House of Shadows (Royal Houses 2)

Dozan leaned back against his desk, seemingly unperturbed by the demand in her voice. “Last night, you were yelling at me that you’d never be ready. I’m trying to make sure you know what you’re doing.”

“Last night, they hadn’t kicked me out of the program!”

“Fair. I can’t say that I’m upset by the circumstances. You are better than they will ever be.”

“Let’s get this over with.” She rubbed her hands together to bite back the chill. Spring was well on its way, but she’d forgotten how much colder it was outside of the mountain.

Dozan stood and came to her side. He brushed her hair behind her recognizably half-Fae ear. “That fire in your eyes makes me remember why I fell for you in the first place.”

She scoffed. “You never fell for me, Dozan. You saw power. That’s all you love.”

“This look holds all the power in the world,” he said, tracing her jawline. “I cannot wait to watch you conquer it.”

She pulled away from him, her face flushing. His words kindled something deep within her and made her forget for a moment at least what she was about to do. Likely his desired effect anyway.

Kerrigan turned to the door. “Let’s go find Thea.”

“As you wish,” he said, coming to her side with a smirk on his face that said he knew how much he affected her.

Kerrigan stepped out of Dozan’s office and across the hallway to a large conference room, which she’d never used before today. Thea stood among the rest of the Rights For All leaders as well as Clover and Hadrian. To Kerrigan’s surprise, they were holding hands.

She arched an eyebrow in her friends’ direction. Clover shrugged, all nonchalant as she drew a loch cigarette to her lips. Hadrian looked chagrined, but he didn’t pull back. Well, that was new. How little had she seen her friends if she didn’t even know when or how this had happened. She’d have all the time she needed now, and she’d make up for it.

“Kerrigan,” Thea said, drawing her into a hug. “How are you feeling?”

“Ready whenever you are.”

Thea nodded. “We’re almost ready. My runners have been all over Kinkadia for the last couple hours, and look.” She drew back the curtain on Dozan’s window.

Kerrigan could see the growing crowd beyond. Her jaw dropped. “So many.”

“All for you, my dear,” Thea said, beaming. “I’m so glad that you’ve agreed to speak out. I am sorry for the circumstances.”

“It’s time,” Kerrigan said. “Long past time. Though I was afraid no one would come…”

“Yes, well, attendance has been much lower at our events since the riot. We’ve been keeping a lower profile. Plus, I can hardly blame them. This was what happened when Cyrene won the tournament. They always try to put us down. It’s how they remain in control. But we’re not going to stop this time around.”

“No, we’re not.”

The volume outside was growing increasingly louder. A chant had been taken up by those nearest the front, and it moved backward through the crowd. She pushed the window open slightly to try to hear what they were saying.

“Kerr-i-gan. Kerr-i-gan. Kerr-i-gan.”

She straightened her shoulders. She’d gotten the people here. They were chanting her name. It was time.

Thea must have seen the change in her demeanor. “Shall we? I’ll introduce you.”

“After you.”

Clover appeared then, grasping her hand briefly. “Good luck out there.”

“Thanks.” Kerrigan tilted her head at Hadrian. “How long has this been going on?”

She shrugged. “Since the riot.”

“Ah,” Kerrigan said. “Does Darby know?”

Clover’s head bobbed. “It didn’t go over well.”

“Do you love him?”

Clover glanced over at Hadrian and back. “I feel like I could love them both.”

Kerrigan arched an eyebrow. “More power to you. If I tried that, someone would end up dead.”

Clover snorted. “So true.”

“It’s time, Kerrigan,” Thea said gently.

Clover released her with a nod, and then Kerrigan was walking through the Wastes. Dozan led the way, and Thea stood at her side. He opened the door to his private entrance, and Thea went to warm up the crowd.

She stood in the small space with Dozan. Tension was high as she waited for the moment of a lifetime.

“Kerrigan…”

“Don’t,” she whispered. She met his amber gaze. “Just… don’t.”

He smiled, an almost-genuine gesture. “You know you owe me big time for all of this, don’t you?”

She snorted. “And there’s the Dozan that I know.”

“And love?” he countered.

She shouldered past him and out the door without a reply. She did owe Dozan for this. He was providing the space both inside and out of the Wastes without talk of payment. And he’d bolstered Thea’s numbers by sending out his own birds to all of the taverns in the Dregs. He hadn’t had to do that. And she still hadn’t thought that anyone would come to hear what she had to say.

“May I introduce to you, Kerrigan,” Thea said to the sound of uproar.