Page 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

The silky brush bristles run along my scalp and down my hair. It’s so relaxing, I could fall asleep. I just got out of a hot bath, and if that wasn’t a luxurious enough experience, one of Vivvi’s servants gave me a bunch of products to use, including separate soaps for my body and hair.

It’s hard to believe people actually live like this on a regular basis. When I got out of the tub, it was a mixture of bubbles and dirt. Now I’m wearing silky pajamas that feel like they must be for royalty.

All of this does make me question why Vivvi is giving us so much. Does she feel bad for the poor, travel-weary werewolves? Surprisingly, it’s been easier to accept the fact that I’m a werewolf than it was to find out my father is fae. Or that Harek is. And has known about me this whole time.

I suppose I’m getting used to this world, whereas before everything fae-related was so far out of my mind it may as well not have existed. The fae were distant threats, but only if they came near Skoro and we didn’t follow their rules. None of it affected me, so I didn’t have to think about any of it.

Now I have no other choice. I’m a mix of two fae types, which is even more of a rarity than a halfling. From what I’ve seen around the city, plenty of them have friends that cross species, but marrying and starting a mixed family is a whole other story. Though I really have to question even that, given all my siblings are halflings and I’m whatever I am.

I’m not sure what that means for me—not that I’m in any position to think about that right now. But apparently that will make it easier for Harek and me to be together should things continue the way they have been. On the other hand, I’m not sure I want to share my life with someone who keeps hiding such big secrets from me.

If he’d have told me I’m a werewolf, I might’ve made different decisions when confronted by the fae. I’d have known what I was getting into. Instead of just killing the threatening fae, I was also subjecting myself to shifting into a wolf every month for the rest of my life. Fae live long lives, so that’s even more significant.

What if he knew and didn’t care? He might’ve even wanted me to shift so we could do that together. It sounds like he enjoys running free with his parents in his other form.

But that doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t have a real choice. When I killed those fae, I didn’t realize what I was subjecting myself to. Maybe I’d have made the same decision, maybe not. Now I’ll never know.

The brushing stops, and I open my eyes.

“You’re all done.” The servant gives me a pleasant smile. “Do you require anything else?”

“I can’t imagine what.”

“Lotions, vitamins, something to drink?” She looks at me expectantly.

“A bed?”

“Yes, I will take you to your room.”

My room—like I live here. I wish. I’m only a guest, but I’ll stay as long as Vivvi will allow. This place is like a dream and childhood story all wrapped into one.

She hands me a warm hand towel then heads out the door.

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this, but it’s so comforting I find myself pressing my face into it. It smells of herbs and sends a warmth through me.

She stops at a door. “This is where you’ll be sleeping. You’ll find clothes in the closet, as well as extra blankets and anything else you may need. Should you lack anything, I’ll be down the hall.”

“Thanks, I’m sure I’ll be fine. Is it okay if I explore? I saw a room full of books, and I’d love to see what’s in there.”

“Oh, certainly. The lady of the house is happy to share the knowledge she’s acquired. Some of it is from the mister.” She pauses. “May he rest well.”

I nod. “Thanks for everything.”

“Enjoy your night.” She takes the hand towel from me before hurrying down the hallway.

Rather than going into the bedroom, I meander to the small library. It’s more impressive than the one I’ve always gone to at Skoro. Shelves line every wall from top to bottom, and I can’t see even one empty space. I’m almost afraid to touch anything. It’s all so perfect. But she said I was free to do so.

I walk around, studying the spines. Some appear as old as time itself, but others are new and shiny. Could any of these tomes hold information about my father? About why my palm warms and forms orange mist balls? In all the stories I’ve ever heard about the fae, nothing like that has ever been uttered.

The window catches my attention, the city skyline stretching below. The houses look too small to be real, and tall buildings from the business district shine so brightly I’d almost think it was daytime there. Down below, brightly colored fae fill the streets.

“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Harek asks from behind. He’s in clean night clothes too and smells of the same bath products I used.

“Yeah. I knew it would be better than anything in Skoro, but I had no idea it would be anything like this.”

“Me neither.” He comes over and rests an arm around my shoulders.

I start to lean against him, but then pull away. “How could you not tell me I’m a werewolf? You knew . Somehow Vivvi picked up on that.”

“You were already going through a lot. I was going to fill you in when things settled down.”

“That wasn’t for you to decide! Now I’m going to shift into a wolf every month for the rest of my life!”

“I didn’t think you were going to kill anyone. How was I supposed to know you’d trigger your curse?”

