Page 134 of Night's Fall
Igot to make us breakfast (totally a “got to” situation,Aleksei’skitchen wasinsane), and we were back at our corner of the kitchen bar, cats fed, breakfast consumed, dirty dishes pushed aside, lingering over coffee.
Aleksei had a tablet on a stand propped in front of him, and as far asIcould tell with the letters and numbers that were scrolling across the display, some of which he tapped notes about on his tablet, it was some business-type stuff that seemed to me like it was written in another language.
I was scrolling the tapes on myPalmand processing my second freakout that morning, becauseIwas all over them.
Sure, ifIwere in charge of costuming the scene of the heroine astride the mighty dragon’s neck soaring above the city ofNocturn,Iwouldsoput her in that fabulous flamingo-pink gown.
But…
Dang.
I was everywhere.
Everywhere.
During breakfast, at the beginning of my freakout (around the timeIstarted making choking noises),Alekseitold meGermainehad released details about me, and she wasn’t stingy.Theyincluded my name, age, education, occupation, the showsI’dworked on, the awardsI’dbeen nominated for, and my no contact with my parents (though, no details on that).
My close relations withCatlaandGaylilielhad also been included in the release.
WhenI’dasked him why, he’d said, “TheTruelockswere some of the first demons to leave theEdgeafter theDemonRiftof 1637.Theycame toNight’sFalland swore fealty to aTrueHeir.They’reone, and there’s some debate, but they might betheFirstFamilyofDemonsin theFall.AndaVinestrongwas the general who commanded the legions who defeated a rogue faction of the dark fae in theDarkWarinLand’sEndin 1278.Thatwas a long time ago, but they still have celebrations where they put a mug of mead on their stoop in honor of that day.WhenVinestrongmarched his troops home, the fae put out the mead as a show of gratitude to him and his males.Sothat ritual, even today, celebrates one ofGayle’sancestors.”
I didn’t know this aboutGayle.Ididn’t even know ifGayleknew aboutGayle’sfamily legacy.
ButIdid know about theTruelocks.
“When it comes to blood, crowns and thrones, it’s about lineage and how strong or elite your pedigree or connections are,”Alekseifinished.
“And do you know about my people?”Iasked.
He inclined his head. “TheMakepeaceshave been middle-class shifters for the last few hundred years.Beforethat, there were merchants.Somepublicans.Somemilitary males.Notlanded, but not servant class.”
“So nothing special,”Imuttered.
He grinned. “Untilnow.”
Dang, butIreally liked this male.
Just a note: even before the continent condensed into theFourRealms, and definitely when it did, there was a division of who was welcome where.
The continent was very long, but somewhat narrow.
The western coast was where the shifters stayed.
The northern lands were the haunt of the demons.
The eastern coast was where the witches practiced.
The southern shores were the land of the fae.
And the humans huddled in the mountains in the middle.
This had all integrated, and mixed, even before they tried (and failed) theUnification.
But even now, the majority of species in each realm held true to the old populations.
Now,Ihad to deal with the fact that, overnight,I’dbecome famous, fodder for chatter, speculation and outright lies.
AndIhad to get over it, becauseIhad no choice.
