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A va sat on the balcony of her bedroom, Luna curled up on the floor by her feet.

Birds darted above her and chattered to each other as they landed in a nearby tree.

She closed her eyes and tried to relax, listening to the sound of running water from the small brook below when a knock on her door sounded.

“Go away,” she called, assuming it was Casimir.

“It’s Raine,” the voice answered. “May I come in?”

“Fine.”

The door opened and Raine strode to the balcony and took a seat on the chair next to her. He handed her a goblet of wine and leaned back in his seat, looking at her.

“What?” she asked as she avoided his stare and remained facing forward, taking a sip of wine.

“I just wanted to check on you.”

“Why do you care?” He remained silent but she could feel his eyes on her. She sighed. “Sorry, I—” She paused and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m just… I don’t know…” she trailed off .

They sat quietly, sipping their wine before Raine spoke again.

“All of this is a lot to take in, I imagine.”

The relief she felt at the acknowledgment of her situation was immense. “Yes.” He waited for her to continue. “I’m just so fucking angry.”

“What are you angry about?” he asked.

She turned and met his eyes. “Everything. But I think I’m mostly angry at my mother and that makes me feel horrible.”

“Why?”

“Because she never told me any of this,” she exclaimed, words now spilling out.

“Not once did she tell me who I was. Who she was. She never explained her magic. Never told me anything .” The reality of her circumstances weighed on her heavily as she continued to vent.

“I was a normal, boring human just a couple of months ago. And now? In a matter of weeks everything changed. Everything . I’m some long-lost princess fated to save a whole realm. It’s insane.”

Raine nodded. “You’re right. It is.”

She couldn’t stop as she continued her rant. “And now I have to train with the general who hates me. I don’t even know how to fight. I’m not strong. I’m going to embarrass myself in front of all of you.” She turned toward him. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Listen,” he responded, voice serious. “First of all, Cas doesn’t hate you.

He lost his whole family in the war and he’s just being an asshole right now.

Second, you aren’t doing this alone. We’ll help you.

And we know you don’t know how to fight.

We’re going to teach you everything you need to know.

” He turned in his chair and leaned forward, gaze intense. “You can do this.”

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

“Good,” he answered. “Use that fear and channel it into determination.” He scrutinized her face and paused, seeming to consider whether he should continue. “You know I can sense things.”

She nodded.

“I can already sense your power,” he said quietly. “And you aren’t even fully fae yet.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that you’re going to be strong,” he replied.

She broke his stare and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. “That’s terrifying.”

He laughed. “I guess so. But it’s also amazing.”

She glanced at him. “You know… you’re kind of scary when you’re serious.”

He laughed harder. “So I’ve been told. Don’t worry, it doesn’t happen often, dainty human.”

“Dainty human?”

“It’s your nickname.” He shrugged.

Ava rolled her eyes. “Why?”

He smiled widely, humor in his eyes. “Because it irritates you and it’s funny.”

“Well, you won’t be able to call me that forever.”

“I’ll think of something even better when you’re fae.”

“Great.” She laughed quietly.

Raine rose from his seat. “I must be going. Duty calls and all that.”

“Raine?” Ava asked. He paused and looked down at her. “Thank you.”

He gave her a broad smile and ruffled her hair.

“Any time,” he said as he left her bedroom.

Ava remained on the balcony for the remainder of the evening, pondering over what Raine had said.

She felt bad for exploding at Casimir, knowing he must have been through horrors she couldn’t even dream of in the war.

She hadn’t been able to control herself when she caught him glaring at her with so much ire. She was so angry .

But anger’s real name was grief.

Though she had the answers she was looking for, who she was and where she came from, it had all come at a cost. Trauma that she refused to unpack, didn’t want to examine.

Couldn’t face her friend’s death or her own imprisonment.

The violence she had already experienced and witnessed.

So she tucked it away. Secured it in a little box in the back of her mind and locked it tight like she always did.

It would be a distraction anyway. She needed to focus on what was to come, not the past.

As Luna continued to snore quietly on the balcony, Ava realized she loved it here. Sure, the swamp adventure and battle at the tavern were terrifying, but this new revelation and her brother, made her want to know more. She was making friends quicker than she ever had in her life.

She adored Raine. They seemed to click, and she felt a deep connection with him. Like she could tell him anything and he wouldn’t judge her. She had never had a friend like him before.

Kai and Jorrar also seemed to accept her quickly without any qualms. Fanya had immediately warmed to Ava, her bubbly enthusiasm contagious.

Even Thorne appeared elated she was here, and she longed to get to know him.

Wanted to learn all about their parents and what he was like as a child.

To explore what they may have in common. Two lost siblings reunited.

Quinn had started to warm up and if she and Casimir ever stopped arguing, she supposed she could see them becoming friends too.

She admitted to herself she was attracted to him.

That was another reason she was reluctant to train with him.

It would be much easier with one of the others without the distraction of Casimir’s amber eyes that always seemed to be watching her, or the way the corner of his mouth tipped when he smirked. Or the way he smelled.

But after Henry, she wanted nothing. She didn’t know if she could ever open her heart to someone else again.

It had always ended in disaster and she didn’t think she could handle the devastation of heartbreak once more.

Besides, she needed to focus on training and preparing for the journey to the Elderoak.

Crushing on the general would be a distraction and chances were, he wouldn’t want her anyway.

Overall, the fae in Monterre were friendly and she felt her soul awaken as she discovered she was accepted and fit in. As if the song she had been singing matched the tune of those around her. No longer out of sync.

It was what she always wanted, what she had longed for when she moved onto her grandfather’s farm several months ago, seeking peace and healing. The tug she had been feeling was leading her here this whole time. Leading her back home.

So, she would stay. She would learn what it meant to be a princess, to be fae. She would train and complete the journey to access her magic.

And she would help her kingdom win the war and banish Deidamia forever.