“You should have told me!”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. If I could go back in time, I’d tell you everything long before I did.”

“Is there anything else I need to know?”

Harek sighs.

“Is there?” I stare him down.

He motions for me to sit on one of the couches in the middle of the room.

I glare at him before marching over. The cushion is so comfortable I practically become one with the furniture. “What more could there possibly be?”

“Nothing, I swear.” He plops down next to me.

“Why do I have a hard time believing you?” I narrow my eyes.

“I deserve that.”

“Of course you do.”

“Our pack is spread out all over the place. Some of our members live out in the woods on their own in cabins or as wanderers.”

“What does that have to do with me?” I ask.

“I’m getting to that.”

“A little quicker, if you don’t mind. I’d like to get some sleep tonight.”

“Others live in human settlements, blending in and making their monthly escapes to shift. When possible, we run into each other and catch up.”

“Your point?”

“I’m getting there, if you’d let me.”

“Why did you keep all this fae stuff a secret from me when you knew all along?”

“Your mother kept it from you too. She’s the one who swore my parents to secrecy. Did you consider asking yourself why she waited until her dying moment to tell you? Think of how much she could’ve told you all along but never did.”

“Are you trying to turn me against my mother, whose grave is still freshly dug?”

“I’m simply asking you to look at this from a different angle.”

I scoot away from him. “From an angle that makes you look better.”

“You have to believe I wanted to tell you everything all this time. I truly believed you’d be in danger if you thought you were more than human. If anything ever happened, you could claim to be human in full honesty. If anyone questioned you, they’d have no reason to doubt.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I didn’t want you getting tortured.”

“Tortured?” I gasp. “Why would that ever happen?”

“She was very secretive about your other lineage.”

“Which is…?”

He shrugs.

“You don’t know?”

“I’d have told you.”

I snort.

“Fine, maybe I wouldn’t have. But it’d have been to protect you—just like everything else.”

“Stop protecting me. I can do that for myself. What I need from my best friend is full honesty and transparency.”

“Okay.”

“What do you know about my father’s lineage?”

“Literally nothing.”

Disappointment washes through me. “Not even a little?”

“Like I said, she kept everything to herself.”

“You said she was secretive. That doesn’t mean she said nothing . Did she drop any clues?”

“Can I finish the story I started?”

I wave him on.

“Your mother left the pack for years. There were whispers of her having died because nobody stays away that long even if they can’t shift.”

“That was when she was with my father?”

“Yeah. She came to Skoro, to my parents specifically. It doesn’t sound like she was expecting to stay in Skoro—not as a fae. But when she saw my mother and father thriving among the humans, even while dealing with their shifts, she thought she could pull off a human life. There was no reason for anyone to suspect anything since she’d managed to avoid triggering her curse. She?—”

“Wait. What would’ve happened if she’d have shifted while she was pregnant with me? How does that work?”

“I don’t know. It just does. Pregnant werewolves don’t get a pass.”

I rub my temples, trying to come to terms with that. “If I want to start a family, I’ll have to deal with shifting while pregnant and caring for a baby? How do they shift when the baby?—?”

“Eira, I really don’t know these things. Clearly I’ve never had to deal with any of that, and since we don’t belong to a traditional pack, I’ve never seen anyone dealing with it either. I would imagine that in the case of our particular genes, people shift at different times so others can care for the young. Your mother probably watched me while my parents roamed. Normal werewolves? I guess they figure that stuff out.”

My mind spins, but not out of control. This new information actually makes sense of things. If my mother babysat Harek, that explains why we spent so much time together growing up. All of us being part of the same pack also fits how much our parents relied on each other, why his family had my sword.

“Are you okay?” Harek’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“I will be. Is there a chance she ever told your parents about my father?”

“She didn’t. I asked several times over the years, and they don’t know anything.”

That means I’m stuck at square one, having no information. The best I can hope for is that my palm might let me know if we cross paths. Though if he’s not a threat, nothing will likely happen. “How am I supposed to find him?”

“We’ll figure something out.” He yawns. “Tomorrow.”

“You want me to wait even longer?”

“What’s another few hours at this point? Think of how much more productive we’ll be with a great night’s sleep. I don't know about you, but after a week of sleeping in caves and under bushes, I’m looking forward to an actual bed.”

I can’t deny how luxurious that sounds, but I’m too wired to sleep. After he leaves, I wander around the bookshelves again. This time, I hold my right palm up to the books. Perhaps I’ll get a warmth or a glow if I’m near a book with answers.

Or maybe nothing will happen.