Page 110 of His Retribution

My head spins toward him. "What? Shit what?"

He lifts his eyes to mine and sighs. "Nothing, my love. I'm just an idiot. I should have seen the signs sooner but I was just so… well, so in love with you I didn't put it together."

"Put what together?"

"Your scent, for one. The sugary fragrance, it's a distinct fae marker. I've never met any fae but my parents spoke of it as well as the other things Henrich mentioned." Havok pushes a hand back through his hair. "Your ability with animals, the fact that Samson has been by your side in each life, shares that sugar scent. Little things that seem big now." Then he shakes his head with a grin. "You even have the birthmark."

Henrich's eyes light up. "The one shaped like an angel wing?!"

We both nod.

"I must see! Show me! I—"

"No!" Havok and I bark out together.

Henrich's brows raise and he blushes. "Right, well, obviously that's out of the question but there are other physical traits you share with fae."

"Such as?"

"Your size," Andrej grunts. "Pupils. Eye color. Complexion."

"All of that can be explained away by being born to Slovakian parents." Then I frown. "Except my pupils."

"Which is a very distinct trait," Henrich says. "Fae's pupils are jagged to allow them tosee beyond. They allowed for more than just surface sight. Fae had the ability to see into people's histories, see their essence, read their spirit."

"Why?" I ask like an idiot because how the hell can anyone know that.

"Because fae fed off of people's essence."

I guess I was wrong. "What?"

Henrich nods. "Fae fed in a similar way as vampires but through sight. One’s energy was a source of great nourishment for fae, fed their soul, so to speak, and mostly it was very pleasant and not at all harmful to the host."

"I don't understand." I shake my head, start playing with my hair. "If you think I'm fae, some long lost fae princess, then why can't I do those things? And what about Havok? I mean, I just..."

Andrej leans across the table and takes my hand. "No one taught you. Fae power has to be nurtured, has to be taught in order to develop. You have the ability but between being raised by humans and having no idea about your true nature, your gifts were unable to fully mature. The only essence you were exposed to was human; therefore, you eventually took on those traits."

Ok, so that makes sense. Sort of.

"As for Havok..." Henrich says. "This is something that does indeed present as most unusual."

I squeeze Andrej's hand then let go. "How so?"

"Typically fae only mate fae. They were the one species that generally did not mate with anyone outside of it. Not truly, anyway. So the fact that Havok is undoubtedly your mate, though he is vampire, is unusual as well as ironic."

I frown as Havok pulls me into his lap. "It does not change anything though, my love. You have felt our bond; it is truth."

I nod and wrap his arms around me. "I know. I know that but what does it mean? How could it happen? Vampires generally mate with humans; fae mate with fae. If this is all true then it doesn't make sense."

"Yes and no." Henrich looks between us. "Technically you are both anomalies of your kind at this point. Havok is the first and only purebred vampire so it's possible that many of the things that apply to his kind do not apply to him. As we've said, Havok's potential is still untapped, his capabilities unknown, we have no explanation for what the hell happened last summer with Cyril. It is unheard of but not impossible that a fae would have a mate outside its species, which leads me to my next point."

"Hold on," I say, because seriously, hold the fuck on. "Before you get into anything else, how can you be sure that I am fae? I mean, there is nothing to compare to, none of you have first hand experience with one, and just because I happen to share the physical traits and some crazy ability to see people's essence..." Henrich and each dragon brother quirks a brow. "Ok, so forget about that part right now. That could just be some weird psychic fluke. How can you know for sure that I'm a fae? Wouldn't I have been able to..." Ugh. Nevermind. This is just too crazy.

But Havok disagrees. "Fae were just like the rest of us. Relatively indestructible, unless you knew how to kill one. And since your gifts were left dormant due to your upbringing, the lack of exposure and nurturing of your true nature, you were essentially in a weakened state."

"So you believe this? Believe that I'm..." I swallow hard. "You believe I'm fae?"

My mate nods, kisses my shoulder. "Yes, my love. I fear there is just too much supporting evidence."