting and mingling, I’d simply forgotten to eat. Nico, ever the considerate older brother, led me to a table, encouraged me to pile my plate full to spilling, and then sat next to me as I devoured every last bite. Enormous chandeliers of gold swayed overhead, throwing sparking light onto gigantic vases full of lilies and dark purple vines.

“Lucky is me this night, with Death seated on my right!” A goblin with bare feet and black fingernails slipped into the chair next to me. Meanwhile, Lorcan also took a chair, along with Serene.

“Allow me to introduce Ranae. Ranae here is a connoisseur of rare objects. He’s seen them all.” Across the table, Serene gave a tight-lipped smile. Guard yourself, her eyes instructed me.

The goblin chuckled, and the sound was so high-pitched and sinister that I winced. He smelled like carcasses pulled from a swamp. His teeth were jagged, like broken piano keys. And his stringy black hair was wet, like rotting river weeds. Ranae’s nails dragged the table as he picked up the wine goblet.

And I thought I was done with the beasts of hell once I left Kinver’i, I thought, uncharitably.

“You seem to be adjusting well,” Lorcan said, considering me.

I made a small sound of agreement and continued eating.

As usual, Lorcan was keen to talk, which I did not want to do. Irritatingly, he only seemed to speak in sexual innuendo. Serene didn’t mind at all, and gamely flattered him.

“Lorcan, as Keeper of Mysteries, guards some of the oldest spellbooks and precious artifacts in all of Moirai,” Serene said, as Elijah pulled out a chair across from me and gave me a pointed look. “There’s no question he can’t answer, no truth he cannot reveal.”

“For the right price.” Lorcan smirked and petted his red beard.

For a Fae lord’s price. I suppressed a shudder. I couldn’t imagine what sort of price Lorcan might demand, but I knew that I was in no mood to pay it.

“Tell us the price, so we could consider it,” Taliesin said, as he slid down into another empty chair.

“You haven’t said what you want to know,” Lorcan smirked.

“Malinda.” I spoke up, a little too loud. “How does she control the Cullen? How does she live on, without a heart of her own?”

“Malinda is a Cullen.“ Lorcan leaned back in his chair. “I’ll give you that one for free. Surprised you hadn’t already figured it out.”

“How can that be?” Jasper asked him. “She does not look like one of the Cullen.”

Lorcan responded in verse, rhyming as the Fae tended to do:

“The heart, unwillingly given.

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