Godric's Gift

Published by: eXtasy Books

Author : Cheryl Headford

ISBN :978-1-4874-3516-5

Page :280

Word Count :87371

Publication Date :2024-12-13

Series : #

Heat Level :

Available Formats : Godric's Gift (epub) , Godric's Gift (mobi) , Godric's Gift (pdf) , Godric's Gift (prc)

Category : Young Adult , (YA) LGBTQIA+ , (YA) Contemporary

Product Code: 978-1-4874-3516-5

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Tay had thought that fighting demons was the hardest thing he’d have to do, but what came after was so much harder.

No one thought Tay was ready to face his possessed brother and the demon army at his back, and that included Tay himself. Gray, however, thought different and, as usual, Gray got his way. But if Tay thought the demons were the hardest thing he’d have to face, he would soon find himself dead wrong.

From determining ownership of the land formerly occupied by the demons to a world that had been without a High King for so long they weren’t sure they needed one, every day brought new problems, and then there was the magic that was not so slowly leaking out of the world. Tay’s life got more complicated every day.

When Gray stepped up with the answers, it only made things a whole lot worse.

“Absolutely not. I forbid it.”

The queen glared at Gray, then flashed an equally angry glance at Tay. For a moment, he shrunk down in his seat. Then he remembered and squared his shoulders.

It had been a long six months since Gray had appeared. To Tay, the upheaval was no big deal. After all, his entire life had been turned on its head and hadn’t yet had time to settle, so the new shakedown hardly added a puff to the already billowing cloud of fairy dust.

It would appear, however, that nothing much had changed in Faerie in forever. Tradition was everything, and people clung to it even more tightly when things started to crumble around them. Apart from Tay and Cale, The Enchantress was the only one who seemed to be taking things in her stride.

The queen most certainly wasn’t.

Tay couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She was a queen, after all, an absolute ruler who suddenly found herself elbowed aside by a dragon, a hundred-thousand-year-old, barely out of his teens, flamboyant and outspoken former King. Not to mention her own child, who, in her eyes, was barely out of nappies.

Tay still hadn’t got used to the idea that the queen was his mother. It was easier to accept Alana and Ailis as his sisters. In fact, he was forming quite a bond, especially with Alana. She and Alder went everywhere together and always managed to sniff him out wherever he was. He had cause to suspect, however, that this had more to do with the fact that Cale was usually around than that Alder was desperate to spend time with Tay.

Talen visited now and again. He’d gone home to try reasoning with his father, but as far as they could tell from the taciturn outlander, he’d been all but banished and barely escaped with his life. Tay had to wonder if there was a more dysfunctional family in the whole of Faerie.

“I’m sorry,” Gray said, not sounding the slightest bit sorry. “But it’s not up for negotiation.”

“You’re honestly suggesting that I should send my son…my only remaining son, the Crown Prince of The Kingdom, into the Outlands to negotiate with someone you suspect might be in league with the demons?”

“Well, it’s not exactly negotiating, and it’s not exactly my suggestion.”

“Oh, that’s right, it’s the dragon’s. You use the dragon’s voice a great deal, do you not? The rest of us do not appear to have his ear so often or so clearly.”

Gray chuckled. “He does tend to speak in riddles sometimes. You simply have to learn to interpret them.”

“And you’re the expert, of course. You always interpret correctly.”

“If you’re suggesting I bend what Orlock says to suit my own purposes, then of course I do. However, I make sure the gist of it is in-line with his thinking, which is more than your self-serving toadies have ever done.”

“Those self-serving toadies are the most senior sages and some of the best minds in The Kingdom.”

Gray huffed. “Is that supposed to impress me? I wouldn’t be bragging about it myself. Ask yourself two things. First, why do you think Orlock sent for me and refused to talk to any of the other sages?”

“And secondly?” The queen’s voice was sharp as a knife and cold enough to freeze lava.

“Are you going to tell Orlock that he’s wrong and you’re not prepared to listen to him…or his chosen representative? Who, incidentally, is King of Faerie and technically your Sovereign.”

The queen paled but held her ground. “I’ve yet to see evidence of that.”

“I notice you ignored the bit about challenging Orlock, yet you have no problem challenging me. Interesting. It will be even more interesting when I travel back to Hightower to take up my mantle.” Gray’s usual light arrogance subtly changed, and suddenly, he was almost sinister in a way Tay had rarely seen. “I have a very long memory and little patience with those who have almost destroyed everything I worked so hard to build.”

The queen’s eyes widened, but she remained upright and defensive. “You will do what you think is best, no doubt, but you will not take another son away from me and throw him into the heart of the storm.”

“What did I just tell you? I’m not prepared to negotiate with you. This journey will happen. It must happen.” Gray’s demeanour softened. “I will give you my personal guarantee that no harm will come to him. If you don’t trust me, trust Orlock.”

“The dragon’s going with you?” She was finally knocked off her platform, and real fear flashed in her eyes. Tay didn’t blame her. If the dragon moved so much as the tip of a wing, half the city would be turned to rubble.”

“Not physically, no. Unless there’s no other way to save Faerie, Orlock will keep his promise to preserve The Kingdom until you’re able to make appropriate arrangements. I would advise you, however, to begin preparations once this current situation is resolved. No, this time, Orlock will advise. He’ll be with us in mind and spirit, but do not underestimate the power of a dragon, even when his physical body slumbers.”

“I…will never underestimate the dragon.” Her voice quavered slightly, and Tay didn’t blame her. Apart from Gray, Tay was the one who’d spent most time in the presence of the dragon. Although he was becoming used to Orlock’s strange method and way of speaking, and it no longer struck terror into him every time he heard the dragon’s voice or felt his thoughts pressing gently against Tay’s own, he was always intensely aware that this was a creature of legend who wouldn’t so much as raise a sweat in destroying him and his entire kingdom.